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Pack like a pro with these festival essentials
Written byEmily Coates
Reviewed byH&B Regulatory Affairs
Festival season’s landed! Bringing sunshine (we hope), tunes and good times. Dodge the drama with our fave fixes for sunburn, sweat and whatever else gets thrown your way
Our top picks
Removes waterproof make-up
Weleda
Weleda Make-Up Removal Cleansing Oil 150ml
£13.95
Long-lasting odour protection
Wild
WILD Fresh Cotton & Sea Salt Mini Deodorant 16g
25% off
£2.25
£3.00
Packed with copper and manganese
Whitworths
Whitworths Wondermix Fight Fatigue 200g
£3.50
Whether you’re camping in a muddy field or soaking up rays in a sun-drenched park, festivals are the ultimate summer vibe. But between the heat, dodgy food and one-too-many drinks, your body might need a little back-up. That’s where our festival checklist comes in. From snacks to SPF and drinks to deodorant, here are our must-haves to keep you feeling fresh, fuelled and ready for those headliners.
The berry-flavoured hydration booster
Dancing all day, sweating in the sun (or the rain) and forgetting to drink water? Your body’s screaming for a sip of something non-alcoholic. These Hunter & Gather electrolytes are your backstage pass to a hydration hit.
Hunter & Gather’s Restore Electrolytes are packed with pink Himalayan salt, potash potassium and marine magnesium. Each festival-friendly sachet delivers berry-flavoured mineral support to keep you going – no added sugar, just delicious hydration magic.
The energy-supporting snack mix
Long days in your wellies and late nights dancing? This fruity, nutty pick-me-up is your secret treat. Whitworths Fight Fatigue Wondermix supports your energy levels when the tent life starts taking its toll.
Packed with copper and manganese, this moreish on-the-go mix helps support normal energy-yielding metabolism, meaning it helps your body turn food into energy. With banana chips, almonds and juicy strawberries, it’s perfect for munching between sets or sprinkling over your morning yoghurt (if you’re fancy like that).
The stay-fresh sidekick
When showers are scarce and washing machines even scarcer, this mini deo from Wild brings that much-needed fresh cotton scent. So, when your favourite songs on and you want to throw your arms in the air, this natural deodorant has your back (and your pits).
With long lasting odour protection and a gentle natural formula, it keeps you smelling sweet. Plus, it’s travel-sized – perfect for your bumbag or backpack.
The end-of-day skin saviour
After a long day of glitter, SPF and dancing, your skin’s crying out for a proper cleanse. This cleansing oil is your answer to fresher skin – no faff, no fuss.
Packed with apricot oil and witch hazel water, it melts away make-up (yep, even waterproof) and grime in seconds. It’s fragrance-free, vegan and perfect for giving your face some TLC after a day in the field.
Prefer something even simpler? Try the Magnitone WipeOut SuperNaturals Bamboo Microfibre Cleansing Cloths – just add water and wipe the day away
The self-sanitising period cup
If your period decides to crash your festival weekend, don’t let it steal the spotlight. This self-sanitising menstrual cup is mess-free, low-maintenance and super easy to clean, even in the wild.
With clever self-sanitising tech, there’s no need to boil between uses – just rinse and go. It's vegan, reusable and comes with a handy drawstring bag plus fun, step-by-step video tutorials with hilarious Hayley Morris.
The shower-in-a-spray
When festival showers are daunting and baby wipes just won’t cut it, Luna Daily’s Everywhere Spray is your secret weapon. This TikTok-viral wonder turns loo roll into an eco-friendly cleansing wipe, perfect for those under canvas freshen-ups.
Powered by ingredients like prebiotics, thermal water, chamomile, coconut oil, aloe vera and vitamins C, E and F, this clever spray is pH-balanced and safe for everywhere... even down there.
Just spray two-four pumps onto a tissue to refresh your underarms, bikini line or wherever needs a quick reset – your new no-shower hero.
The sober-curious sip
This Twinings Boost Lemon & Ginger Sparkling Drink is perfect for the curious crew who still want a little fizz, flavour and feel-refreshed energy.
Vitamin C contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue, making this a perfect pick-me-up when your festival energy starts to dip. Add a zingy blend of lemon, ginger, lemon balm and black tea, and you’ve got a refreshing drink with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and under 50 calories.
