FESTIVAL MAKEUP - GEMS + IRIDESCENT EYES

Its back. The one thing us Brits crave most: summer. Not only does this season provide some much-needed vitamin D, but with Glastonbury, Wilderness and co on the horizon, it also means it’s time to start planning your festival makeup looks.

A break from the everyday, festivals are the perfect moment to express yourself and experiment with your makeup. At FLANNELS, this means going all in with an ethereal, diamante-studded, iridescent festival makeup look.

For our latest campaign, makeup artist Grace Sinnott worked her magic to create the ultimate festival makeup look that taps in the the world of Euphoria and our current obsession for all things mermaid-inspired. “Music and style have always been an indicator of culture and social expression,” says Sinnott. “So it’s no surprise festival season is a time to get creative with different looks.”

Face gems seem a bit much? Don’t worry, Sinnott explains how to tone a festival makeup look up or down. Not sure what products to use? How to get glowy skin? Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to nailing the ultimate festival makeup look with makeup artist Grace Sinnott.

Step 1: Apply a long-lasting, lightweight makeup base

Festivals are an endurance game, late nights, long days, minimal opportunities to wash. And your festival makeup, well that’s going to need to work hard. To start, you’re going to need a light base that will last and not hinder your final look. “I started by prepping the skin,” says Sinnott. If you want your makeup to last all day, opt for light skincare so there is less oil and product on the skin to break the makeup down. “I used slightly less dewy skincare products on the base than I would usually,” says Sinnott.

Sinnott’s top tip? “Use an oil-free moisturiser, as when sticking crystals onto the lids and temples you don’t want any product there that will loosen the glue and make them slip off.” Clever.

Step 2: Go all in with metallic eye makeup and stick-on gems

When makeup is your form of self-expression, how can the boundaries be pushed further? Easy, stick gems on your face. If colour is your thing, go full steam ahead and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But for a balanced, more everyday festival look, listen to Sinnott’s wise words: “I wanted the main focus to be on the crystals. When you’re outside and the sun catches on them, I think adding bright colour to this would take away from that effect and clash. I wanted it to be more of a high shine, sparkly look.”

“We did use a selection of coloured crystals on the eyes, mainly silver but also hues of baby blues and yellows,” Sinnott explains.

Crystals = sorted. But what about the eyeshadow? “My standout product for the look other than the crystals were the Pat McGrath Labs eyeshadows,” says Sinnott. “They have such a fine pigment in them. The blue and purple tones really give such an iridescence. I actually like to use some of the more neutral-coloured shimmers to add more depth on top of a clear lip gloss on the lips as well.”

Step 3: Tailor the look to you

Whilst we’re going all out this season at FLANNELS, Grace Sinnott has some tips and tricks up her sleeve to ensure you’re comfortable in your festival look. “A beauty look doesn’t have to be really loud or over the top,” she says. “You can still focus on interesting details that help to reflect an individual’s uniqueness without going crazy. I find that focusing on either an eye or a lip look, as opposed to both, can be a nice way to start.”

Need more inspiration? Pair a bold lip with fresh skin and naked eyes (yes, even without mascara). Place a single mini gem on the inner or outer corners of your eyes to bring a bit of sparkle. Or keep it neutral with a ‘90s-style brown lip and sharp winged eyeliner and bronzed skin. The possibilities are as endless as the hot summer nights.