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When you live in Canada, the August long weekend only means one thing: Osheaga in Montreal! Well, to be fair, the long weekend can actually mean a lot of different things including, relaxing, cottaging, and doing whatever the heck you want for three whole days (or longer). What I’m trying to say is that Osheaga is a massive music festival that thousands of people head to from all across the country, and beyond!

I’m excited to announce that for the first time ever I will be attending Osheaga! I know, hard to believe right?

Since packing the right beauty products and tech gadgets are some of the most important things to think about when travelling, I thought I’d share what will be inside my bag as I hop on the train and head to that place where everyone speaks French. Oh la la!

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No surprise here, sunglasses are an absolute essential for music festivals, and leaving your house at any time, in general (except for when its dark out). I’ll taking my new favourites along for the ride which are the white tortoiseshell beauties from Etnia Barcelona.

Sure, a portable speaker may not be needed so much at a music festival, but what about when you’re trying to have a raging hotel party before or after the festival? I love the JBL Flip 2 Bluetooth Speakers from Telus for its sleek and smart design. It even comes with a compact case to protect it while on the road.

When I’m travelling, I try to keep my makeup routine to a bare minimum. I mean, who wants to be spending precious holiday fun time in front of a mirror trying to achieve perfection? All you need is a good tinted moisturizer with SPF, mascara, a lip colour, and you’ll be good to go. On this trip I’ll be taking Chanel‘s Les Beiges all-in-one healthy glow fluid with SPF 15, Chanel‘s classic black mascara, and YSL golden gloss for extra juicy (and sparkly!) bright red lips.

The other thing I can’t travel without is a good face cleanser. Obviously the worst thing ever is trying to bring a full-sized bottle with you, so I like to pack samples, or my favourite cleanser that, thankfully, comes in more compact packaging. The Soy Face Cleanser by Fresh is a happy medium in a 50ml squeeze tube. It’s big enough that it will last more than one wash, won’t be annoying to try and get out of the actual packaging, won’t spill in your bag, and, best of all is a great quality face cleanser that’s gentle. Please, do not, I repeat, do not wash your face with the soap bar you find in your hotel.

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Probably one of the most important accessories of all to have on hand while travelling is the internet USB key. Whether you are a blogger, working remotely or simply addicted to staying up-to-date, you can’t rely on your cell phone reception, hotel and/or free wifi alone! No, you need a trustworthy backup. This year I’m so excited to avoid all internet connection problems by having this Huawei Internet Key from Telus in my bag at all times.

But let’s not forget about those fingers that may or may not be frantically typing away. The manicure that’s needed on a vacation is one that will actually last. Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel nail polish will get you a gel manicure in just 2 steps (with no light needed) that lasts up to 14 days! An extra perk is that the polish is nice and thick  and goes on very smoothly so even one coat of colour would do if you were in a rush.

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Another important thing to consider is taking double duty products. It’s great to have a good sunscreen on hand in the summer to protect your skin, but its better that it can double as your body lotion. Fresh offers a Black Tea Age-Delay Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with SPF 20 that protects and smoothes. Not to mention it’s compact and comes in a travel-friendly tube!

Even though I feel like pretty much everything included in this list is my travel must-have, this next one really is my secret weapon of travel that I cannot be without. Facial cleansing towelettes are my saviour when travelling on a plane or train, by car — any form of transport really! Not only do they help you feel refreshed when you need it most, but they are amazing for emergency situations when you don’t have access to nearby water, or a bathroom, and desperately need to wash your hands, etc. Burt’s Bees‘ Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract are 99% natural and will come in handy for some many reasons. One including being too lazy really wash your face after a long day (and night) of music festival-ing.

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For when you aren’t too lazy to properly wash your face, and, in fact, are looking to rejuvenate your skin after all that partying, it’s always good to have a good scrub (and even a mask) on hand to help you. Trust me, it will be a lot cheaper than paying a visit to your hotel’s spa for help. Rodial has created a product designed for exactly this with their Super Acids X-Treme After-Party Scrub. I mean, this thing just understands, you know?

And I don’t know about you, but last night’s party is always revealed by the bags under my eyes. I try to pamper them even when I’m travelling. Rodial‘s other star product just for this is their Dragon’s Blood Eye Gel de-puffing while also plumping up the eye area.

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And there you have it, that’s what will be in my bag at Osheaga 2014! Of course we can’t forget one of the most parts: the bag itself! The cobalt Archbishop bag from Vancouver-based handbag line, One Fated Knight, is what I’ll be filling up and throwing over my shoulder. The size of this hobo-style cross body bag is just the right size to fit the essentials (okay maybe not the macbook air) for travelling and festival fun!

SEE YOU AT OSHEAGA!

xo

@GracieCarroll

The post What’s In My Bag: The Osheaga 2014 Edition appeared first on Gracie Carroll.