From hand sanitiser to glitter body spray, we have you covered with 15 certified vegan festival essentials that need to be on your packing list this summer
We’re well into summer, which means festival season! Once you’ve packed your actual essentials, like a tent, sleeping bag, portable chargers and wellies (a non-negotiable for unpredictable British summer outdoor events), you may be left wondering what the rest of your packing list should look like. Especially for vegans, you can sometimes be scrambling to find good vegan alternatives to products you need in your bag. From confusing ingredient lists to ‘cruelty-free’ products that actually contain animal products, finding vegan products that you can trust can be confusing, which is why you should always look for the Vegan Trademark first! When you see The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark on a product, you can trust that all of the ingredients throughout the supply chain have been checked by our expert team to ensure there are no animal ingredients, and you can trust that the product has not been tested on animals at the initiative of the company or by parties over whom the company has effective control.
From hand sanitiser to glitter body spray, we have you covered with 17 certified vegan festival essentials that need to be on your packing list this summer.
Eating and Drinking Vegan at a Festival
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Misfits Protein Bars. Most festivals have a range of exciting food vendors, and with more and more vegan options, you’re likely to have more trouble choosing which vendor to try, rather than struggling for options, however this can get pricey! It’s a great idea to bring some food with you, especially things like protein bars that will pack in some nutrients and keep your energy up through a jam-packed day. The range of certified vegan protein bars from Misfits are a great option, with crowd-pleasing flavours such as Chocolate Caramel and Speculoos, you can pack in the protein without compromising on taste.
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VEG 1 Multivitamin. While delicious, festival food is not always the most nutritious. So to stay feeling your best, make sure to pack your VEG 1 for an easy nutrient boost. A 90-tin will easily slot into any bag, or you could even decant your daily VEG 1 tablets into a smaller pill box. One tablet will provide you with seven nutrients: vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine and selenium, plus extra B vitamins to boost absorption. If you're travelling with mini-vegans, remember to also take along our liquid multivitamin, VEG 1 Baby and Toddler. Equipped with a syringe for easy and accurate dosage, you don't need to worry about the logistics of getting them to take it. Although not the most exciting festival packs, you’ll thank yourself later. Shop online here.
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Huel Daily A-Z Vitamins Drink. Whether you choose to drink alcohol or not, it’s so important while you’re outside all day to stay hydrated! Bring a refillable water bottle and make use of the water points at festivals to ensure you’re not getting dehydrated. If you’re looking for an energy boost too, Huel’s Daily A-Z Vitamins Sparkling Drink is an energy drink packed with fruity flavour and vitmains.
Staying Clean
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Dr Bronner’s Organic Lavender Hand Hygiene Spray. Some might say (we definitely would!) hand sanitiser should be the very first thing in your bag when heading to a festival, and don’t forget a backup too! You will be thanking yourself when the dreaded portaloos have none in sight. Dr Bronner’s Organic Lavender Hand Hygiene Spray is a great option for killing bacteria when there’s no water and soap in sight!
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Organii Hand Gel. Another great option for freshening up your hands is the natural Hand Gel from Organii. Certified natural and vegan, with 60% alcohol, this fast-drying had gel has added organic tea tree essential oil and organic aloe vera leaf juice for their anti-bacterial effects, as well as vegetable glycerine for skin hydration, to prevent drying out your hands.
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The Cheeky Panda Biodegradable Bamboo Handy Wipes. As well as sanitiser, keeping a pack of Cheeky Panda’s Handy Wipes in your bag will come in so useful for a multitude of uses. Made from bamboo, which is biodegradable, these wipes are plastic-free, kind to skin, the perfect size to fit in your bag and certified vegan.
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The Cheeky Panda Bamboo Pocket Tissues. Caring about the environment often goes hand in hand with veganism, so picking up these plastic-free pocket tissues from Cheeky Panda is a must for an outdoor festival. The perfect size to fit in your bag, you can avoid ever worrying about there being loo roll in the portaloos when you know you’re prepared.
