Flash 10 is needed for this
Download Flash here.

Festival-proof beauty: what is actually worth packing

A summer weekend of open-air reggae and dancehall is hard on skin and hair. Long hours in the sun, dust from the field, late nights by the sound system and limited washing facilities on the campsite all add up. Rather than chasing every discount, it pays to think about which products genuinely earn their place in a festival bag, and then look for good value on those few items.

Five categories that deserve a slot

  1. Broad-spectrum sunscreen. This is the one product you should not skimp on. A high SPF with UVA protection, ideally in a water-resistant formula, will see you through afternoons in front of the stage. Reapply every couple of hours, and more often if you are dancing and sweating.
  2. Lip balm with SPF. Lips burn easily and are often forgotten. A small stick fits in any pocket.
  3. Gentle cleansing wipes or micellar water. When the shower queue is long, a quick clean before bed helps keep skin calm. Choose fragrance-free options if your skin is sensitive, and take used wipes back to a bin rather than leaving them on the field.
  4. A light moisturiser or after-sun. Wind, sun and cool nights dry skin out. A simple, unscented cream works for face and body.
  5. Dry shampoo and a scarf or headwrap. Together they handle most bad-hair days, and a headwrap also gives some sun protection while fitting the festival look.

Getting good value without overbuying

Travel-size versions are tempting but often cost more per millilitre. Decanting your own products into small refillable bottles is usually cheaper and produces less waste. Multi-buy deals make sense for sunscreen, which you will use all summer, but less so for items you only need for one weekend. Check expiry dates too: sunscreen that has been open since last year may not protect as well as the label claims.

Keep everything in a sealed pouch so a leak does not soak your clothes or sleeping bag. For more on setting up your tent and what else to bring, see our camping guide, and check the travel page if you are planning how to get to Fulda with a lighter bag.