Our Staffers Never Fly without These Beauty Essentials

Not to brag, but I’m an excellent flyer. Okay, I will brag: I took my first flight when I was just a one-year-old, and as an adult I get on a plane at least ten times a year. I’m totally comfortable in the tiniest of coach seats. I can fit ten day’s worth of clothes in a TSA-approved carry-on and STILL have room to bring back souvenirs. So a few years ago when my parents, who were living in Shanghai at the time, invited me to fly over for a visit, I thought the 17-hour flight would be a walk in the park. I was so wrong.

About six hours into the flight, I went to the bathroom to wash my face and change into comfy pajama pants. I latched the little folding door, peered into the mirror, and found a haggard old woman staring back at me! My makeup had settled into every crease, accentuating all of my fine lines and imperfections, my skin was beyond parched, flaking off in huge patches, and my under eye circles were so big they had their own under eye circles. I suppressed a scream, scrubbed my makeup off in the tiny metal sink, and reached for the only fix I had in my carry-on: a dollop of drugstore moisturizer. Great for everyday, not-so-great under the desert-like conditions at 30,000 feet. It took days to nurse my skin back to its normal, hydrated self. Now, in addition to chugging water before, during, and after every flight, I never board a plane without a bottle of face oil. I like Spa Technologies’ Blemish Tea Tree & Thyme and rms beauty’s Raw Coconut Cream (I blend a few drops into my moisturizer).

In the spirit of better travel beauty habits for all, I asked Beautylish staffers to spill their in-flight must-haves for glowing skin and hair.

Whenever I fly I...

“must have Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing Wipes. Planes and airports have always seemed dirty to me, and I don’t like to fly with makeup on, so these keep my skin clean and hydrated before, during, and after a flight. Because I land with a clean face, I can easily brush on a bit of makeup once I reach my destination.” –Jamie Gaul, contributing writer

“need to spritz Evian Mineral Water Facial Spray on my face throughout the flight. It’s nearly impossible for me to travel without it. The altitude, the air pressure, the unexpected turbulence, the enclosed space—it’s all so overwhelming! You’d be surprised at how much all of that can disappear with a refreshing spray of cooling mist.” –Terry Lee, editorial designer

“always pack my Anna Sui Folding Brush and a bit of dry shampoo. Sitting on a plane for a number of hours always ends up turning my long hair into a big ol' mess, so I like to be able to spruce it up before heading to my destination.” –Selena Fragassi, contributing writer

“have to pack Eve Lom Kiss Mix. The minute I step onto a plane, my lips feel super dry. I put on this miracle-worker one or two times depending on the length of the flight. My lips stay hydrated, and I’m left with a healthy-looking sheen once I land.” –Caitie Schlisserman, assistant editor

“keep my Lucas' Papaw Ointment nearby, because whenever I fly, the dry air saps moisture from my skin and hair. I use it on my lips, hands, and cuticles, and just before the plane lands, also to fix up any frizz on my head. I’ll also put a little on my lashes and brows to moisturize, fix any unruly hairs, and give them a little shine. After a long flight, it helps me look and feel refreshed and put together!” –Asmeet Sran, product manager

“bring an all-purpose, solid-ish (read: spill-proof) skin balm, like Indie Lee’s. It’s perfect: there are so many hydrating plant-derived oils in this little jar—jojoba, avocado, bergamot, lavender, chamomile. And you can use it anywhere. When dry patches start to set in on my lips, hands, around my nose and cheeks, all I have to do is massage in a dab, and my skin is instantly restored." –Jill Russell, managing editor

We want to know: what are you in-flight tricks and must-haves? Share in the comments!