Festival season always arrives the same way. Suddenly your group chat is buzzing, your wardrobe is in crisis, and your calendar is stacked with back-to-back weekends in the sun. Laneway is one of the biggest days on that list, with a full summer marathon of dancing, walking, sweating, outfit-spotting, and trying not to lose your friends in the crowd.
And while it's easy to get caught up in the hype, thriving at a festival (not just surviving it) comes down to treating your skin and wellbeing with the same energy you treat the line-up.
Australia's UV hits different. Just 15 minutes in the sun can start to damage your skin, and 2 in 3 Australians will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. That's why Cancer Council and the Australian Government have been encouraging young people to rethink the idea that a "festival suntan" is some kind of badge of honour. At Laneway, you don't need a suntan to have the best day ever.
Festival outfit-planning is the first priority after securing your passes, and cute-functionality is top-of-mind for every seasoned Aussie festival goer. Mesh long sleeves, oversized shirts, lightweight layers, wide-brim hats, and UV-protective sunglasses all pull double duty as style and sun protection. The people who truly thrive at Laneway are the ones who can move, stay cool and still look amazing by the headline act.
A thriving festival day actually starts before you even leave the house. SPF50+ is your real first layer and it'll prep your skin for a long day outdoors. Treat it like part of your beauty routine, because it is. On your face, makeup sits better, your skin stays happier, and future you will be genuinely grateful. And be sure to apply it to all exposed skin, so you're protected all over. Then, because no product lasts all day in the sun, reapplying every two hours is a must — think of it as a top-up, like refreshing your lip gloss.
Then there's hydration. Not the "maybe I'll remember to sip water later" kind, but the consistent, steady, keep-your-body-happy kind. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make the day feel harder than it needs to be. Regular water breaks keep you clear-headed, glowing, and actually able to enjoy the sets you came for.
Your body will thank you for building in pockets of rest, too. Laneway has shade zones and covered areas, and tapping into those between acts is one of the easiest ways to recharge. A few minutes out of the sun will keep that late-afternoon crash from hitting early.
A little prep goes a long way. Pack a phone charger, some band-aids and extra SPF50+ sunscreen, so you've got everything you need to keep yourself going without relying on anyone else. Having these essentials on hand also means you can cover your friends if they've forgotten something, whether it's a top-up of sunscreen or a quick band-aid for a blister. When everyone's basics are sorted, it frees you up to actually enjoy the music, laugh with your friends between sets, and soak up all the moments that make a festival day feel like summer in full swing.
The big shift this festival season is redefining what "looking good after a festival" actually means. Most young Australians (74%) believe their risk of skin cancer is low, and almost 9 in 10 are intentionally or unintentionally suntanning, but the glow that comes from taking care of yourself lasts way longer than any suntan. Damage can happen even when you don't burn, which is why simple, SunSmart habits matter: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide anytime UV is 3 or above.
Laneway is all about joy. Music that makes your whole body react, outfits you've planned for weeks, those magic moments with your friends you talk about for the rest of summer. Thriving through festival season means keeping your skin protected, your hydration game strong, your outfit festival-ready, and your energy steady from the first set to the closing track.
Protect your skin, listen to your body, take breaks in the shade, keep the water flowing and you'll not only survive festival season, but you'll actually enjoy every second of it.