Avoid Travel Disaster With These Leakproof Beauty Products
However, the use of solid products all but eliminates this common travel mishap, and luckily for us it's now possible to get everything from active ingredient-packed serums to shampoos and moisturizers in solid bar form.
Below, we've rounded up 14 solid, leakproof beauty products to accompany you on your vacations, work trips, family visits and beyond. They include a popular under-eye cooling stick, a nourishing shampoo bar, my favorite solid blush and more. Keep reading to pick some up for yourselves and save yourself the hassle of a messy dopp kit and wasted products.
A glowy blush balm
I'm a big blush person, so my standards are very high in general, but particularly for tint or balm-type formulas. I have extremely acne-prone skin, so creamy formulas can be quite dicey. But I'm pleased to report that Merit's blush balm is a great option for anyone looking for that natural, lit-from-within glowy vibe that won't clog pores. It is buildable, so you can keep it sheer or layer it on depending on your whim, and it hydrates and conditions the skin and looks good doing it. It has a lovely texture that isn't sticky or smudgy and lasts all day long. It's easy to blend with fingers or a brush and is available in 13 sweet shades. I use it nearly daily and never leave town without it.Get it from Merit for $30.
A firming retinol stick
Most dermatologists would argue that retinol is an essential ingredient in most skin care regimens because of its proven ability to promote collagen production. This RoC firming serum stick features the brand's advanced retinol to help plump skin, smooth lines and potentially improve elasticity. The fast absorbing serum, which can be applied to the face, neck and chest, also contains skin-protecting antioxidants.Get it from Ulta for $38.99.
A velvety smooth foundation stick
One of my personal favorites, Hourglass' foundation stick has a lovely buildable full-coverage finish that is perfect for special occasions or those who simply prefer a more even look. I often use it just as a concealer or spot treatment, and even when I want a full face of coverage, a little goes a long way, making it worth the investment. It is available in 32 shades, has a weightless waterproof formula that lasts all day long and couldn't be easier to apply. I don't go anywhere without it when I travel. Get it from Sephora for $49.
An antioxidant serum sunscreen
Most people are already familiar with the cult-favorite Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop, a comfortable and undetectable SPF that that layers seamlessly under makeup and has a velvety finish that helps reduce excess oil and shine.The same screen comes in this convenient stick form that makes it easy to reapply throughout the day. It contains skin-loving ingredients like marina blue extract for antioxidant protection and meadowfoam to enhance hydration.Get it from Dermstore for $30.
A soothing solid moisturizer stick
Make your nightly lotion application easier than ever with this mess-free solid moisturizer stick from Hanni. It's made with nourishing ingredients like omega-3 and fatty acids to deeply moisturize and repair skin while helping to prevent moisture loss and strengthen the natural barrier. It's an easy way to nourish your skin without having to worry about packing big container of lotion that might explode while in transit. Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
An editor-beloved cleansing balm
I consider this my personal skincare savior and in regards to the price point, I regret to inform you that it's worth every penny. This delicious luxe cleansing balm magically melts away makeup, dirt, grime and other daily impurities, leaving skin more soft, smooth and plump. It's a multitasking cleansing treatment that is as nourishing as it is effective at removing makeup. It's incredibly gentle and mild, is wildly effective and doesn't clog my sensitive pores. It's an investment, but worth it if you want to splurge on yourself, or you can purchase the travel-size option, which is much more affordable and will stay tidy in your dopp kit. While it's not completely solid, it has a Vaseline-like consistency that's not prone to leakage.My colleague Kristen Aiken is also a huge fan of this cleansing balm. She told me that 'this item is way pricier than what I'm usually willing to spend on cleanser (which is usually from the drugstore and under $10), but I've found it's one of the only products that can effectively cleanse my skin AND nourish it without making me break out. I have perpetually dry skin no matter how much water I drink, and this saves me from drying out (especially in the winter months). Bonus: If you use it as a second round of double-cleansing (i.e. after you've already removed the day's initial layer of gunk), you can use your favorite facial massage tool over top it, to help your tool slide smoothly along your face and de-puff.'Get it from Amazon for $12.60.
