This is a repost of one of my latest pieces for INPT. I apologize if some of you have already read this.
I hate flying. I love traveling but I hate everything to do with flying. I hate waiting in the airport, I hate the security checks, I hate lugging around my baggage and I hate airlines that think they’re doing you a big favor if they’re treating you to a free meal during a 10-hour flight that already cost you a thousand dollars.
What I hate the most, though, is that I’m paying that much just to sit cramped up in a little chair so I can be physically abused with poor blood circulation and dehydration.
My destination may have been reached but I was still a thousand miles from that coveted image of me coming out of a flight looking sleek and stylish while coolly wheeling a suitcase behind me. By the time I’ve arrived at my destination, I’ve got a bad case of dry skin, peeling lips and cankles that make me wail in horror. Everything I wear is wrinkled. Even the wrinkle-free stuff is wrinkled. It is then that you realize that the reason you look so beaten-up in passport photos is because you need to look as close to that as possible when you go through customs.
I’m pretty sure Posh Spice isn’t really travelling in planes in these photos. I can only surmise that these are just freshly manufactured versions of her, created for every airport.
So, when I packed my carry-on to prepare for my recent overseas flight, I focused on items that would optimize my comfort and well-being, while keeping my luggage relatively light.
Hydrating sheet masks
My Beauty Diary sheet mask in Pearl Powder
Sheet masks are the greatest thing to have ever been introduced to the skincare industry. A very popular brand is My Beauty Diary, which comes in a huge variety of different types of skin therapy. You can find them on sites like Sasa.
While it’s meant to be an at-home skin therapy mask, this is especially great for travelers who want to stay hydrated on board but are limited by the TSA’s carry-on restrictions on fluids. I wore this on both my 6-hour flights to and from Hawaii last week and my face was nicely hydrated and soft at the end of both flights.
Each individually packaged mask is pre-soaked in serum, which you wear for at least 15 minutes. I like to keep it on until the mask is completely dried up, sometimes falling asleep in the mask. It’s also a great way to give your flight attendant the heebie-jeebies, which I consider a great way to get them back for policing my use of electronics on board. Yea, that’ll teach you to tell me to turn off my phone when it’s already on airplane mode!
A Good Lip Balm
Smith’s Rosebud Salve in a Tube; for those who don’t like re-dipping in a tin jar
A good lip balm can be surprisingly hard to find, considering all the options out there. Some lip balms feel waxy but not hydrating at all; some get greasy but quickly dry up and leave you wanting more. It’s really hard to find a lip balm that keeps your kissers hydrated all day without needing to reapply constantly.
In the past several months, I must have gone through a dozen different lip balms and the ones that worked the best were Aquaphor and Smith’s Rosebud Salve in a Tube. I added Smith’s Rosebud Salve to my carry-on. I applied it once, but quite generously, during the flight and I never needed to reapply.
Compression Socks
Dr. Scholl’s QTTO Sleepwear Slimming Socks
Recalling all those times my legs felt swollen and restless in previous flights, as well as the last time I came home and discovered the horror of cankles, I made sure to bring my compression socks on board. Never have I been so happy to have socks in my life. These socks have been great for keeping my restless legs well rested at nights. They also work wonderfully on long flights. They’ve kept my ankles from swelling up and they’ve kept the blood flowing in my entire legs. No more cankles!
Drink Lots of Water
Dehydration is the biggest damage your body undergoes when trapped in the stale atmosphere of an airplane for half a day. Avoid sugary drinks and avoid alcohol if you want to minimize this damage. Drink lots of water.
I was impressed with how the flight attendants on Hawaiian Air came by nonstop with water. You bet your bottom that I took up every single offer. I don’t know how frequently other airlines serve water, but most of my previous flights were pretty stingy about it. Even then, I did not hesitate to ask for more water – more out of vengeance because I was pissed that I could not bring my own on board because of that dumb TSA regulation and I felt that somehow the world owed me this one free service. It shouldn’t be too much to ask to stay hydrated in this tin trap of shared stale air, dammit!
Avoid the Complementary Salty Snacks
If an airplane serves salty snacks AND is stingy with their water refills, then I think they’re just being cruel. They must be under the impression that you really enjoy the bloating and swelling. That’s the only logic I can think of when pondering why they’re giving you high-sodium pretzels and nuts. If you want to avoid the swelling and bloating, you’re better off skipping the snacks altogether or bringing your own apple slices or carrots on board. If you’re “smart” like me (as in, not smart at all) you’ll bring Terra Chips – by which I mean to say you should not.
What are your carry-on essentials for surviving long flights? Have you tried other lip balms or sheet masks that you really liked? Please share with us!
With love,
Al
I am alienman. Writing a small blurb about myself is the hardest thing to do. "Blurb" is a funny word.
GoldfishCake is NOT accepting sponsors or advertising at this time.
Loading ...
I’m starting to hate long flights. For the first time ever, my knees actually hurt and I couldn’t understand why except that it’s got something to do with air pressure and my poor blood circulation? I should look into those compression socks for my mom.
