The year is marching on. It’s hard to believe we’re already into April and it’s just days until Coachella, marking the start of festival season. Getting tickets to the concerts is obviously the first order of business. Once we’ve done that, we know it comes to the really important part: finalizing our boho lewks. Whether you’re going to Lollapalooza, The Governors Ball or a smaller gig, a head-turning beauty look is as essential as a good pair of jean shorts and a pair of comfortable-yet-fashionable shoes that will hold up for long hours of standing — or more accurately splashing — in a mud pit.
A festival beauty look should be unique, have as much sparkle as possible and be able to be seen from a few rows back. It should be highly Instagrammable and nod to this season’s beauty trends while staying clear of cultural appropriation or anything offensive. It should be able to be applied in a field with a small mirror and look fresh for up to 12 hours (or more) of partying. No small order, right?
We’ve rounded up some on-point makeup looks from the runways, Instagram and VIP festival attendees for ample festival beauty inspiration to see you through all the summer concerts. Are you ready to rock?
[ Next: All the Cutoffs, Crop Tops and Colored Hair Celebs Wore to Coachella ]
31 Next-Level Festival Season Beauty Looks
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Star Power
Glitter is a festival essential. To keep it fresh, try something besides the typical sprinkling of fairy dust on the eyes. Decorate cheeks with chunky gold and silver star sparkles. Keep the rest of the face understated. You'll shine like a, erm, star.
Image: Imaxtree
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Extreme Eyeliner
Make a classic cat eye dramatic enough to rival all of the glitter and rainbows at festivals by extending the tail until it almost touches the hairline. Add some color into the look with (temporary) multicolored strands or clip-in hair pieces.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweep of Shine
Makeup migrates at concerts thanks to the hot, sweaty conditions and hours of dancing. Stop fighting it and create an intentionally messy look with sweeps of glitter around the eye area. Keep all other features bare save for a liberal coating of sunscreen that's reapplied every few hours. A sunburn isn't a good festival souvenir.
Image: Imaxtree
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Classic Concert Beauty
Glitter, rainbow hair and headbands have become concert staples for a reason and there's nothing wrong with rocking them all together. Accent black eyeliner with glistening gold sparkle applied up to brow bones and under eyes. You want a bit of fallout for a magical effect. Keep errant strands in place while dancing with an embellished headband. Those who don't have dip-dyed ends can create them with temporary hair color.
Image: Imaxtree
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The Mask
This is definitely not the average way to enhance eyes with eyeliner, making it a brilliant idea for music festivals. Draw feathery strokes around the eyes using different liquid liners. Then sweep a bold blush across temples and cheeks. Promise you won't wear sunglasses. The design is too pretty to cover up.
Image: Imaxtree
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Remember Your Entire Body
Get creative with temporary tattoos by applying them to unexpected spots, like on the outer corner of the eye and in a cluster on hands. Just choose a spot where they're clearly visible. Got a good waterproof eyeliner and a steady hand? You can DIY your own designs.
Image: Imaxtree
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Superhero
Don't wait until Halloween to channel Wonder Woman. Do it at the next concert. We like this idea because it creates a superhero "tiara" using strips of gold and face paint. It's less cumbersome than trying to keep a heavy headpiece in place while headbanging.
Image: Imaxtree
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Flower Girl
There aren't many occasions in life where adults can get away with face paint, so bring it out for concerts. A bold flower on one cheek is pure boho. Complement the bloom with vertical stripes of shimmering eyeliner down the center of eyes. They add subtle shine and aren't as messy as loose sparkle.
Image: Imaxtree
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Unique Embellishment
Go beyond makeup counters and hit up the craft store for some unique embellishment. Get inspired by this trendy baby blue eye makeup with oversized sequins on the outer corners.
Image: Imaxtree
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Seeing Spots
No glitter? No problem. Embellish the area underneath eyes with freehand dots. Experiment with different sizes for a multidimensional look. You'll wonder why you never thought of the easy hack before.
Image: Imaxtree
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Not Just for Eyes and Faces
Glitter lips are made for festivals. Buff away dry skin, then apply chunky sparkles to moisturized lips. As this is concert season, take the look to the next level with a graphic eyeliner shape and a cluster of statement hair accessories.
Image: Imaxtree
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The Queen
"Minimalist" isn't a word we would use to describe the typical festival beauty look. But a pared-back look can be just as stunning as a glitter bomb one. Use a metallic silver eyeliner or a temporary tattoo to create a thin tiara design across the forehead. Leave the rest of the face au naturel. And we mean au naturel. That means no mascara.