The high factor hydrating cream
When you’re spending all day outdoors chasing stages and soaking up the atmosphere, your skin needs some serious backup. A full day in the sun (yes, even British sun!) can leave your face feeling frazzled. That’s where this SPF staple steps in.
Q+A’s Squalane SPF50 Hydrating Daily Facial Sunscreen gives you broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, without the heavy, greasy feel. It hydrates with plant-based squalane, so your skin stays soft, smooth and glowing even after hours of queuing, sweating and sun exposure. Plus, it absorbs fast with minimal white cast, making it a festival bag no-brainer.
Sun exposure can cause red, sore skin that is itchy or painful to the touch. But it doesn’t have to be scorching outside – you can also burn on cloudy days. At festivals, where you’re outdoors all day and shade’s limited, it’s easy to catch too much sun without realising. In the long run, sunburn can increase your risk of developing more serious conditions like skin cancer, so staying sun safe is key.1
Avoiding the sun can be a challenge when you’re watching the main stage, so protect your skin with a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15. Apply it to any bare skin including your neck, face and ears, at least 30 minutes before you leave your tent. If you’ve been sunburnt, apply aftersun to soothe your skin and fight pain with a painkiller.2
Try to stay covered up or out of the sun to allow your skin to heal. Read more about protecting yourself from the sun at festivals and what UVA protection means what in our ultimate guide to SPF.
The magnesium-packed hydration hero
BetterYou
£1.99
£1.49
£0.60/100 ml
If you’re clocking up those steps running between stages, staying hydrated can fall off the setlist. This refreshing citrus and botanical blend keeps you feeling fresh and ready for the next big act. If citrus isn’t your thing, they also have vitamin-B infused blueberry and mint as well as pomegranate and rhubarb blends.
Packed with 180mg of elemental magnesium (48% of your daily NRV) this clever can helps top up your magnesium levels while you sip. Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance and normal energy-yielding metabolism – just what you need to keep going strong over a busy weekend.
Festival fixes: our top tips (and what to do)
Sure, chasing good vibes is top of the list – but looking after yourself means the fun keeps going all weekend. From dodging heatstroke to staying hydrated (and steering clear of undercooked burgers), here are a few classic festival mishaps and how to handle them...
Loud booming music can leave your ears ringing for hours and even cause lasting damage. Pack ear plugs to protect your hearing, sleep through campsite noise and still enjoy your favourite bands. Opt for ones that filter sound (not block it) and avoid standing too close to the speakers.
Let’s face it, festivals aren’t the most hygienic places. Muddy fields, shared toilets and questionable food expose you to stomach bugs that can leave you rushing for the loo. Food poisoning usually kicks in with cramps, vomiting or diarrhoea – not ideal. If you find yourself suffering, make sure you get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.3
If it hits, take it easy, sip plenty of water and stick to bland foods like plain rice cakes or crackers and support your body by replacing lost water and salts with Dioralyte or similar.
Avoiding alcoholic drinks and drinking more fluids like water and rehydration drinks can help to keep you hydrated.
Aim to drink about 1.2 litres of fluid each day, and even more if you’re spending time in a sweaty, crowd-packed tent. But if sipping on water doesn’t make any difference and you spot signs of severe dehydration, seek medical help immediately.
The final say
From SPF to snacks and hydration to hygiene hacks, with this festival packing list, you’re now prepped like a pro. Want more ways to stay fuelled and fresh? Check out our ultimate snack guide, natural energy drinks edit and hay fever product round-up for even more festival packing inspo.
This article provides informational advice and is not a substitute for medical care. Curated by experts for accuracy, we take great care to ensure the information is up-to-date and relevant. However, you should always consult your GP or healthcare professional before using supplements or alternative products, particularly if you have medical conditions or are under supervision.
- NCBI Bookshelf – Sunburn. Healthwise Staff. Sunburn [Internet]. In: Healthwise Handbook. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2021 [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534837/
- NHS. Sunburn [Internet]. NHS; 2023 [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sunburn/
- NHS. Food poisoning [Internet]. London: National Health Service; 2021 [cited 2025 Apr 17]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/
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