REGARDLESS of whether you’re a festival virgin or a haggard old hippy heading to Glasto for the 25th time, everyone can do with some pointers on how to have the best festival ever.

While there you’ll be too busy having fun to worry, but the packing for a festival can be surprisingly stressful

So here's a checklist of everything you need, plus a couple of the best products and bargains which will make your festival experience go as smoothly as possible.

1.The most important things to remember are; ticket, cash (don’t even try queuing for one of the only cash points on the whole site – it’ll take hours) rubbish phone, I.D and tent. You can almost certainly buy everything else once you’re there, from pants, disposable camera and toothpaste to fruit and deckchair – so DO NOT panic if you forget anything.

2.Decant your booze – most festivals have a strict no glass policy, which is fair enough as they usually take place on farms and will have cows grazing on them shortly after you’ve left.

3.You are only going for a couple of days – don’t take the kitchen sink. And if you take your luggage in wheel suitcase, know that everyone will secretly point and laugh at you. Festivals are firm rucksack territory.

4.Some people take cup a soups, spam, supernoodles – anything full of MSG basically. Personally i prefer to take a bag of apples and some healthy(ish) fruit and nut bars and buy the rest of my food from the many vendors. While there will be some whose prices take the mick, shop around. You can always get a cup of tea and slice of toast for about £2 if you really look for it. Also, in the last few years festival food has really upped its game, and you can get truly delicious dinners for less than a tenner.

5. Which brings me on to budget. Set yourself a budget for each day – say, a maximum of £10 a day if you’re skint, or £20 if you’re not, to pay for food and a drink or two – remember, taking you’re own alcohol will save you a whole load of money.

6. Don’t camp within 25m of the portaloos or at the bottom of a hill, and never ever combine the two. If it rains, which it invariably will – this is Britain – you will not be able to tell if it’s an inch of mud or something worst floating around the bottom of your tent.

And now for my essential items:

1. The LifeProof Series allows smartphone users to relax without worrying about the safety of their devices. They are waterproof up to 6.6 ft. for 30 minutes, essentially making your smart phone a waterproof camera and are also drop proof and dustproof. They also have the OtterBox Commuter Series Wallet, a protective case with discrete storage and quick access to cash and important cards. From £69.99.

2. Ladies, if he sun does make an appearance you’ll probably get those pins out - cue the new Venus & Olay Sugarberry Razor. It gently exfoliates the legs leaving them silky smooth and the Sugarberry scented moisture bars help lock in skin’s moisture- a must have beauty tool for summer. £10.99 from all major retail outlets.

3. This stuff is a miracle. I wish I had known about it five years ago, I really do, as it would have saved me hours in depressing wetwipe baths in an overheating muddy tent. Take a Grip is known as the “dry shower in a bottle”. This miracle lotion from Temple Spa will cleanse, refresh and cool the skin, eliminating stickiness and sweat to leave you with that just showered feeling. It sanitises the skin and dries quickly to a soft talc-like finish. Giving off an uplifting fragrance thanks to its ingredients of aloe vera and menthol, it provides a cooling sensation, perfect for those camping weekends at festivals when you’re struggling to get a shower! £4.25 for 30ml or £18 for 150ml, available from Harrods, Selfridges and templespa.com.

4. An itchy, red, streaming nose and eyes are never a good festival look. NasalGuard AllergieBLOCK is a clinically-proven, preventative, drug-free gel that blocks airborne allergens such as pollen, ragweed and dust from entering the nose and causing a reaction. You simply apply a small drop to the nostrils and upper lip to create an invisible barrier with a slight electrostatic charge which traps and blocks airborne particles. As its drug free, it’s non drowsy and safe for children and pregnant mums too. Magic! £11.99 ffrom Boots, Superdrug, Alliance Pharmacies, Sainsbury’s.

5. Australia’s favourite multi purpose balm has hit the UK - PapayaGold Paw Paw balm contains New Zealand’s grade 20+ Manuka honey and is a travel essential as it is multipurpose; helping to sooth irritated skin, relieve dryness and even help with symptoms of eczema or blemishes. Makeup artists swear by it as it works great as a primer and moisturiser. £5.99 from Boots.

6. For protection try Ultra Sun Glimmer 20 to keep your skin beautiful and healthy with this clever sun protection product. Ideal for sensitive skin,the ground breaking formula also contains Superoxide Dismutase(SOD),an enzyme to help free radical activity and tiny golden glimmers which raise protection by deflecting the sun’s rays while adding an attractive golden glow to the surface of the skin. £18.00,100ml.

7. A’kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil is perfect for all skin types. This multi-purpose oil can be gently massaged on to face and décolletage for vibrant, glowing and youthfully radiant looking skin. £18.00,23ml.

8. Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches These collagen undereye patches will relieve dark circles, reduce puffiness and help prevent the obvious signs of ageing brought on by too much partying and too many late nights.£6 for 3 x 6g sachets.

9. Morgan Taylor’s New Neon Lights Collection features six stunningly bright neon shades perfect for summer. Morgan Taylor’s specialist formula made from raw ingredients enhances finish, coverage and wear ensuring that not only your nails will look beautifully groomed but they will stay that way too! RRP £10.99

10. And to make things extra easy, ow about this great value kit from Outdoor World Direct. The popular three person festival package costs just £109 but is worth over £200 and includes one Kampa Brighton three person tent, three Vango Atlas Square Sleeping Bags and three multimat Camper XL Foam Mattresses.£109.99 from www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/3-person-festival-package.html.

11. Finally, Interflora has a collection of hairpieces and corsages made from fresh flower which are perfect for festivals which can be ordered online fromwww.interflora.co.uk/content/fashion-flowers-to-wear.

l We are giving one lucky reader the chance to win a festival camping kit. To be in with a chance of winning, just tell us how many people the festival camping kit tent will accommodate: a) 2; b) 3; c) 4. Send your answer, name, address and contact details on a postcard to Festival Competition, Editor’s PA, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN or you can enter by text. Start your message with CAMPINGKIT, leave a space and then send your answer, name and address to 80360. Messages cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group. Terms and Conditions at www.southwalesargus.co.uk/competitions. Closing date: 30th June.