A cooling a de-puffing eye balm with Niacinamide
This hydrating eye stick is a hidden gem of sorts and has become a secret Amazon favorite for de-puffing, toning, and smoothing the delicate under-eye area while brightening dull skin tone, thanks to the inclusion of antioxidant-rich Niacinamide. The instantly cooling balm also contains seaweed extract and mineral water straight from Iceland.Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
A deeply hydrating body conditioning treatment
Bring a touch of luxury no matter where you are to your next shower or bath with these plant-based, exfoliating 'bath pebbles.' You can use it directly on your skin in the shower or drop it in your bath to enjoy ingredients like cocoa butter, baobab oil and citric acid to deeply nourish, plump, brighten and exfoliate skin. One reviewer pointed out that, "they smell amazing and make my skin super soft."Get them from Sephora for $38.
A bouncy lip tint and blush stain all-in-one
TikTok managed to sell out this reader-beloved cheek and lip tint back in 2024. (Luckily, multiple retailers are fully stocked now.) Meant to be worn on both the cheeks and lips, Milk Makeup's Cooling Water jelly tint features a bouncy Jello-like texture and glides on the perfect touch of glassy, buildable color. The hydrating formula is also infused with vegan collagen, soothing aloe and refreshing seawater.Get it from Amazon for $20.80 (available in six shades).
A clarifying solid shampoo that will give your locks a shiny finish
Ethique's St. Clements shampoo — intended for moisture-prone hair — is formulated with castor oil, which actually works to dissolve oil and sebum lodged in the scalp. Citrus-y essential oils like lime and orange zest will give your shower a refreshing scent, and the added glycerine promises to impart a shiny, non-greasy finish. It'll have your scalp and hair feeling fresh and clean and is a breeze to pack in your travel bag.Get it from Amazon for $15.
A luxurious, high-end concealer
What makes Cle de Peau's concealer so special is the fact that it's somehow able to leave skin looking naturally flawless all day long. It doesn't slide off like a lot of hydrating concealers tend to, and it doesn't have a thick, matte finish that looks powdery and caked-on like most long-lasting formulas. It is able to maintain its feather-light, silky smooth finish while still covering up even the darkest circles, and does this while blending beautifully into your natural skin tone, acting like an eraser for imperfections. It has the most natural full-coverage finish of any concealer I've ever tried, with a silky smooth texture that stays put all day long and blends into my foundation seamlessly and it's worth every single penny. It's also the perfect example of a skin care and makeup product in one. It is infused with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and argan oil to plump, smooth and hydrate the skin, along with various botanical extracts that can help soothe irritation, reduce the look of hyperpigmentation and fight against oxidation. Best of all, it has SPF 27, protecting your delicate under-eye skin from harmful UV rays.Get it from Nordstrom for $75 (available in 12 shades).
A satiny cushion foundation
Avoid spilling your pricey foundation and travel with this popular Korean cushion foundation that not only provides buildable, silky smooth coverage but is infused with nutrient-rich ingredients that can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. The lightweight, non-greasy formula comes in 40 different shades and offers medium coverage with a smooth, flawless finish. One reviewer noted that it doesn't settle into fine lines or creases and stays put even while doing physical activity on hot days.Get it from Amazon for $9.88+.
A delectable solid perfume
Fragrance lovers should never leave home without their signature scent, but when you're traveling, throwing a full-size perfume bottle into your toiletry bag isn't exactly the best option. Enter solid perfume, like Glossier's ultra-popular You fragrance. This warm fragrance is meant to smell like you, but better. It has notes of pink pepper, iris and ambrox, with a wax base that melts into your skin and gives you an ethereal, woodsey sweet and powdery fresh smell. It's delightful and was made to smell great on everybody.Get it from Glossier for $35.
A smoothing solid for hyperpigmentation and texture
This cream-based stick uses a combination of Niacinamide and vitamin C to help fade dark spots, decrease hyperpigmentation and brighten skin tone. The formula also features the plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol, for promoting plumping skin and reducing fine lines, without over-sensitizing the skin like traditional retinol formulations have the potential to do.Get it from Amazon for $13+ (available in two sizes).
