What to Bring to Coachella
12 Products You'll Need to Survive Coachella (and Look Good Doing It)
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Much like Clark Kent and pretty much every husband on Who the Bleep Did I Marry?, the music festival Coachella leads two separate lives: the casual daytime concert and the boisterous nighttime party. Both are brimming with opportunities for dancing, sweating, and front-of-Ferris-wheel-picture-taking, and if you're headed to Palm Springs for the occasion, you'll want to come equipped with everything you need for any and all of them.
"You can do whatever you want at Coachella — rhinestones, glitter, face paint, anything," said Nam Vo, makeup artist and spokesperson for NYX Professional Makeup (the official sponsor of the festival). "You might go during the day, and you want something natural and glowy, but then you do glitter eyes or turn it up for the evening when the music really starts," Vo said. "Coachella is a free-for-all in terms of expression. I also think at the end of the day, as creative as people want to get, you also want it to be flattering."
To help guide you through your packing list, we asked Vo to share the desert island essentials she'll be bringing this year — and we can guarantee it won't just be the performers stealing the show.
Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Coachella is all fun and games until your face starts colour coordinating with your crimson patterned duster, which is why the number one thing you need to survive the sweltering Palm Springs heat is sunscreen. "People are going to have to think about bringing a lot a lot of SPF," said Vo. She swears by the Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($19). Treat it like a form of self-care and bathe yourself in the stuff, because everyone knows sunburns feel 10 times warmer in large crowds.
NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation
"Even though I'm not a big matte person, I would suggest a matte long-wear foundation because it's so, so hot out there," she said. The NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation ($15) won't budge through even the sweatiest dance sesh (trust us — we put it to the test). "Then just highlight certain points on your face to make it glowy."
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
To stay glistening in the good way (because "there's nothing as sexy as skin," which, true), Vo suggests keeping cool with a facial mist. The Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($48) is loaded with red algae and hyaluronic acid — which can feel like a nice hit of moisture when you're essentially stranded in a desert — but she also likes the NYX Professional Makeup Dewy Finish Setting Spray ($9).
SunnyLife Pineapple Beach Fan
"It's probably not a bad idea to bring a stylish handheld fan," said Vo. "I bought cute, Asian-inspired fans from Chinatown that are very pretty, so that's what I'll be bringing." Not in a city with any aesthetically pleasing options? Someone call the mayor. Or, get the SunnyLife Pineapple Beach Fan ($17), which ships straight to your door.
Slip Large Slipsilk Scrunchies
"Now is the time to bring back the scrunchie," said Vo. (Might we recommend the Slip Large Slipsilk Scrunchies ($39))? "Everyone's hot, it's hot outside, so this is your chance to pull your hair up. I know mine is so thick and heavy. It can feel like a heavy curtain that makes you even hotter."
Lola Hats First Aid Striped Band Straw Hat
Can't bring yourself to buy a scrunchie? First, the rebellious high school-you would be so proud. Second, consider a wide-rimmed hat instead. Vo loves the brands Lack of Colour and Lola. (And how cute is this Lola Hats First Aid Striped Band Straw Hat ($288).
NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Setting Powder
"If you have on a nice long-wear foundation, packing a pressed powder is what's going to really keep it in place and hold up underneath the heat and the climate. Of course, everybody's oils and body chemistry is different, but I like to keep the NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Setting Powder ($12) in my purse. Then when I see my makeup breaking up, I'll go in and just touch up those areas."
Pure Acres Farm Clear Pot Jars
"If your powder compact is too big, I would go to Duane Reade, Ricky's, or even Amazon and get one of those tiny refillable travel jar and slap some powder in there. That literally will fit in your denim pocket." We like the Pure Acres Farm Clear Pot Jars ($8 for 50).
Rebecca Minkoff Nylon Belt Bag
Grab a belt bag — or as you might have once called it, a "fanny pack" — like the Rebecca Minkoff Nylon Belt Bag ($95) because duh, where else are you going to put all your stuff?
Bonnie Clyde Desierto 42mm Round Sunglasses
One of the biggest sunglass trends of the year was practically made for Coachella: ones like Bonnie Clyde Desierto 42mm Round Sunglasses ($108) that are round and boho-esque, with semi-transparent lenses that shield your eyes against the sun during the day and bright concert lights at night.
Sephora Collection Line Up Makeup Tape
When it comes to Coachella's nighttime festivities, and you want your makeup as loud as the audience singing "Thank U, Next," bring on the glitter. Just make sure you get it where you actually want it. "One thing I like to do if I'm doing glitter on my lids is to put tape or a bandage underneath my eyes so it catches all the falling, because that tends to happen with glitter, and as we all know, it can be hard to remove." Skip the Home Depot run and snag this Sephora Collection Line Up Makeup Tape ($6) instead.
NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Goals Cream Pro Palette
If you want a high-impact palette with loads of colour, try the NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Goals Cream Pro Palette ($25). If you're doing loose glitter, Vo recommends you "pack it on top of your eyelash glue, which is safe for skin and will definitely help it stay on for a long time."
