Last year saw me travel a lot more that I usually do and with the majority of my trips being long haul travel, I thought I would share some tips that help me look and feel refreshed after long flights and share some travel essentials that are staples in my carry-on. My trusted pink Longchamp bag has been to Hong Kong, Australia and all over Europe and still continues to survive the trips and the contents I tend to throw in it. This coming from someone who will pack everything but the kitchen sink and that straps are still intact!
In addition to having a magazine, book or the iPad I have always pack items that I can easily access once I get on the flight and that will allow me to easily relax and rest. Below are some of the tips that have helped me and will hopefully help you feel more refreshed after long haul flights:
1. H2O – Drink Plenty of Water. Traveling can be dehydrating, especially during long-haul travel. Dehydration can also mean dry pasty looking skin when you land so drink as much water as possible before and during your flight.
2. Get Some Sleep. If flying long haul I tend to pick flights leaving at night but even if you leave in the morning or afternoon, try and get as much sleep on the flight as possible to help you align your sleeping patterns to your destination’s time zone. Getting some rest on the flight also means reducing the effects of jet-lag when your arrive.
3. Take Your Make Up Off. When traveling long haul wear as little make-up as possible. Usually, a brow pencil and mascara is about as much as I wear when flying long haul. That way you don’t have to spend forever taking it all off when you get on the flight. I’ve also found that the air on flights to somehow helps the makeup clog up the pores. If you do wear make-up, having wipes in your bag or carry-on gives your quick access to help remove any make-up.
4. Wrap Hair to Avoid Dry, Bedhead Hair. For that refreshed look when your get off the plane, I find that wrapping the hair or a simple braid and tuck helps return moisture so that when you unwrap the hair as you get off the flight you reduce the bed hair effect and add a little volume at the same time.
5. Cleanse, Tone, Moisturise. This is a no-brainer. You skin always looks brighter and more radiant when you take care of it. As fun as travel is, the business of flying can be drying on the skin. I usually have oily to combination skin but flying sometimes can produce extra sebum and then sometimes dry on longer flights. I always find that removing make-up, cleansing, toning and the moisturising properly helps counter the effects of the drying air on the plane.
6. Get Comfortable. Let’s face it, plane seats are not the most comfortable things are they? So those little things you bring with you can go a long way in making your flight a little more comfortable and bearable enough for your to get some rest during long flights. So a shawl, wrap or scarf can keep your warm when they blast that cold air as well as some trusty cashmere socks. Also, make sure you wear comfortable shoes when flying. These are just a few of the essentials I always pack to make travel that little more comfortable.
My In-Flight Routine
In Flight – Shortly after take off I sneak off to the bathroom to remove any makeup, whether that is with a cleanser/toner, my Ren hot cloth cleaner or with wipes—depending on what I have packed at the time. I remove any makeup and moisturise. I currently dance between Elizabeth Arden and Decleor moisturisers as they are the only ones that seem to agree with me and not make my skin get too oily. Then I brush my teeth and wrap my hair. By the time I get back to my seat I feel refreshed and my seat mates usually think it’s a different person sitting next to them as I turn up with a silk scarf around my hair.
Before Arriving – About 30 to hour minutes before landing. I sneak off to the toilets again. Freshen up with wipes, moisturise (if I am using tinted moisturiser I use my trusted MAC Tinted Creme with 30 SPF), unbraid or unravel my hair, apply a little oil or moisturiser to my hair depending on current hairstyle, and brush my teeth. Then I apply my brow pencil and a little mascara and am good to go!