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Buzz Feed
15-07-2025
- Buzz Feed
Avoid Travel Disaster With These Leakproof Beauty Products
As someone who travels frequently and refuses to leave behind essential beauty and skincare products, I know the pain of opening my toiletry bag upon arrival and encountering disaster. A spilled serum, popped-open moisturizer or a rogue powder explosion is enough to make me want to pack it up and go back home. However, the use of solid products all but eliminates this common travel mishap, and luckily for us it's now possible to get everything from active ingredient-packed serums to shampoos and moisturizers in solid bar form. Below, we've rounded up 14 solid, leakproof beauty products to accompany you on your vacations, work trips, family visits and beyond. They include a popular under-eye cooling stick, a nourishing shampoo bar, my favorite solid blush and more. Keep reading to pick some up for yourselves and save yourself the hassle of a messy dopp kit and wasted products. A glowy blush balm I'm a big blush person, so my standards are very high in general, but particularly for tint or balm-type formulas. I have extremely acne-prone skin, so creamy formulas can be quite dicey. But I'm pleased to report that Merit's blush balm is a great option for anyone looking for that natural, lit-from-within glowy vibe that won't clog pores. It is buildable, so you can keep it sheer or layer it on depending on your whim, and it hydrates and conditions the skin and looks good doing it. It has a lovely texture that isn't sticky or smudgy and lasts all day long. It's easy to blend with fingers or a brush and is available in 13 sweet shades. I use it nearly daily and never leave town without it from Merit for $30. A firming retinol stick Most dermatologists would argue that retinol is an essential ingredient in most skin care regimens because of its proven ability to promote collagen production. This RoC firming serum stick features the brand's advanced retinol to help plump skin, smooth lines and potentially improve elasticity. The fast absorbing serum, which can be applied to the face, neck and chest, also contains skin-protecting it from Ulta for $38.99. A velvety smooth foundation stick One of my personal favorites, Hourglass' foundation stick has a lovely buildable full-coverage finish that is perfect for special occasions or those who simply prefer a more even look. I often use it just as a concealer or spot treatment, and even when I want a full face of coverage, a little goes a long way, making it worth the investment. It is available in 32 shades, has a weightless waterproof formula that lasts all day long and couldn't be easier to apply. I don't go anywhere without it when I travel. Get it from Sephora for $49. An antioxidant serum sunscreen Most people are already familiar with the cult-favorite Unseen Sunscreen by Supergoop, a comfortable and undetectable SPF that that layers seamlessly under makeup and has a velvety finish that helps reduce excess oil and same screen comes in this convenient stick form that makes it easy to reapply throughout the day. It contains skin-loving ingredients like marina blue extract for antioxidant protection and meadowfoam to enhance it from Dermstore for $30. A soothing solid moisturizer stick Make your nightly lotion application easier than ever with this mess-free solid moisturizer stick from Hanni. It's made with nourishing ingredients like omega-3 and fatty acids to deeply moisturize and repair skin while helping to prevent moisture loss and strengthen the natural barrier. It's an easy way to nourish your skin without having to worry about packing big container of lotion that might explode while in transit. Get it from Amazon for $27.99. An editor-beloved cleansing balm I consider this my personal skincare savior and in regards to the price point, I regret to inform you that it's worth every penny. This delicious luxe cleansing balm magically melts away makeup, dirt, grime and other daily impurities, leaving skin more soft, smooth and plump. It's a multitasking cleansing treatment that is as nourishing as it is effective at removing makeup. It's incredibly gentle and mild, is wildly effective and doesn't clog my sensitive pores. It's an investment, but worth it if you want to splurge on yourself, or you can purchase the travel-size option, which is much more affordable and will stay tidy in your dopp kit. While it's not completely solid, it has a Vaseline-like consistency that's not prone to colleague Kristen Aiken is also a huge fan of this cleansing balm. She told me that 'this item is way pricier than what I'm usually willing to spend on cleanser (which is usually from the drugstore and under $10), but I've found it's one of the only products that can effectively cleanse my skin AND nourish it without making me break out. I have perpetually dry skin no matter how much water I drink, and this saves me from drying out (especially in the winter months). Bonus: If you