Stampede & Summer Travel Beauty Essentials

One week from now, I'll be on a girl's road trip to Stampede in Calgary, Alberta! It's not a quick road trip: a 12-hour drive each way, but well worth it to see one of our high school friends and experience Stampede together. For those of you not familiar, Stampede is a massive annual rodeo event, full of parties, amazing eats and of course some western rodeo shows. I may not be the hugest western/country fan (like not at all), but it does sound like a pretty good time.

As I started packing for our trip, I thought I would share with you what I'm bringing along, as I think most of these would apply to any road trip or summer trip you're planning to do this summer. Keep reading below to see what to pack in your bag! I'm also hosting a giveaway on Instagram, so make sure to check that out as well - more details on that below too.

Travel-Sized Skincare

We're going to be staying with friends for a few nights in Calgary during Stampede, so I wanted to pack some travel-sized skincare. This handy mini kit from Di Morelli includes all 3 skincare essentials: their Cleanser, Vitamin C Serum for Face & Eye and SPF 35 UVA/UVB. It even comes with 2 samples of their Brightener as well. It's a perfect kit to keep on-hand for trips like this.

The light foaming Cleanser removes sweat (definitely going to be lots of that), makeup and excess oil without causing irritation or dryness. The Vitamin C Serum for Face & Eye firms, brightens and improves the overall health of your skin. It also stimulates collagen and protects the skin against environmental damage. I like that it's a face and eye serum in one; in a travel kit, double-duty products are important. Most importantly is the SPF! I find that usually most facial lotions are SPF 25 and under. As someone who burns easily, I appreciate a lotion that's as high as SPF 35. Especially during Stampede, when I'm likely to be in the sun all day, having a good facial sunscreen is key. The Brightener is a nice added bonus, used to exfoliate the skin with natural acids.

GIVEAWAY:  What to win a Di Morelli Essentials Mini skincare kit for yourself? I'm giving away one on Vancouver Vogue's Instagram right now! Head over there to enter.

Heat-Proof Must-Haves

I don't thrive well in heat. So I have a couple of secret weapons to help me feel...not gross. That includes mitigating sweat and keeping my skin hydrated. Dove's Dry Spray in Cool Essentials has been the only antiperspirant I've trusted over the last 5 years. I seriously haven't found anything better. It keeps my sweat under control, and the light fresh scent makes it good for re-applying throughout the day to keep you smelling good!

Secondly, I love this little travel sized bottle of Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for keeping my face hydrated and refreshed on a hot day. It's all about the water's soothing and softening properties. The bottle is easy to stash in your purse during the day too. It's also great to spray on a sunburn (let's hope I don't need it for that though).

Eye Refresh

Don't get me wrong, Stampede is going to be fun from start to finish each day, but my face is probably going to show those long days and late nights. If I don't get enough sleep, my eyes do tend to get a bit puffy. To combat that on-the-go, I carry my e.l.f. Studio Eye Refresh and apply in the morning before going through the rest of my skincare routine. It's insanely affordable ($4.99 at London Drugs), and the roller ball applicator makes it easy to apply. It makes your skin feel cool and refreshed, helping to de-puff those tired eyes!

Suncare

Now I already spoke earlier about the necessity of SPF for the face, but of course sunscreen for the body is also equally as important - especially if you're on a trip where you'll be out in the sun all day. For Stampede, it's a must. The best of the best is La Roche Posay's Anthelios XL Lotion SPF 60. La Roche Posay won the title of 'best sunscreen of 2017', after all.

Dry Shampoo

On any summer trip, dry shampoo is always a good bet. Especially when you're road tripping. And this, let me tell you, is seriously the best dry shampoo. This is actually the first dry shampoo I ever tried, and just assumed they were all this good - until I tried a few others afterwards, and they definitely didn't live up. You can find L'Oreal Professional's Techni Art Fresh Dust at select salons (like Suki's in the Vancouver area), or online.

