There have been countless articles written on the subject of travel beauty, but nothing compelling enough for me – well not yet. As someone who truly travels on six and seven hour flights quite often, I can honestly say that I have my en flight kit down to a t. Part of the secret, and as Into the Gloss recently concurred, is the prep that you do before the flight. This is how it goes (for me).
AT HOME (PRE-FLIGHT)
Take a real shower. Not that half-a** kind where you only wash what’s necessary. No I’m talking the real deal. Do a full body scrub using Earth Tu Face Salt Scrub on semi-dry skin. Wash your hair with something awesome, like Christophe Robin’s Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt followed by Robin’s Volumizing Conditioner. Shave your legs. You are going to feel great, trust me. Then slap on something really nourishing like May Lindstrom’s The Good Stuff. It’s totally organic and all natural and smells like cocoa. It’s my latest body addiction. I will also blow dry my hair, so that I feel prettier.
BUT FIRST…WIPES!
The first thing that I do once I get settled in my seat is to whip out my wipes and wipe down the arm rests, the cushion area behind my head and neck and any other place that I am likely to touch. Then using another clean wipe, cleanse your face, neck and hands. Simple Skincare and Josie Maran both make great and inexpensive wipes. I like to make sure the wipes are clean and not filled with chemicals, because I really like to use them liberally.
SKIN
On a clean face, spray something. I like SK-II’s Mid-Day Essence Spray. You get all the Japanese pitera benefits but in the easy-to-use spray form. For those of you with no shame like me, use SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask and just leave it on until all of the moisture has absorbed onto your skin. When you take it off, you can just pat the product into your face, and any excess (especially around the neck) can be whipped off with your handy wipes. There really isn’t anything else better. Otherwise, pop on a clear and more discrete mask like Laurel Organics Honey Berry Enzyme Mask for 10-20 minutes. Wipe it off using one of your handy wipes. I also keep travel size skincare serums and moisturizes and I am always switching them up. I’ll use Tata’s Serum and then I’ll slap a pea-sized amount of One Love Organics Wonder Balm One. Love Organics makes a great eye cream, and it’s super nourishing and compact – making it ideal for travel. I really love that one.
HAIR
I like the Tangle Tease brush because its super small, and it doesn’t rip out my hair. So give your hair a good brush, why not. Just don’t freak out your neighbor. 😉
HANDS
I am addddicted to Weleda’s Skin Food Hautcreme for my hands. It’s goopy and thick, so your only need a little bit. But it moisturizes like nothing else. I randomly saw it at the grocery store here in Zurich, and now I can’t stop using it. I even keep one in my car.
SPIRIT
Bring on some essential oils. I feel essential oils are this world of their own. It’s kind of like their own club. Once you get into them, you become addicted (kinda like crystals) and you can’t leave home or anywhere without them. The cool thing is that there is an oil for every situation. On the plane, I will roll Tata Harper’s Aromatic Stress Treatment on my neck, pulse points and on the palms of my hands and breath in deeply 3 to 5 times. This really helps relax my mind. More on essentials oils coming soon.
MAKEUP
Let’s face it, everyone likes to arrive feeling concealed. I will apply a bit of RMS Beauty’s “Un” Concealer, Living or Magic Luminizer and Magic Mixer and Tata Harper’s clear Be True Balm to my lips and lids (I trick I learned backstage at NYFW). On my brows, Glossier’s Boy Brow
COMPRESSION SOCKS
Yes, this is a real thing. This is if you don’t want your legs to swell up like a balloon. And it works. I buy mine here.