Image: Imaxtree
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Red, White and Blue
Mix sparkles of different shapes and sizes for the ultimate prismatic finish. Highlight eyelids with a contrasting eyeshadow. Try red, white and blue at the next festival and for the Fourth of July.
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Be Bold
The first rule of festival beauty is to not be afraid. There is no look that's too wild, colorful or out-there. With that philosophy in mind, swipe a rich purple eyeshadow around the entire eye area, then top it with a liberal coating of glitter. Trusty braids will complete the festival-ready look.
Image: Imaxtree
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Full of Flowers
It wouldn't be a summer festival without floral crowns. Take the blooming beauty theme further by painting tiny flowers across your face and neck. The more random the placement, the better.
Image: Imaxtree
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Cartoon Eyes
Stop channeling mermaids and unicorns for a second and go for a graphic cartoon look with round negative space eyeliner. Call it sun eyes, doll eyes or just a very cool eyeliner shape.
Image: Imaxtree
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Write It Down
Thanks to the runways, we've been inspired by faux tattoos with empowering messages. Use a long-wearing, waterproof eyeliner to recreate the effect on your face. Get political, hopeful or celebrate loved ones. It's your message.
Image: Imaxtree
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Blooming Beauty
Floral crowns are beautiful, but a little expected. A face-framing halo of extra large blooms ups the romance, especially when the faux flowers are stuck in a loose updo. Keep makeup soft as to not distract from the hair accessories. A single star-shaped piece of glitter on the inner corner of each eye is sufficient.
Image: Imaxtree
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Rainbow Brights
Color overdose? No way. Make it a goal to incorporate as many colors as possible into a makeup look. If they're shimmery, even better. After painting eyes and lips, dot cheeks with a white eyeliner for a freckle effect.
Image: @paigeallisonhelena
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Mermaid Goals
Want to be a mermaid every day? Break out the full works for festival season with a wavy updo accented with a few braids and hair beads. Chunky blue sparkles on the eyes finish the mermaid-swept-ashore vibe.
Image: Imaxtree
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Double Dose
Concerts are the time to bring out all of the sparkle. Embellish the undereye area with a few rhinestones. Carry on the sparkly theme by dipping fingers in glitter. Think about how pretty it will look when you're throwing your hands up in the air.
Image: Imaxtree
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Blooms, Baby
Peace, love and flowers. Any sort of flower is welcome at festivals, be it the faux or painted-on variety. You can never go wrong with the real thing. Try baby blooms randomly placed on your face. Leave off traditional cosmetics so the flowers' colors pop.
Image: Imaxtree
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Blue Period
Partied into the wee hours last night? Still slay on day two of the festival with a sweep of pigmented shadow underneath eyes. It will disguise dark circles plus it takes all of two minutes to do.
Image: @artistrybyh.a.m_
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Ch Ch Chain
It's easy to get caught up in boho and flower power. Remember there are other sources of concert inspiration. This modern face paint isn't a cliché festival look. It's cool, modern and actually easy to recreate.
Image: Imaxtree
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Glitter Bomb
Make it rain confetti sparkles with a heavy sprinkling of multicolored specks applied on the part line. For a harmonious finish, apply a few pieces to eyes instead of shadow.
Image: Imaxtree
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Boho Babe
Make like Coachella regular Vanessa Hudgens and enhance features with a sparkly eyeshadow and brown lipstick. Loose braided pigtails and a floppy hat keep the festival game strong.
Image: @vanessahudgens
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So Many Colors
Bold, multicolored makeup ruled the Spring 2018 runways. It's also a fantastic option for festivals. Save the glitter for another day and dab different colors on the eye area. It has a unique paint-by-numbers finish.
Image: Imaxtree
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Bling, Bling
Make it all about the eyes by blinging them out with every loose glitter and diamanté you can find. Add some shine to hair with metallic clip-in pieces.
Image: Imaxtree
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Dip Dot
No need to spend hours creating a #flawless festival beauty look. Dab metallic eyeshadow on different parts of the eye. But don't blend it out. Tousled hair keeps it low-key.
Image: Imaxtree
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Low Key
With pastel rainbow hair, keep makeup simple. Try a no-makeup makeup look with a wash of brown eyeshadow and a light lip color. Draw inspiration from Kylie Jenner and choose a lippie with a metallic finish for some subtle shine.
Image: @kyliejenner
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So Cute
Put that glitter pot down. Enliven faces with bold blush and stick-on embellishment. Add color to the eyes with multicolored false lashes and eyeliner. Remember: Braids will always be in for festival season.
Image: Imaxtree
