It’s my favorite time of year again — festival season. As the weather warms up, el perreo gets closer. I can already picture it: me in some skin-baring two-piece set, sunnies saving my eyes from the rays, and dancing with my girls on a grassy field as our favorite artists take the stage. Spring is the ultimate tease to summer, kicking off with the Met Gala of multi-day experiences: Coachella. This year, the three-day showcase is a special one because Colombian pop star Karol G will be headlining on Sunday night, making her the first Latina to front the event.
I’m a music festival veteran. Over the years, I’ve watched Bad Bunny also make history at Coachella and witnessed Sueños Music Festival in Chicago grow into the Midwest’s largest Latine music festival. Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, Rolling Loud, and countless others — I’ve done a lot of them. And as someone who annually attends arts and culture fests, I’ve learned all about the importance of packing essential items, both for travel and for the actual festival.
Whether this is your first festival season or just the first event since last year, think of this as a survival guide rather than a product roundup of unnecessary items. Because if you’re going to be outdoors in some deserted field for countless hours, and don’t want to miss your favorite acts when they take the mic, you need to stick to the basics. From beauty essentials to practical accessories, these picks will keep you ready for an unforgettable weekend.
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As a Cheirosa 62 girlie, I’m hooked on these new limited-edition Sol De Janeiro The Destination Drop scents. While Cheeky Biquíni is my fave because of how refreshing it smells, all three of these formulas feel airy and layerable, allowing me to refresh throughout the day without ever feeling overwhelmed. Think of it as a tropical escape in a bottle and exactly what you’ll need to enhance your festival experience. But one thing I wish Sol De Janeiro would do is create small-sized scent bottles. In the meantime, I’ll be pulling up to festivals with these fragrances in a mini perfume sample bottle.
Sol de Janeiro Sol De Janeiro The Destination Drop Perfume Mist, $, available at Sol de Janeiro
One of my favorite parts about going to a music festival is getting ready for it. There’s something so fun about romanticizing the process: doing my makeup, choosing a color palette for the day, and figuring out which hairstyle works best with my outfit. It’s all part of the experience. But what’s the point of all that effort if you’re walking miles through campgrounds, sweating, and watching it all melt away? Well behold, one of Shark Beauty’s latest inventions: the ChillPill, a three-in-one personal cooling device featuring an InstaChill cryo-cooling plate, high-speed 10-speed bladeless fan, and dry-touch mist. My favorite part about it? It comes in several pretty colors (yay options). Despite all of its features, ChillPill is lightweight, easy to carry, and actually does what it’s supposed to do: keeps me cool without the hassle.
Shark Beauty Shark Beauty ChillPill 3-in-1 Cooling System With Fan, $, available at Ulta Beauty
My latest obsession is Ceremonia’s Guava Gloss Drops. As a newly retired blonde, I’ve returned to my natural hair color and have been on a mission to repair the damage my hair has endured in the past 11 years. Restoring life and health to my hair have been my goals, and these gloss drops have made a noticeable difference. They add shine to my styled hair while also acting as a heat protectant. This is especially important to me because the sun can be intense, especially during a festival. Making sure I apply a few drops before styling helps protect my hair and scalp from the heat, which has become an essential step in my hair care routine.
Ceremonia Ceremonia Guava Hair Oil, $, available at Sephora
One thing about the desert: It will drain you and dehydrate you fast if you’re not drinking enough water. Between the heat, constant sun, walking, and dancing all day, your body is losing fluids quickly. That’s where these Electrolit electrolyte powder variety packs come in. It’s my go-to for rapid hydration. Water alone isn’t always enough after heavy sweating. Electrolit packets help your body absorb and retain fluids more effectively, so you feel rehydrated faster and stay energized longer. Plus, the packets are lightweight and easy to carry, making them perfect to mix into your reusable water bottle for an extra boost of hydration throughout the day.
Electrolit Electrolit’s Electrolyte Powder, $, available at Electrolit
Talking about reusable water bottles, did you know that Stanley 1913 collaborated with Karol G for a limited-edition tumbler inspired by her Tropicoqueta era? While you may not be able to enter a festival with a metal water bottle, you can make sure you’re getting all the liquids you’ll need to sustain you — especially if you’ll also be drinking some alcoholic beverages — beforehand. And if you also want to prepare for the vibes, the warm ombré tones, tropical floral imagery, and metallic pineapple straw topper will definitely set you in the mood for her set.
Stanley The Stanley 1913 x Karol G Tumbler (30z), $, available at Stanley
As someone who has been to countless concerts and festivals over the years — both for pleasure and for work — one of my only regrets is not protecting my ears sooner. I didn’t start noticing changes in my hearing until my 30s. Now that I know better, I do better. But you should do better now. Loop Earplugs completely changed the game for me and improved my overall experience at live shows. The Loop x Coachella Experience 2 is a true festival essential because these earplugs help reduce volume without sacrificing sound quality, so you can still enjoy the music while protecting your ears.
Loop Earplugs Loop x Coachella Experience 2, $, available at Loop Earplugs
One thing I always do is keep that thang on me. And by that, I of course mean sunscreen. Whether you’re in the Coachella Valley or the sun is beaming down on you from Chicago, New York, or Orlando this festival season, sunscreen is not optional. What I really enjoy about Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Invisible Gel Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum (SPF 40) is that it doesn’t feel heavy on my face. It’s lightweight while still adding a layer of protection. And if you’re at Coachella and somehow forget to pack sunscreen, Neutrogena will have several “Sunscreen Stations” throughout the festival grounds, campgrounds, and safari areas where you can pick some up for free.
Neutrogena Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Invisible Gel Facial Sunscreen, $, available at Ulta Beauty
Nothing kills festival vibes faster than a dead phone. From snapping outfit pics and capturing photo ops to catching your favorite artist’s set, your phone can run out of juice faster than you’d expect. Enter the EcoFlow RAPID Magnetic Power Bank. It charges your phone wildly fast and uses a magnetic design so there’s no cords or fuss necessary. Honestly, it’s a festival lifeline, so you can keep capturing every moment without ever worrying about running out of battery.
EcoFlow EcoFlow RAPID Magnetic Power Bank, $, available at EcoFlow
No matter which festival you hit this year or which pass you have — general admission, VIP, or even an artist pass — you’re going to be surrounded by a large number of people. That means limited personal space and a higher chance of coming into contact with germs throughout the day. That’s why keeping a mini hand sanitizer on hand is key. It lets you move around freely without constantly worrying about what you’re touching. Personally, I love Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Hand Sanitizer. It has a great lavender scent and, unlike some others, it doesn’t dry out my hands.
Mrs. Meyers Mrs. Meyer’s Lavender Hand Sanitizer, $, available at Mrs. Meyer’s
No one enjoys mosquito bites, especially not when you’re trying to capture cute videos of yourself dancing with your girlfriends. That’s why I always keep a bug repellent on me no matter the time of year. Feeling itchy is just not a feeling I want to experience, especially not at a festival. I enjoy OFF! Clean Feel Insect Repellent Spritz because it’s lightweight, non-greasy, and actually works, and it allows you to soak up the festival vibes without constantly worrying about getting bit.
OFF! OFF! Clean Feel Spritz Insect Repellent, $, available at CVS
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