How To Do (Boomtown) Festival Beauty

Party make-up doesn’t get any better than at Boomtown Fair! Beauty and Style Director, Lisa Oxenham, shows us how to recreate the best looks from the festival...

When it comes to playing dress up Boomtown is in a league of its own. The green hills of Hampshire are turned into the whackiest place in the country for the weekend and if you’re not into glamping or gourmet food but inspiration and FUN, this is the place for you…

INTERGALACTIC

Glitter can appear trashy so add an ethereal feel and take away anything too cliched. Go for an irridescent mist – it's pretty rather than disco. Over the top of freshly applied foundation dab Barry M Fine Glitter Dust in Gold Iridescent. £4.95, glitter across your t-zone. Swipe lips with Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in Pink Shock. £6.19, on top of your lips to give them a high-octane stain.

BOOMTOWN TIP: Balance with strong couture brows using YSL Dessin Des Soucils in Glazed Brown. £20.00, and lash-plumping Maybelline New York The Colossal Cat Eyes. £7.00.

STRAWBERRY SWIRL

Go easy with the face paint. The trick is to choose your colour theme well (two colours max) and swirl as if you are strobing: make the number three from the brow bone to the corner of your eye and swirl onto the cheekbone. It’s all about circles and being fluid with your brush – harsh lines will take it in another direction. Use good quality face paints that will stay put like Models Own Festival Face Paint in Neon Pink or Yellow. £3.99, and Paint Glow UV Face Paint in Jazzberry Pink. £2.99.

BOOMTOWN TIP: When you wear intricate colour the last thing you want is for it to melt off. Long-lasting base is a must. Go for Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation. £29.00.

SPACED OUT SILVER

Pewter is romantic and less overtly sexy than the traditional festival smoky eye. A cream shadow is a great base to press a matching shade of glitter onto. Dab a cocktail Maybelline Color Tatoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow In Eternal Silver, £4.99 and Stargazer Glitter Shaker in Silver. £3.00 over the lids. Don’t stress about making it perfect – this look should have a rock ‘n’ roll feel to it.

BOOMTOWN TIP: Intense glitter nails are having a resurgence right now. We love Rimmel London Glitter Bomb in Disco Fever. £3.99.

METEOR SHOWER

Glitter can be like a playful, all over fairy dust and it cleverly shows off the contours of the body and conceals imperfections at the same time! When you get ready for a night out put glitter on your ceiling fan, turn it on and the glitter falls evenly all over your skin. Barry M Glitter Rush Body Glitter in either Snow Globe or Desert Bronze. £4.59, is a microscopic glitter and will leave you with a provocative pale softness. Those without ceiling fans should dust it lightly with a large, soft brush across the temples, cheekbones, collarbones and decollete. 

BOOMTOWN TIP: You don’t need an adhesive to stick a light coating of glitter to the skin - just use a balm like Lucas Papaw Ointment. £6.99, or Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. £26.00.

MOONLIGHT MARKINGS

You can't be subdued with electric blue glitter. No matter how sheer you go it's always a statement, so just go for it. For a refined look paint the face with a primer like Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion. £19.50, exactly where you want the glitter to go. Then using a small blending brush press the glitter over the top. We love the vibrancy of Mac Pigment in Steel Blue, £16.00.Lashes should be coated in jet black. Go for Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara. £20.00.

BOOMTOWN TIP: There's one strict rule with glitter. Only the cosmetic kind are made up of circular spheres that won't scratch your skin or eyes, so only use them.

COSMIC EYES

Anyone that wears shimmer and highlighter, can wear glitter. If you're a fan of a big, glossy eyes then glitter is just the next step. Silver is the failsafe shade but add in this seasons purples and pinks. Go for Maybelline New York Colour Sensational Gloss in Naked Starr. £6.19, as a base and MAC Pigment in Copper Sparkle. £16.00, on top – it makes the colour light up and become sexy. Use on top of a balmy base like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand treatment. £26.00. Dab on the silver and then a few spots of pink and purple on top.

BOOMTOWN TIP: Glitter is fiddly so we recommend pressing sticky tape around the eyes to get a defined shape or using a stiff brow brush to dust off any strays. Finish by locking it in with NYX Make Up Setting Spray. £8.00, which dries makeup firmly on.

THE BOOMTOWN BEAUTY DO's AND DONT's

• DO always buff lips thoroughly before applying glitter. • DO use glitter pencils – they are easy to use on the eyes and stop particles falling on the cheeks. • DO use the layering process to build up the glitter for staying power. • DO remove glitter with a cream cleanser that won’t scratch skin. • DON’T use lipliner. • DON’T use shimmer on shiny or oily areas. • DON’T go out without slathering on a primer with an SPF. If there’s any time to use a primer, this is it. We love Sisley Super Soin Solaire Facial Sun Care SPF 50, £109.00. • DON’T Let your hair go oily. Massage through Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder, £22.00.

So there you have it? Chic and easy festival styles all wrapped up!