use it as a second round of double-cleansing (i.e. after you've already removed the day's initial layer of gunk), you can use your favorite facial massage tool over top it, to help your tool slide smoothly along your face and de-puff.'Get it from Amazon for $12.60. A cooling a de-puffing eye balm with Niacinamide This hydrating eye stick is a hidden gem of sorts and has become a secret Amazon favorite for de-puffing, toning, and smoothing the delicate under-eye area while brightening dull skin tone, thanks to the inclusion of antioxidant-rich Niacinamide. The instantly cooling balm also contains seaweed extract and mineral water straight from it from Amazon for $6.99. A deeply hydrating body conditioning treatment Bring a touch of luxury no matter where you are to your next shower or bath with these plant-based, exfoliating 'bath pebbles.' You can use it directly on your skin in the shower or drop it in your bath to enjoy ingredients like cocoa butter, baobab oil and citric acid to deeply nourish, plump, brighten and exfoliate skin. One reviewer pointed out that, "they smell amazing and make my skin super soft."Get them from Sephora for $38. A bouncy lip tint and blush stain all-in-one TikTok managed to sell out this reader-beloved cheek and lip tint back in 2024. (Luckily, multiple retailers are fully stocked now.) Meant to be worn on both the cheeks and lips, Milk Makeup's Cooling Water jelly tint features a bouncy Jello-like texture and glides on the perfect touch of glassy, buildable color. The hydrating formula is also infused with vegan collagen, soothing aloe and refreshing it from Amazon for $20.80 (available in six shades). A clarifying solid shampoo that will give your locks a shiny finish Ethique's St. Clements shampoo — intended for moisture-prone hair — is formulated with castor oil, which actually works to dissolve oil and sebum lodged in the scalp. Citrus-y essential oils like lime and orange zest will give your shower a refreshing scent, and the added glycerine promises to impart a shiny, non-greasy finish. It'll have your scalp and hair feeling fresh and clean and is a breeze to pack in your travel it from Amazon for $15. A luxurious, high-end concealer What makes Cle de Peau's concealer so special is the fact that it's somehow able to leave skin looking naturally flawless all day long. It doesn't slide off like a lot of hydrating concealers tend to, and it doesn't have a thick, matte finish that looks powdery and caked-on like most long-lasting formulas. It is able to maintain its feather-light, silky smooth finish while still covering up even the darkest circles, and does this while blending beautifully into your natural skin tone, acting like an eraser for imperfections. It has the most natural full-coverage finish of any concealer I've ever tried, with a silky smooth texture that stays put all day long and blends into my foundation seamlessly and it's worth every single penny. It's also the perfect example of a skin care and makeup product in one. It is infused with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and argan oil to plump, smooth and hydrate the skin, along with various botanical extracts that can help soothe irritation, reduce the look of hyperpigmentation and fight against oxidation. Best of all, it has SPF 27, protecting your delicate under-eye skin from harmful UV it from Nordstrom for $75 (available in 12 shades). A satiny cushion foundation Avoid spilling your pricey foundation and travel with this popular Korean cushion foundation that not only provides buildable, silky smooth coverage but is infused with nutrient-rich ingredients that can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. The lightweight, non-greasy formula comes in 40 different shades and offers medium coverage with a smooth, flawless finish. One reviewer noted that it doesn't settle into fine lines or creases and stays put even while doing physical activity on hot it from Amazon for $9.88+. A delectable solid perfume Fragrance lovers should never leave home without their signature scent, but when you're traveling, throwing a full-size perfume bottle into your toiletry bag isn't exactly the best option. Enter solid perfume, like Glossier's ultra-popular You fragrance. This warm fragrance is meant to smell like you, but better. It has notes of pink pepper, iris and ambrox, with a wax base that melts into your skin and gives you an ethereal, woodsey sweet and powdery fresh smell. It's delightful and was made to smell great on it from Glossier for $35. A smoothing solid for hyperpigmentation and texture This cream-based stick uses a combination of Niacinamide and vitamin C to help fade dark spots, decrease hyperpigmentation and brighten skin tone. The formula also features the plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol, for promoting plumping skin and reducing fine lines, without over-sensitizing the skin like traditional retinol formulations have the potential to it from Amazon for $13+ (available in two sizes).