I carried Burt’s Bees lip balm, and a travel-size Eucerin cream with me on the plane. I avoided the salty snacks (just pocketed them in my carry-on thankyouverymuchDelta) and I avoided drinking too much water because then I’d have to pee. I figured limiting my liquid intake, despite possible hydration, was easier than climbing out of a cramped center/window seat to go to the bathroom. Plus, on one of my flights, I sat near the bathroom. I was grossed out by seeing the infinitesimal number of people who used the loo. Then, if someone was in the bathroom too long, you KNOW what they were doing in there.
I think there’s more than one Rosebud Salve isnt’ there? I want to say C.O. Bigelow makes it too. I’ve been tempted to buy a tin before. I used to think these little tins were cute, but after using Carmex – which is a good lipcare product too – the re-dipping gets old. I need to remind myself to stick to the tubes.
I’m a big Carmex (in a tube) fan myself, though I don’t like it when I over apply and it ends up in my mouth. I’m not a fan of long flights either, and the trip to China is usually about 17-19 hours. I like to carry a sheet mask in my purse so I can apply on the go if I want to, but I’m always self-concious about looking like a doof with a mask on my face… another tip I like is to just reapply a moisturizing toner throughout the duration of the flight, which helps both to remove grime from your face and to add back some moisture.
I can’t imagine wearing a paper mask on board! But I guess on a flight people can’t really see each other. I usually pack with the intention of distracting myself from the fact that I am in a steel cylinder flying thousands of feet in the air. I’m terrified of turbulence and landings so I pack tons of electronic toys, magazines, anything that will help me take my mind off the impending landing which I ALWAYS dread.
I remember last year when we flew to Vegas there was so much turbulence landing that I dreaded flying all the way back home.
I hate flying! I’m always so happy to be on the ground again! HAHA And that show May-Day does NOT help!
“It is then that you realize that the reason you look so beaten-up in passport photos is because you need to look as close to that as possible when you go through customs.” AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Its so true though!!!
I try to avoid drinking water on planes, as I fear public bathrooms…. especially on airplanes and cruse ships… I’m not exactly a germophobe, but still, why risk it?
long time lurker here!
can you do a post on eye creams?
your eye area is so smooth and flawless and I’m curious as to what you use, if you use anything that is.
Thanks!
I know what you mean, I’ve had four 14-hour flights this past year. In place of compression socks I just wear tight, thick socks and leggings. I’m so self-conscious that I’d refuse to use face masks in a plane full of people, so this is what I do: I take Korean Air (I love them, but so expensive!), and they provide complementary lotions and toners in the bathroom. I rinse my face with water then slather my face with their lotion, then return to my seat. I’d do this every hour or two. (Actually, between movies, lol!) Since I don’t want to keep disturbing people, I always pick the aisle seat. Just curious, do you have a preference for plane seats?
So many awesome ideas!! Thanks so much for sharing, guys
I hope to hear more great suggestions.
It’s weird. I usually have to pee just about every hour if I drink a lot of water but I haven’t had to go during flights, except when I slip in to put on or take off my compression socks. Also, I think turning 30 kind of loosened up my self-consciousness, hahaha. Two years ago, I would have been too embarrassed to wear a mask but now I’m like “Screw it, I’m not going to leave this plane looking like a dry husk.”
And then I glare menacingly through my paper mask at anyone who stares.
jessic6: I generally prefer the window seat because I can lean over to sleep. Which brand of lotion does KA provide?
felicia: I’m so flattered by your request, thank you! I’ll try and see if I can break down my “routine” for you in a near-future post.
Klaudea: haha, yea, I bring both my iPod Touch and my Android phone… AND my laptop for maximum entertainment. I also bring snacks, which is a pretty dumb idea unless they’re fruits or veggies (snacking on salty carbs is my vice). I also bring pajama pants because I can’t bear to wear jeans or skirts on a plane and it’s too cold for shorts. I guess you could say I prepare for flights the same way I’d prepare for a slumber party, minus a big fluffy pillow.
Oh goodness, air travel…I hate it so much, too! But that’s because I have an anxiety thing related to water, and the fact that they don’t allow us to bring water on-board triggers that. >_> Since I’m always traveling for work it’s been a long string of anxiety attacks at the airport hahaha…But! Wearing a tank top and shorts through security and putting on a light overcoat in the plane is comfortable. And I always stop at the little snacks shop before boarding to buy bottled water. It’s expensive, but I don’t like waiting for the drinks cart to roll around, haha.The face mask thing is genius, I will put one on before I sleep next time I fly! ^^
KA always has a L’Oreal toner and lotion, but it’s been a month or two so I no longer remember the name. I think it’s either Asia-exclusive or Korean Air-exclusive, though. But if they sold it at the stores here in the US, it would be my HG. =/
I did take a MBD mask with me on the flight, but didn’t use it. I REALLY should have as the recirculated air totally messed up my skin :T didn’t help that my body wasn’t used to such conditions. I can understand why people would want to travel first class every time they fly.
Compression socks. Hm might need to remember for that for next time I fly a long trip
I usually don’t sleep the night before and sleep on the whole flight, waking up sporadically to drink tons of water and back to sleep