Festival Survival Guide

Whether Rhythm and Vines or Earth Beat is your kind of jamboree, our Good Festival Survival Guide will calm your mind and fuel your body for your best festival season yet.

Suggestions to help plan for stress-free summer festivals

Bare essentials

Prone to bringing the kitchen sink but don’t use everything that’s in it? If you know your skincare routine will go out the window in your new surroundings, stick to the basics: cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm and sunscreen during the day, and use a nourishing face oil at night to remove makeup and impurities while helping your skin to restore overnight. We recommend: My Sunshine SPF30 Natural Sunscreen for your face and body. This zinc-based formula is reef-friendly and loaded with organic aloe vera, shea butter and chamomile.

Meditate to recalibrate

If you struggle to sleep at the best of times, you may need some extra help to calm your mind and ensure you get a solid period of shut-eye. We recommend: Hannah Crerar’s Yoga Nidra recordings. Listen to Hannah’s soothing voice right before bed for the ultimate calm, clarity and peace of mind.

Personal masseuse

For the downtime, an acupuncture mat or pillow is your best friend. Get the blood flowing, top-up on endorphins, and loosen your fascia by relaxing into pure bliss. We recommend: The Shakti Acupressure Mat is a daily self-care tool based on the Indian bed of nails. Thousands of sharp spikes apply pressure to skin and muscles supporting restful sleep, relaxation, mental clarity and wellbeing. Relax your mind and body in 20 minutes.

Power from the sun

Charge your music speakers, phones, electric toothbrushes and more with a portable solar panel. They’ll last all day long, even when the sun goes down.

Hidden gems

Before you embark on your journey, scour your local thrift shop for sparkly treasures and outrageous pieces, allowing your alter ego to shine through. It’s kinder to the planet than buying new, and you can share costumes with friends or keep in your dress-up box and enjoy them for other occasions. Do: If you’re getting your sparkle on, look out for earth-friendly bio-glitter and second-hand sequins. Don’t: Dress up in other culture’s costumes.

Easy and breezy

Keep your feet protected, and give them the airflow they deserve. We recommend: These Allbirds Women’s Tree Runners are breathable, silkysmooth, minimise odour and are light to wear. And when it’s time to head home, pop them in the washing machine. They’ll be as good as new.

Fashion Icon

Bucket hats are back, and there’s an array of beautiful designs to keep you cool and chic. They also protect your neck, nose and sides of your face from the sun, so there’s that too. We recommend: the Marle Nonna Hat, or the Kowtow Garden Hat.

Sanitary supplies

Try a moon cup for the free-est movement during your flow. If moon cups aren’t your thing, try Me., a brand setting a new standard for intimates. Me. regular tampons include a sustainably sourced and certified 100% organic cotton core, with a non-toxic and silky surface for optimum comfort and ease of insertion. Crueltyfree and vegan. Available at New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square stores nationwide.

Hydration station

Regular consumption of water will do you wonders while basking in the sun all day or sipping on alcohol in the evening. Ward off headaches, dizzy spells and tiredness, and keep your organs as happy as Larry. Keep your face hydrated too by using a facial spray. We recommend: Te Wai’s refreshing Fine-Mist Facial Spray containing hydrating and healing native botanical extracts and naturally filtered pure New Zealand water.

Carefree and hair-free

Let it grow or, if you’re not that way inclined, ditch painful waxing strips and gnarly tweezers and invest in the latest beauty tech. We recommend: RoseSkinCo’s Precision Eyebrow Trimmer and 4D shaver for the face.

Daily dose

Support your vitality and endurance with the best of science and nature. We recommend: Health by Habit’s Energy supplement. A single capsule combines Co-Q10, maca powder, magnesium, iron and vitamin B12 to keep you going all day and all night long. Available at New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square stores nationwide.