Condé Nast Traveler
08-07-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
35 Anti-Amazon Prime Day Deals to Shop This Week
Amazon Prime Day may dominate headlines this week. But in other news, a surplus of treasures with opportunities to save are scattered across the web, waiting to be discovered by savvy, worldly shoppers like you. Dozens of top retailers are rolling out rival deals that go up to bat with Amazon's prices, with no membership required. Think of it as your passport to exclusive savings on elevated essentials: sleek carry-ons, tech that travels well, luxe skincare, packable fashion, and elevated home upgrades for your post-trip unwind. Whether you're prepping for your next adventure or refreshing your everyday, these anti-Prime Day sales deliver style and substance from top-rated brands we love, without much of a rush. Below, we've curated 35 of the most irresistible Prime Day–alternative deals for travel lovers and design-minded shoppers. Scroll through the full list or jump to your favorite category—we'll be updating it all week long. For even more Prime Day sales, head to Traveler's Amazon Storefront. Top sales to shop now: AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Cozy Earth : An additional 35% off of already 30% off sitewide items with Traveler-exclusive code CNTRAVELER : An additional 35% off of already 30% off sitewide items with Traveler-exclusive code CNTRAVELER DSW : 25% off on (almost) all pairs of shoes with code PRIMEDEAL : 25% off on (almost) all pairs of shoes with code PRIMEDEAL Ulta : Up to 40% off on top beauty and skincare products : Up to 40% off on top beauty and skincare products Walmart: Up to 65% off of best-selling tech essentials Up to 65% off of best-selling tech essentials Dyson : Save up to $300 on select Dyson gear : Save up to $300 on select Dyson gear Lulu and Georgia: A sitewide sale of up to 30% off—plus, an additional 20% sale on select items This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Deals and pricing updated as of 6:07 a.m. Clothing and shoes Aerie: In addition to clearance items marked up to 70% off, shop the brand's new collection of $25 Boyfriend tees and tanks. Plus, enjoy up to 50% off all Aerie swimwear. Asos: Asos is offering up to 70% off a wide selection of stylish sale items, from Adidas sneakers to oversized summer tees. Cozy Earth: Use the Traveler-exclusive code CNTRAVELER to take an extra 35% off already discounted items (currently 30% off). Now through July 11, the sale includes ultra-soft bamboo sheets, cozy loungewear sets, men's everyday pants, and more. DSW: To save on chic shoe styles from sandals to sneakers, use code PRIMEDEAL to score on 25% off on (almost) everything when online shopping. With code SIZZLE, you can receive up to $60 off on select styles; free shipping on orders over $75 with FREESHIP. Francesca's: From casual midis to chiffon ruffled styles, enjoy up to 40% off sitewide during the Semi-Annual Sale. Don't miss clearance items priced at $19.98 and under. For stealth wealth on a budget, sale section delivers. Use code EXTRA for an additional 60% off already discounted styles like swimwear or office-ready outfits, for a limited time. Kohl's: Now through July 10, save up to 50% on clothing, 30% on backpacks and lunch bags, and 50% off kitchen appliances. Check back daily for evolving featured deals.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cannes Film Festival is a celebration of movies and their stars. I spent my week trying to catch them all.
