3 Makeup Artists on How to Make Your Festival Makeup Look Last All Day (and Night!)

April 05, 2023
Alanna Martine Kilkeary
By: Alanna Martine Kilkeary | Makeup.com by L'Oréal
person rocking graphic liner festival makeup with their eyes closed

So you just scored tickets to an upcoming music festival on a warmer-than-usual weekend, and the fear of your foundation and eye makeup melting off is very real. We’ve been there. If you’re looking to keep your makeup fresh and ready to withstand whatever festival factor comes your way, from sweat to high temps, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we chatted with three makeup artists, Judi Gabbay, Joseph Carrillo and Amrita Mehta, to ensure that you feel equipped to handle it all. Read on for their tips on how to prep your skin and apply and set your makeup to ensure no drop of sweat, humidity or tears will ruin your festival experience. 

How to Keep Your Festival Makeup in Place All Day and Night

According to Gabbay, a long-lasting look starts with the proper prep products. “Primers are a good starting point to keep [your] base on all throughout any festival from morning ‘til night.” For a long-lasting primer, we recommend the Urban Decay All Nighter Face Primer to wear under your foundation to ensure that it won’t crease, crack or fade throughout the day. 

urban decay all nighter primer

In addition to primer, Carrillo and Mehta recommend using a sufficient amount of setting spray to set your makeup after application. “Put your foundation on, then spray it with a setting spray, and let it dry. Then, continue your makeup and spray it one more time when complete,” Carrilo says. He recommends using the Maybelline New York Facestudio Lasting Fix Setting Spray to get the job done and ensure your look stays put for hours and doesn’t smudge. We also love the Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Mattifying + Blurring Setting Spray for a pore-minimizing finish, which is especially useful if you have oily skin.
maybelline new york lasting fix setting spray, milk makeup pore eclipse setting spray

Mehta also recommends bringing a powder along with you to festival events. “Use a compact powder, which is great for on the go, so you can do any touch-ups throughout the day in case you get a little shiny,” she says. We love the L’Oréal Paris Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder for this, which comes with an applicator sponge and mirror.
loreal paris foundation in a powder

How Do You Keep Face Gems in Place?

Gabbay notes that rhinestones, gems and flat pearls are very typical to include in a festival makeup look, and there are a few things you can do to ensure they last all day and into the night. “The best way to keep gems intact on skin is to make sure your makeup is set with powder before you glue anything down,” she says. 

This means lock in your makeup with a powder before the setting spray step. Then, use a clear eyelash glue to apply your gems. The Half Magic Face Gems are perfect for this; they adhere well to your makeup and come in iridescent and neon hues. Finally, set the whole thing with a spritz of setting spray.

half magic face gems

Beauty Products to Avoid for Festival Makeup

Carrillo recommends staying away from dewy makeup products, especially if you have an oily skin type. “Stick to products that are matte and long-lasting, and anything that says ‘longwear’ on the package” he notes. 

Mehta echoes this sentiment and adds to avoid creamy makeup products, too:“Instead, stick with powders and liquids, especially if you are going to be out in the sun.”

As long as you’re prepared with long-wearing makeup, setting sprays and on-the-go powders, your next festival look will be protected against the elements.

Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn

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