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Wype: The Wet Wipe Alternative. Another option when looking for an alternative to traditional wet wipes made from polyester and other non-flushable materials is Wype’s soothing natural gel in Original and Viva la V, to transform your tissue paper into wipes for the ultimate freshness down there, even at a festival! Certified organic and vegan, and packaged in an infinitely recyclable bottle with a reusable applicator, this is an environmentally friendly option that is suitable for sensitive skin and the perfect size for your bag.
Vegan Cosmetics you can’t go without
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Lucy Bee SPF30 Face Serum. A broad spectrum SPF to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays is an essential every day, but especially at a festival where you’re going to be spending long hours outside, potentially in the sun. Lucy Bee’s SPF30 Face Serum is a lightweight hydrating SPF serum, suitable for sensitive skin that has a dewy finish with no white cast, making it suitable for all skin tones. Remember to reapply throughout the day to stay protected!
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Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo. With queues for the showers lasting hours sometimes, dry shampoo is a must-have on our list to freshen up your hair without the hassle. For a certified vegan option, why not check out Lush’s No Drought Dry Shampoo – sprinkle a little powder onto your scalp and through the hair, massage it in and brush out.
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Wild Deodorant. Another daily essential, but one you definitely do not want to be caught without when access to running water is running low. A great tip to stay fresh while camping is freshen up with a white wipe under the arms and then apply your deodorant. Wild’s plastic-free and certified vegan deodorant refills come in a range of scents, so you’re sure to find a fave to keep you smelling fresh.
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Hurraw Sun Lip Balm SPF 15. SPF for the lips is easily overlooked, but your lips are just as susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun’s radiation as the rest of your body, so make sure you keep protected and hydrated when outdoors, with a protective SPF like Hurraw’s Sun Lip Balm. It’s certified vegan, organic and natural, and packed with cold pressed oils to moisturise and protect and a summery juicy tangerine and vanilla scent.
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Incognito Insect Repellent Lotion or Spray. Being outdoors and enjoying nature is one of the many great things about festivals but dealing with bugs and mosquitos absolutely isn’t. Pack incognito’s insect repellent lotion or spray for certified vegan and DEET-free protection from mosquitos, insects, ticks and midges
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Incognito Mineral Sunblock & Insect Repellant SPF 30. As well as SPF protection for your face, if you have exposed skin, you need to make sure that’s protected too. For 2-in1, insect repellent and sun protection, you could try incognito’s Mineral Sunblock & Insect Repellent.
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Riemann P20 Original Spray SPF 50+. Another great sunscreen option is the P20 Original Spray SPF 50+ which is highly sweat resistant, perfect for long days dancing outdoors. The lightweight, fast-drying formula leaves no white cast and it’s also AllergyCertified, fragrance free, and of course certified with the Vegan Trademark.
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UpCircle Flaura Eau De Parfum. Perhaps not your first thought for a festival essential, but packing your favourite fragrance to help you smell not just fresh, but good sounds like an essential to us. UpCircle’s Flaura Eau De Parfum is an uplifting and fresh scent made with upcycled botanicals.
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Lush Shake ‘n’ Spritz Body Spray. Finally, glitter and festivals definitely go hand in hand, but finding a vegan option isn’t always the easiest. Lush’s Shake ‘n’ Spritz Body Spray will leave you smelling fresh and sparkling! With grapefruit oil and floral petitgrain, this vegan certified spray will also bring a sparkle to your skin and clothes!
We hope you have a wonderful time at any festivals you’re attending and that you have found some helpful recommendations in our round-up! Don’t forget to follow the Vegan Trademark on Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok for all the latest certified vegan product updates and tips. We’d love to see your favourite #VeganTrademark finds so make sure to tag us (@vegantrademark) and use the hashtag to connect with us!
By Vegan Society Brand Marketing Officer, Charis Collier
The views expressed by our bloggers are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