I spent an unforgettable week in the south of France this May, immersed among the celebrities and movies that I'd be writing about for at least the next year as they generated buzz for their projects at the Cannes Film Festival. Between screenings and celeb-spotting excursions, I kept a diary about my first time in the glamorous alternate universe at Cannes. Let's flip through it. The hunt for influencers The author dined at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. (Kelsey Weekman/Yahoo News) My sleepless eight-hour overnight flight left me edgy yet determined, so the first thing I did when I landed in Nice was check my luggage at the hotel and speed over to Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The eavesdropping was ideal among uber-wealthy lunchgoers, but there weren't any social media stars, despite it being the go-to spot for celebrities to take photos channeling '80s Harrison Ford. Advertisement I accidentally blew my per diem on a buffet with €15 water. I spent the rest of the week hanging out in hotel lobbies and finally infiltrated a TikTok creator lounge, where I learned that even if you have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, you can still be starstruck by movie stars. Find out more about what I saw and what I heard here. A middle school reunion The author ran into her middle school best friend, who is now a TikToker, at the Cannes Film Festival. (Kelsey Weekman/Yahoo News) I wasn't expecting to run into anyone I knew in Cannes this week, so imagine my surprise when I saw my best friend from middle school for the first time in 17 years. Jocelyn Yates wasn't just at the festival — she was one of the creators TikTok brought to the red carpet, and she got to meet Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise! I ran into her at the platform's creator lounge after sprinting nearly a mile to get from the press room to an interview, and I had to dart away immediately afterward to get to a premiere. Luckily, it was enough time to snag a selfie and her new phone number, so we'll be able to truly reconnect under less sweaty circumstances for me. The go-to small talk topic Vie Privée cast members on the red carpet. (Antonin Thuillier/AFP via Getty Images) Anyone who spoke to me before I left for Cannes got an earful about how I had to use two different clothing rental companies to find the six evening gowns I packed for the festival, which has a strict and fancy dress code for premieres. I ended up needing only two, but I didn't mind looking fabulous every day I was there. I'm ready to declare the heeled Crocs I wore here and to interview people outside the Met Gala as the best shoes for reporting. Not sponsored, just praising a comfy shoe! During the festival, attendees couldn't stop gossiping about newly added dress code rules that banned nudity and lengthy dress trains. People around me couldn't stop asking, 'Had you seen anyone get turned away?' 'Who had to scramble to get a new outfit?' 'Were the new 'decency' standards antiquated?' Read more about the dress code fallout. A fan experience without the whimsy Benicio del Toro, Austin Butler, Angela Bassett and Angelina Jolie interact with fans at Cannes Film Festival. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos clockwise from top left: Sameer al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images (2), Valerie Hache/AFP via Getty Images, Sameer al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images.) Advertisement One of my favorite things to do at events is stand outside and talk to fans about the passion that brought them there, so I was shocked when the people who lined up for celebrity spotting at Cannes were largely grumpy and unwilling to chat. My 38-day French Duolingo streak didn't prepare me for that kind of conversational maneuvering. Their fascination with movie stars was captivating, though, so I spent a very memorable evening in line with celebrity spotters, including a dog who has encountered more stars than this entertainment reporter and two cruise ship passengers who wanted to know what all the fuss was about. The four-legged red carpet star The most memorable person I met while mingling with fans near the red carpet was Cannes resident Cécile Forest, and her 4-year-old Chihuahua, Savanna. The tiny dog is always dressed in pink, and sometimes those outfits are customized for the movie premiere of the night. I've seen her in several memes and viral photos. Forest told me on Instagram after I left the festival that Savanna is an ambassador for Culture de Wouf, which advocates for dogs to be allowed into more spaces. Advertisement 'We believe that we must make life easier for owners, to reduce the number of abandonments. We must let dogs into stores so that there are fewer dog thefts on the sidewalks and fewer dogs dying locked in cars,' Forest told me. My festival foe I thought I'd be spending my downtime at the beach or sipping a cappuccino and people watching at a cafe, but because the Cannes Film Festival ticketing process is so intense, I spent every idle moment refreshing the ticketing page. I don't regret my intensity at all — I got to see everything I wanted! — though sometimes it was mere minutes before a screening. Iana Murray, a longtime X mutual whom I met for the first time in person