The high altitude, intense air-conditioning, and the dry stale air at 35,000 feet up in the air can wreak havoc on your physical and mental wellness, whether you’re flying commercial or on a private jet charter. Thankfully, a little bit of preparation and a few products can make all the difference and leave you feeling refreshed and reenergized, even after a brutal 21-hour flight. Try out my FIVE tried-and-tested tips and you’ll be able to conquer any flight.
Photo credit: aircharterservice.com
Skin + Makeup + Hair:
1) Moisturize your skin. The morning of your flight, make sure to exfoliate your skin to ensure that the moisturizer penetrates deeply into your pores and doesn’t rest on top of dead skin cells. Don’t forget your hands and lips – apply and re-apply a generous coating of hand cream and lip balm throughout the flight. My favorites: L’Occitane Shea Butter Honey Hand Cream and Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.
2) Keep your makeup to a minimum. For long-haul flights, start with wiping down your face with refreshing towelettes (love Yes to Cucumbers or Josie Maran). My face makeup is usually minimal for a long-haul flight to ensure my pores don’t get clogged and I’m not welcomed at my destination with a delightful breakout. Right before landing, before you apply your makeup, ask for some ice to de-puff your eyes, to tighten your pores, and to give you an instant pick-me-up.
My go-to makeup products for airplanes are:
1) YSL Touche Éclat highlighter
2) Makeup Forever Full Cover concealer
3) Nars Multiple Stick
4) Charlotte Tilbury nude and Urban Decay black eyeliners
5) L’Oreal Voluminous mascara
6) Tom Ford red lipstick
7) Visine eye drops
To amp up the glam factor with minimal effort, use a wash of red lipstick – it can brighten even the dullest of complexions.
3) Become best friends with dry shampoo. Sitting for hours on a long-haul flight zaps the life out of my hair, making it look unkempt and limp. Right before landing, dust some dry shampoo/volumizing powder into the roots and …va-va-voom!
Food + Drink:
1) Limit your salt intake. Keep your salty foods (nuts, pretzels, etc.) intake to a minimum. Snacking is great, but try snacking on fruit or veggies. If you’re on business or first class, chefs on many airlines offer the option of preparing you a healthy, gourmet dish using locally-sourced ingredients that will not only keep you from unnecessarily snacking but will also keep your digestive system on track. While healthy eating during the flight is important, don’t neglect the hours leading up to takeoff.
2) Stay hydrated. As great as the temptation of free-flowing bubbly is, try to drink as much water as possible during the flight. I know the idea of staying hydrated has been hammered into our heads countless times, but there’s good reason for it. It not only helps with bloating and fatigue, but it also helps the skin from looking sallow when you touch down on the ground. Spice up your water with Vitamin-C or electrolyte packets so you’re getting an added boost. Or just ask for a few slices of lemon to add a refreshing twist to your water.
Another thing to keep in mind is getting up and stretching your body out every few hours is essential to your physical wellness on a long-haul flight. You may even want to try a few basic yoga moves.
