Next week I’m headed to Europe with my parents, my fiancé, and 11 of my favourite beauty essentials. Now I know that sounds like a lot of products to lug on a plane, but after two flights and a 30-hour travel day, my skin will need some serious love!
Living abroad these past three years means I’ve grown accustomed to tretcherious long-haul flights and the beauty struggles that go along with them. I now have my in-flight beauty routine down to a science, and believe it or not, I actually look forward to doing it. The secret is preparation – it’s about knowing exactly what your skin needs and which products to bring to help salvage any little bit of integrity it might have left after a journey that long.
So to help inspire you for any upcoming travel you might have booked, here’s a sneak peak into my in-flight beauty routine and the 11 products I bring on every long-haul flight…
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Syrene Aqua Hydrating Masque
Not one for a sheet mask (they never fit my face!), I reach for a hydrating leave-on mask instead. My recent fave is from New Zealand brand, Syrene. Their Aqua Hydrating Masque is an overnight gel mask that I just can’t get enough of! It’s formulated with seaweed extracts, marine collagen, black fern, glycerin and manuka honey to provide deep restorative hydration while you sleep. Despite the gel consistency, it dries down smooth and silky so you won’t feel sticky or have product transfer on your pillow. I’ll be lathering this on mid-flight before going to sleep to avoid waking up feeling dry and crusty…cute!
Read reviews here…
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
After days of travelling and disruptive plane sleeps, slapping on some eye patches is a necessity for me before landing. The skin around our eyes is fragile and more susceptible to dryness, sagging, and fine lines so it’s very important to take care of it during a long-haul flight. I love the Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches after a day of travel. A powerful combination of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen plumps and hydrates, while cooling cucumber makes you look and feel awake by reducing the look of puffiness, dark circles and fine lines.
Find it at Sephora.
WaterWipes Face Wipes
I never travel with cleanser in my carry-on and instead opt for a good old fashioned wipe. The facial wipes from WaterWipes are the only ones I’ve tried that don’t leave sticky residue on my skin. They effectively remove any makeup, oil, and build up without irritation. They’re 99.9% water and infused with fruit extracts and dead sea minerals so you won’t be putting chemicals all over your face either. I usually use these a few times throughout a flight to keep me feeling fresh. And if I’m really feeling gross, I’ll take them to the toilet and wipe down my body too!
Read reviews here…
DU’IT Tough Hands for Her
I have dry hands on the best of days, so when I fly my hands are usually the first to need a little extra care. I travel with the DU’IT Tough Hands for Her because it’s heavy duty, full stop. It’s formulated with a powerful peptide blend and potent hydrating properties to deeply nourish and repair dry, cracked hands. Infused with panthenol and niacinamide, it delivers anti-ageing benefits while brightening skin and improving the condition of cuticles and nails. It also comes in a travel size which is perfect to throw in your carry-on or purse!
Red reviews here…
The Body Shop Bamboo Mini Hair Brush
Who else wakes up from a mid-air sleep only to find your hair resembling a knotty troll doll? I’m not sure if its from sleeping sitting up or from being restless all night, but travelling with a hair brush is a must for me, otherwise I’ll end up with days worth of mattes in my hair. For travel I pack The Body Shop Bamboo Mini Hair Brush. It’s the perfect travel-size brush with soft, wide bristles so it’s gentle on dry, tangled hair and easy to keep clean.
Read reviews here…
Lily Silk Scrunchies
Nothing sounds worse to me than keeping my hair down during a long-haul flight. Rather than using a traditional hair tie to put my hair up, I make sure I have a scrunchie on hand. Hair ties can be harsh on hair, causing creasing and breakage. Scrunchies are much more gentle, and given that my hair is likely to be tied up for at least a full day straight, it’s important for me to protect my hair’s integrity. I love the Lilysilk Silk Hair Scrunchies because they come in a pack of three (so you can afford to lose one or two during your travels!) and they’re made of silk, making them extra gentle and soft on hair.
Read reviews here…
Lanolips Lip Balm
Chapped lips are one of the worst parts of flying because they just seem to take forever to heal! That’s why I always make sure to apply lip balm frequently throughout a flight. The Lanoplips Tinted Balm is what I bring on holidays with me because it’s a 4-in-1 product that I can use the whole trip. It’s super hydrating with a sheer pink tint, so it works as both a lip balm and lip colour. It also has SPF 30 to protect you from the sun and can even be used on your cheeks as a dewy highlight/blush combo! The perfect multi-use travel product to save you some space in your makeup bag and keep your lips protected in-flight.
Read reviews here…
Kopari Coconut Oil Deodorant
I think it’s pretty self-explanatory why deodorant is necessary on a long-haul flight. Recently I switched to natural deodorant and so far Kopari Coconut Oil is the best one I’ve tried. When I’m re-applying multiple times throughout a flight and sitting right next to total strangers, I like to keep my scents as neutral as possible. This deodorant has a subtle smell of coconut and rolls on clear. It’s 100% plant-based, anti-bacterial, and aluminium and baking soda-free.
Find it at Sephora.
Alpha-H Moisture Boosting Facial Mist
A facial mist isn’t a must-have for me on a flight, but it’s certainly a nice-to-have when flying for over a day. I love the Alpha-H Moisture Boosting Facial Mist because it’s both cooling and calming. It’s formulated with hydrating botanicals like aloe vera, witch hazel, chamomile, and citrus fruits in combination with lavender to deliver a boost of soothing hydration. I love to mist my face mid-flight after I wake up from a nap or right before deplaning to help wake me up and make me feel refreshed (well, as refreshed as you can be during a long-haul!)
Read reviews here…
Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is another product that’s not a necessity for a long-haul flight, but rather a nice-to-have that helps me feel just a little more human post-flight. Since you typically can’t bring an aerosol in your carry-on, I opt for the Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo as it’s a powder. It smells amazing – like lemon, grapefruit and lime, and it quickly absorbs grease from the hair without giving it that gritty dry shampoo texture. I suggest using this in the toilet as the powder can get a little messy!
Read reviews here…
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask
I need to wear a sleep mask in order to fall asleep on planes, and the Slip ones are the best! It’s my favourite because it’s pure silk meaning it doesn’t irritate the delicate skin around my eyes or tug at it leaving creases and potential wrinkles! It’s free of dyes and other toxic substances and it’s so soft that it feels like you’re getting a luxurious sleep experience, even if you’re squished in between two strangers!
Find it at slip.com.au.
I also don't like face sheet masks, preferring cream ones but I don't like eye patches either, they never stay in place long enough to do anything
I love eye patches but agree about most sheet masks. You could try a silicone mask.
I love some of the products listed here.
I’d avoid anything containing hyaluronic acid.
I have to agree that sheet masks are not for me.