Emergency Kit

These Minimergency Kits from Chapters Indigo are a must have! I keep one in my purse all year round, but it's especially useful when on a trip. It has SO many useful things packed into this tiny zipped package that you may find useful on a road trip or at a summer event like Stampede.

Here's what's included:

• deodorant towelette
• double sided tape
• stain remover
• pair of earring backs
• an emery board
• clear nail polish
• clear elastics
• breath freshener
• lip balm
• dental floss
• bobby pins
• nail polish pad remover
• hair spray
• safety pin
• adhesive bandage
• mending kit
• tampon

That's it! Don't forget, if you want to kick-start your own summer trip beauty kit, you can head over to Vancouver Vogue's Instagram to enter for a chance to win a Di Morelli Essentials Mini skincare kit!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Travel Beauty Essentials

Well folks, I'm officially off on a plane to Europe as you read this right now! This trip has been a very long time in the making, and I'm so excited to travel Italy, Switzerland, France and England with some of my very best friends for 3 weeks. I'm not going to lie, I have been meticulously planning the contents of my suitcase for months, from outfits all the way down to my beauty essentials. As much as I'd love to bring my entire wardrobe and beauty cupboard with me, I can only pack so much in my carry-on.

I remember very well the feeling of getting off an 8 hour plane, after sitting in stale air for hours, smelling awful, and knowing my skin could use a serious pick-me-up. So this time around, I made sure to pack some essentials to make sure I could avoid as much of that un-comfortableness as possible. If you're travelling too in the next while, check out these tips for what to bring along!

e.l.f. Studio Eye Refresh (available at London Drugs)

This little roller is perfect for waking up your peepers! Just roll some underneath your eyes to help alleviate puffiness and dark circles. It's infused with pomegranate, rosemary, green tea, cucumber and grape to hydrate and nourish around the eyes. I love how compact it is: I'm throwing it in my carry-on so I can pop it out right before the flight lands.

Racinne Ultimate Aqua Blanc SPF 25 Protective Lotion

This little lotion is the perfect size for travel! Obviously, you may not need the SPF25 protection while you're on a plane, but this little bottle also provides all-day moisturization and brightens the complexion with a healthy glow (and believe me, my dull skin could use some moisture and brightening after a long flight).


Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray (available at London Drugs)

This is great for giving yourself quick spritz mid-flight to refresh your face. The formula contains soothing and softening properties to treat your skin to some much needed pampering!

Dove Go Fresh Anti-Perspirant Stick in Enegerizing (available at London Drugs)

Remember what I said about smelling awful? I don't know what it is about flights - probably a combination of the rushing around the airport, sweating away, and then sitting in the stale air of a plane for hours on end in the same clothing. I always want to burn whatever I was wearing when I get off a flight. So this time, I made sure to pack a 48-hour anti-perspirant in my carry-on. That way, I can re-apply if necessary to make sure I still smell fresh when I get off the plane. I really like the smell of this particular one - it's nothing floral or overbearing, just a nice fresh scent!

Lancome La Vie est Belle - Travel Spray

Once I get off the plane, a quick spray of my favourite perfume, La Vie est Belle, makes me feel more put together. The scent is quite light, with top notes of pear and blackberry. I received this mini spray bottle of La Vie est Belle in a gift set I purchased from Holt Renfrew a couple of years ago. I know you can buy the roller-ball version, which is also a great size for travel, from Ulta! Another idea is to take a tester sample with you. I have a couple I've accumulated from beauty counters. It's worth popping by your local beauty department to see if they have one!

Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette in Seductive Smokies (available at London Drugs)

Everything, all-in-one! This is literally the perfect makeup palette for travel. In the last half hour of the flight, touch up your makeup all at once: choose from 6 eyeshadows, 4 lip colours, and there's even a nice neutral blush, and small brushes and applicators included. You'll step off that plane feeling like you're ready to take on the world!

Don't forget to take a sleep mask along too, so you can use the long flight to catch some beauty sleep!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta