Having been to (and absolutely loved) Global, Reading and The Big Chill I have some awesome, if a little hazy, memories. Usually, the notion of drinking non-stop for 42 hours, using toilets which make you physically sick and not washing once would seem unacceptable but at a festival these factors become a reality which must be embraced.If you are one of these girls who can roll out of the tent at 8am, looking fresh-faced and oh so 'festival' then stop reading now. Infact, can you stop going to festivals? Because I am not one of these girls, in truth if I emerged from my tent 'au natural' my fellow campers may think Ozzy Osbourne had made a festival comeback.
I'm not a girly girl but I like my comforts. Beauty products are my life. Dramatic? Maybe, but a skin care regime and make-up make me feel fresh, attractive and confident and how I look can easily influence how I feel. So, how can you pack your skin care and make-up collection into a camping rucksack??... Well, you can't. Especially as everything you pack is taking up precious beer space.. So, us girls have to pack the absolute essentials and here's a few tricks to help you pack light and still release your tent-side temptress!
Face wipes. 46p a pack in Tesco's. 4 packs per person. Minimum. These little lifesavers are your make-up remover, toilet paper, bath and shower. Sorry Greenpeace; I know they're bad for the environment but camping without them is just unthinkable.
Compact mirror. This is an absolute must. Ever tried applying make-up without a mirror?
Skin care. I don't usually stay anywhere without my Lancome skincare, but it is simply too much to carry. The walk from the car park to pitch the tent is enough to actually consider leaving your belongings at the side of the track and ditching everything but the can of warm beer you are drinking. Sun screen however, is vital, if you can get a foundation with an SPF then great, 2 birds, one bottle.
Make-up. BB cream is ideal, most good ones have an SPF plus it'll give you a much needed, dewy glow which will refresh your tired, alcohol-saturated skin each morning. Bring a water-proof mascara for sudden downpours/drunken arguments/emosh outbursts at the euphoric beauty of the sun setting over the best set you've ever heard... Pack a small bronzer for a flash of colour in your cheeks, no pressed compacts though, they WILL break in the trek from the car park. Eye liner and a nude lip is the LBD of the beauty world and for all-day wear you don't want too much going on. Once dusk hits if you want want to re-vamp your look add some gold or coloured glitter around the eyes or a flash of neon eyeshadow for a sexy and chic look. Alternatively, embrace your inner bohemian goddess and wear a bindhi like above.
Above all, remember to enjoy every bloody second.