over matcha near the Palais, attended Cannes for the seventh time this year. She told me the ticketing process is much better than it used to be. People had to stand in lines for hours to get into screenings. Next year, I'll try to spend more time refreshing those pages in more scenic locations. A bucket list achievement Tom Cruise sends love to his fans at the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. (Yahoo News; photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images) As a first-timer, I didn't get invited to many parties or exclusive events. I spent most of my time scrapping for tickets and conversation. The highly anticipated premiere of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning was by far the most glamorous and exclusive event I've ever been to in my entire life, probably. Read about the surreal experience here. The chaos of constant clapping I technically took part in two standing ovations, a tradition at Cannes. Movies are judged based on how long people stand and clap for them afterward. Five minutes is considered mediocre, and the longest recorded ovation was 22 minutes for Pan's Labyrinth in 2006. Advertisement But I learned from witnessing one in person that there's no true consensus on when an ovation begins and ends. Is it when the first person stands until the last person stops clapping? Or is it when the clapping begins until the final person stops standing? Is it both? Is it more of a vibes-based calculation? Critics and reporters haven't reached a consensus. A mysterious red carpet attendee Raphaël Quenard and a condor attend the Die, My Love red carpet. (Daniele Venturelli/WireImage via Getty Images) I watched the red carpet for Die, My Love from a window in the press office where photography was explicitly banned. In addition to beholding Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson with my own mortal eyes, I saw a person in what appeared to be a giant turkey costume. I assumed that the bird would be featured in the movie, but it was not. I still don't know what happened there. A great time at the movies I saw 11 movies at Cannes Film Festival. (Photo Illustration: Victoria Ellis for Yahoo News, photos: Letterboxd, Focus Features /Courtesy Everett Collection, A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection) I knew I'd be missing out on about half of the buzzy Cannes titles because I only attended the first of two weeks of the festival, but I wasn't ready to see people lauding Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value as the best of the bunch long after I'd left the Croisette. I may die of FOMO if I can't see it soon. Still, I saw nearly a dozen films that I loved — several of which I know we'll be talking about well into awards season. Read more about my favorites here. Advertisement Takes on a plane The most pressing question I wanted to ask celebrities this week is what movies they watched on the plane on the way to Cannes, though I only got to ask two. The Phoenician Scheme star Jeffrey Wright told me he doesn't watch movies on planes but he does play chess on his phone. His costar Rupert Friend said that tiny airplane screens are depressing to him, so he went to sleep. On the flight to Cannes, everyone around me was watching something from the Mission: Impossible series, including me. On the way back to New York, though, everyone was watching Friends. I watched Oceans Eleven, Janet Planet and One of Them Days. Blackout FOMO A restaurant without lights during a power outage during the Cannes Film Festival. () I unexpectedly experienced a lot of FOMO when I read that a blackout hit the south of France ahead of the Cannes awards ceremony — and again when I read that it was suspected sabotage! Not only was I missing out on the festivities that may set the stage for the upcoming awards season, but there was drama afoot as well. Survival by the numbers According to my iPhone's Health app, I walked an average of 9,900 steps per day — about 3,000 steps more than my typical count for film festivals over the last year. All the theaters were pretty close together, so I'm chalking this one up to the fact that it was just really beautiful outside and a joy to walk around. Advertisement On the other hand, I slept an average of 4 hours and 30 minutes every night in Cannes, which is about 2 hours less than the usual festival. One night, I slept only 29 minutes. My average bedtime was 2:40 a.m. I'm also blaming this on the fact that there was just so much to see. The little things Spectators prepare to watch a movie at the Cinéma de la Plage at Cannes Film Festival. (Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images) When I talk about Cannes, I mention seeing Tom Cruise in person, spending hours in line and rubbing shoulders with the glamorous. But when I think about the moments I enjoyed the most, it's the movie I got to watch on the beach after a long day, the chats with excited students who had long dreamed of walking the Croisette, the blurry pictures of fearless pigeons hunting for food and the last-minute trips to Steak and Shake when I was starving but unwilling to pay €35 for a salad. Some of the magic of Cannes may be inherent in its exclusivity and European pretentiousness, which makes those quirky moments of charm all the more unforgettable.
