Festival make-up dos and don’ts to avoid a toxic glow up

To truly make your eyes "pop" and ensure your vibrant festival make-up withstands hours of dancing and revelry, renowned make-up artist Dominic Skinner, a familiar face from the hit BBC show Glow Up, shares his expert tips. Skinner advises a strategic layering technique: begin by applying a white eye pencil directly onto the skin. This acts as a powerful base, amplifying the intensity of any bright eyeshadow pressed on top. "It will make bold colours more intense, and last all night," he assures. This simple yet effective trick ensures your neon hues and vivid designs remain striking from dusk till dawn, transforming your eyes into captivating focal points.

However, when it comes to achieving these dazzling looks, a significant caveat exists. The danger lies in the composition of some of these highly pigmented products. Banned ingredients, often found in unregulated cosmetics, can trigger severe rashes and allergic reactions, compromising your festival experience and potentially your skin’s health. Skinner emphasizes the critical importance of scrutinizing product labels. Any item labelled "not for cosmetic use," even if it claims to be skin-safe, should be avoided. Furthermore, be wary of specific banned colourants, including Solvent Yellow 172, CI 45161 (Basic Red 1:1), and CI 45174 (Basic Violet 11:1). The allure of cheap products or unfamiliar sellers can be deceptive; these often represent a higher risk of containing harmful substances. Skinner cautions that some UV-reactive, glow-in-the-dark, or neon products, while marketed for their visual impact, might be quietly disguised as "non-cosmetic paint," bypassing crucial safety regulations designed for application on human skin.

The "fairycore" aesthetic is currently dominating festival make-up trends, bringing with it an explosion of sparkles, face gems, and all things glitter. Skinner’s philosophy is clear: "The ‘no make-up look’ is gone. Clean girl is out!" He encourages embracing a playful, childlike creativity, infusing looks with vibrant colours and dazzling crystals. To truly stand out, consider incorporating glitter into your hair partings or even dusting it onto your shoulders for an ethereal shimmer. Skinner personally advocates for the use of gems, citing their larger size and greater impact. A significant advantage, he notes, is their reusability: "you can peel them off at the end of the night and reuse them in the morning." This makes them a more sustainable and cost-effective choice for achieving dramatic festival flair.

While the glitter and gem trend offers immense creative freedom, safety must remain paramount. Dr. Emma Wedgeworth, affiliated with the British Skin Foundation, strongly advises against applying glitter near the eyes to prevent potential corneal scratches. Crucially, never use craft glitter, which is not formulated for skin application and can cause significant irritation. Opt for biodegradable, eco-friendly glitter products, which are not only better for the environment but also gentler on the skin. Secure your dazzling creations with safe adhesives, such as lash glue, ensuring they stay in place throughout your festival adventures.

This season’s lip trends offer a dramatic departure from the usual summer-friendly pinks and peaches, inviting a more sophisticated and vampy aesthetic. Vogue predicts a rise in "juicy and blurred lips" for 2026, emphasizing texture and subtle enhancements over bold colours, often achieved with stains and glosses for a "your-lips-but-better" effect. Complementing this, InStyle magazine champions dramatic, dark red "vampy lips" as a key festival look. Skinner recommends using liquid lip products for their impressive staying power. "You can do some drinking, you can do some snogging," he quips, highlighting their smudge-proof and transfer-resistant qualities. His tip for application is to apply the colour first, leaving lip liner until last. This approach prevents the liner from highlighting any imperfections in your drawing skills and ensures a more blended finish.

Regardless of your chosen lip style, a crucial health precaution is to avoid sharing lip balm or lipstick. This simple act can facilitate the spread of infections, including cold sores. Cross-contamination is a significant concern in the beauty world, and professional make-up artists routinely sanitise their tools between clients to mitigate this risk. Maintaining personal hygiene with your lip products is essential for a healthy and enjoyable festival experience.

Beyond the vibrant colours and dazzling embellishments, the foundational step for any festival make-up routine is sun protection. Dr. Wedgeworth stresses the importance of applying a high-protection sunscreen, at least SPF 30, as a primer before any make-up. This layer not only shields your skin from harmful UV rays but also provides a smooth base for make-up application. Skinner suggests opting for matte or sweat-proof SPF formulas, which can further enhance the longevity of your make-up, especially in warm festival environments. It is imperative to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, ideally every two hours, paying close attention to often-neglected areas like your hairline and scalp partings. While spray sunscreens offer convenience for layering over make-up, they can be challenging to apply thickly enough for adequate protection. Therefore, taking regular shade breaks and utilizing a wide-brimmed hat are highly recommended for comprehensive sun defence.

To ensure your festival hairstyle remains as vibrant and intact as your make-up throughout the day and night, consider incorporating accessories. Who, What, Wear suggests embracing scarves, crochet beanie caps, or eye-catching hair clips, charms, and cuffs to elevate your look. InStyle magazine proposes stylish options like mermaid waves or delicate baby braids for those with longer hair, adding a touch of bohemian charm.

For those considering a temporary hair colour transformation, a crucial step before applying sprays or dyes is a patch test. This simple precaution can help identify potential allergies and prevent adverse reactions. Apply a small amount of the product behind your ear or on your arm and wait 24 to 48 hours to check for any signs of redness, itching, or irritation, as advised by Wedgeworth. Skinner also points out that many festival-ready looks can be achieved using products you already own, encouraging a creative approach to make-up application. "You just have to think creatively about how to play with it," he concludes, empowering festival-goers to experiment and personalize their style with existing beauty treasures.