The ultimate in-flight beauty bag

What to pack on the plane to emerge from economy looking completely first class…

Skincare in the air

It’s not simply the germ-drenched, recirculated air that tortures a traveller’s skin, aircraft cabins typically have a Saharan 20-25 per cent level of humidity (as opposed to a more comfortable 40 per cent), which strips your whole body of moisture within minutes.

Thus, the mantra of glamorous globetrotters is hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – care for your complexion as you would on the ground, only with more moisture. That means no sleeping in your make-up, no skipping skincare steps, upping your water intake and moisturising regularly.

A facial at 30,000 feet

To be the girl glowing at the baggage carousel, you need to give your skin some extra TLC in transit. With no rinsing required, single-use cloth masks are the ideal in-flight facial.

Fly buys:
Bloom Skin & Tonic Mask, $20 (for six)
Olay Regenerist Facial Treatment Mask, $39 (for five)
Nivea Visage Refreshing Moisture Mask, $3.50 (for one)
Moisture Surge Refreshing Eye Mask, $52 (for 10)

Plane perfect

1. Ciao Bella Travel Clear In-Flight Travel Pocket, $3.95 (20cm x 17cm)
2. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sheer Tint Lip Protectant Stick, $34 (3.7g)
3. FESS Nasal Spray – Frequent Flyer, $12.95 (30mL)

Seasoned traveller’s secret
4. Nature’s Own Travel Well Ginger 1000, $5.95 (10 tablets)
5. Ted Gibson Hair Sheet – Styling, $20 (10 sheets)
6. La Prairie Cellular Time Release Moisturiser Intensive, $220 (30mL)
7. Willow & Finch Sleep Mask in Sky Paisley, $14
8. Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste, $8 (25mL)
9. Manicare Travel Bottles, $3.99 (2 x 75mL)
Manicare Cosmetic Jars, $4.65 (2 x under 75mL)
David Jones Refillable Travel Tubes, $9.95 (2 x 75mL)
10. Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray, $10.45 (50mL)
11. Girl2Go Hand & Body Refresher Wipes, $5.95 (10 pack)

Clever travel kits

You’ll have to switch the pretty kit for a not-so-chic plastic bag, but these cabin-friendly collections are the savvy traveller’s companions of choice…

Must-have

Ciao Bella Travel Hair & Face Single Shots, $25.95
This tiny kit squeezes perfectly-measured portions of Gentle Facial Cleanser (4 x 2mL), Refreshing Toning Lotion (4 x 2mL), Hydrating Facial Moisturiser (4 x 2g) and Hydrating Mask (1 x9g) into super slim cards. The set even includes 9mL hits of shampoo and conditioner if you simply must wash between connections.

Lust-have

Carita Progressif 1st Class Flight Kit, $120
Includes travel doses of deluxe age-defying Progressif Cleansing Beauty Emulsion (20mL), Intensive Smooth Out Cream for Face (15mL) and Eyes (2.5mL), Body Firming Hydrating Emulsion (30mL) and Body Revitalising Cream for Hands (30mL max).
Trilogy Travelers, $49.95
A compact collection of rosehip oil-enriched Cream Cleanser, Energising Face Lotion, Hydrating Mist Toner and Nourishing Body Lotion (50mL each).
Dermalogica Skin Kits ($56.50 each)
These 50mL and under staples make serious skincare at altitude easy. Kits available for sensitised, dry, normal/dry, normal/oily, oily, and acne-prone complexions.

Search more travel kits in beautyheaven

Make-up on the move

Skin is under such stress on the plane it’s best to fly fresh-faced, but if you simply must go glam, clue up on which cosmetics you can carry on first. Liquid liners, mascara, liquid, cream or paste formulas, lipsticks, glosses and balms must be of 100mL or less and sealed inside your clear plastic bag. ‘Dry’ make-up, like pencil and kohl liners and face, eye and blush powders, may be carried loosely in any capacity.

Beauty on board – the regulations

• Each container of liquid, aerosol, spritz, cream, lotion or gel in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres/grams or less. Larger containers won’t clear security, even if only partially full.
• All containers must be sealed within a transparent plastic bag with a total capacity of one litre (approx. 20cm x 20cm max).
• Bags must be independently resealable, with a zip or snap-lock. Kits closed held shut tapes, ribbons or bands are not allowed.
• Each traveller is allowed only one plastic bag, which must close comfortably when full.
• Carry-on regulations do not apply to Australian domestic flights at present. However, if you’re joining an international flight for your domestic hop (eg. a Sydney, Melbourne, LA flight) and board at an international terminal, the restrictions will apply.