Inflight Beauty Hacks: Dreamy beauty products and tips for long haul flights

In today’s post I’ve collaborated with Jurlique to share my ultimate beauty hacks and favourite beauty products when flying long haul.

Now I’ve hit my 30’s I can really see a difference in my skin when I’ve flown long haul. The combination of dehydration and tiredness seems to age me about 10 years, and make it 15 years if I’m flying with the kids!

The days of having a permanently natural glow are long gone (excuse me while I have a little cry about that!) so I need a little help, especially while travelling. 

I’m really excited to be working with Jurlique because their ethos is the same as my own when it comes to beauty; Jurlique believe that natural-based skincare is best and the healing power of nature will always be better than products manufactured solely in a laboratory.

I’ve taken more than my fair share of long-haul flights. I actually remember taking a weekend trip to Cancun then getting an overnight flight back to London and going to work on Monday morning! I’m not sure I looked 100% fresh as a daisy but these beauty hacks definitely came in useful then!

There are three things you need to do to get through a long haul flight and get off the plane looking radiant. You need to:

1. Hydrate
2. Rest
3. Moisturise

That sounds simple, right? These are three things that are SO easy to do anywhere other than a stuffy, cramped, uncomfortable plane.

So I have some little tips and gorgeous products to help you look and feel fresh and glowy after a long haul flight.

 

HYDRATE

Let’s start with the hydration during long haul flights…

 

Drink ALL the water

Take an enormous water bottle on board with you and refill it at every available opportunity. Most airports have water fountains but if you can’t find one you can always ask in a bar or cafe, which is actually better because you can ask for a generous scoop of ice too!

I have a water bottle with time markings on it to encourage you to drink a certain amount every hour. It sounds so simple but it’s such an effective way to remind yourself to drink enough!

Travel Hack Tip: I like to take one large bottle for cold water and a large cup for hot drinks because I usually get bored of just water. I avoid drinking tea and coffee on the plane (mostly because I’ve never had a good cup of coffee on a plane!) but I’ll take my own herbal tea bags and ask for hot water. I’ll pack a few different flavoured teas like chamomile to relax and I also love fruity berry teas to encourage myself to drink more and stay hydrated.

^ I’ve also got to include the DHL lip cream every time I fly because this is amazing for keeping lips hydrated!

 

Take hand sanitiser

Most people avoid drinking too much during long flights because the toilet situation on most planes isn’t the best. Take a mini bottle of hand sanitiser with you. It’s not going to solve all your problems but it might make you a little less reluctant to use the loo!

 

 

Take your own food

I actually quite like plane food (hello salty, stodgy pre-packaged food!) so this is a hard tip for me to stick to but I always feel so much better when I take healthy food onto the plane with me. 

Most airports have a Pret where I’ll get myself a salad and some healthy snacks.

You’ll feel much less bloated and groggy when you get off the plane.

 

Avoid alcohol

Sorry to be boring but alcohol is also going to dehydrate your skin! I used to think a few cheeky glasses of wine would help me sleep but I actually find it does the opposite and stops me sleeping so it’s best to let the drinks trolley keep rolling….

 

Use a hydrating mist spray

You’ve hydrated from the inside, now it’s time to hydrate from the outside. Spritz your face with a hydrating mist such as the Jurlique Rosewater or Lavender Balancing Mist. This is the dreamiest mist and I’m absolutely obsessed with it!

It’s super hydrating and what I really love about the balancing mist is you can spray it over your makeup without ruining it. These also come in 50ml or 100ml bottles so they’re perfect for flying and getting through security.

Spray it onto your face or your legs and feet to stay cool and avoid swelling. Spray it onto your travel pillow and blanket or onto the shoulder of your jumper so you’re always getting a lovely breath of it.

Opt for the rosewater one for an uplifting scent or the lavender one for a relaxing option.

 

REST AND SLEEP

Resting on a plane is easier said than done. You might be sat still for hours on end but when you can’t get comfortable or you’re high on adrenaline it can be hard to truly rest. Here are some tips that really help me to sleep during a long haul flight.

 

Listen to audio books

I know it’s tempting to dip into the entertainment system on a long haul flight but I usually find movies keep me awake rather than send me to sleep! I find an audiobook to be much more relaxing and I usually fall asleep pretty quickly.

 

Take a pillow and blanket

You can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned U-shaped travel pillow – and it’s extra relaxing when it’s lightly scented with lavender from either a mist or aromatherapy oil.

 

Prebook the window seat

Make sure you check-in online as early as you possibly can (set a reminder on your phone to make sure you don’t miss online check in opening!) and get the best seat for you.

For me, I like a window seat so I can lean against the wall and surround myself with all my little bits and bobs to make the journey more comfortable and relaxing.

 

Use a lavender scented hand cream

Does anyone else apply deliciously scented hand cream so you can cup your hands over your face and inhale that gorgeous smell? It can’t just be me!

The Jurlique lavender hand cream leaves your hands lovely and soft and the lavender smell is so relaxing. Even if it doesn’t send you straight to sleep, it’s going to help you relax and unwind.

 

Use aromatherapy oils

Speaking of relaxing and unwinding, here’s a game-changer for your next flight.

I’ll usually travel with two aromatherapy oils, one with a relaxing scent and one that is uplifting and energising. I’ll add a couple of drops of a soothing oil to my travel pillow and breathe it in while I’m relaxing or trying to sleep on the plane. Jurlique’s Balancing Blend Essential Oil is dreamy and I use this at home when I’m putting Alba to bed!

Then if you feel groggy and need to boost your energy when you arrive, add a couple of drops of an uplifting oil to a napkin and breathe it all in. 

Honestly, this is a little hack I wish I’d discovered years ago because it really helps.

Travel Hack Tip: If you’re flying with kids, I find giving them a tissue with a drop of oil on it when you’re disembarking the plane keeps them calm and distracted. It gives them something to focus on other than the boredom of queues!

 

MOISTURISE

And finally, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise to keep your skin hydrated and make sure you emerge from the plane feeling fresh and glowy rather than dull and tired!

This is my long haul flight beauty routine…

 

Avoid makeup

Avoid wearing makeup when you’re flying. Not only will it clog your pores and make you feel sweaty and gross but it usually ends up smudging and you get off the plane with panda eyes!

 

Apply a moisture mask

I love seeing that more and more people use face masks on long haul flights! But if, like me, you can’t bring yourself to apply a sheet mask on a plane full of people, I highly recommend the Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Mask. It’s a cream mask so it soaks into the skin and can be left on overnight so it’s perfect for a long haul flight. It’s great for dry and dehydrated skin and your skin feels incredible when you rinse it off.

Apply this just before you get on the plane and leave it on for most of the flight.

 

Cleanse on the plane

Get rid of that horrible, groggy, sweaty feeling you’ll undoubtedly have after a long haul flight and cleanse your face shortly before landing. I’m loving the Radiant Skin Foaming Cleanser from Jurlique. It’s one of those rare products that makes your face feel lovely and clean but soft and moisturised at the same time. It gently foams but doesn’t contain SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) so it doesn’t dry your skin at all. It also contains superfine pumice to gently exfoliate all those dead skill cells that build up during the flight. I have sensitive skin but this is a gorgeous product even for me and is one of the only cleansers that leaves myself glowing without drying it out.

If the bathroom on the plane is too small or grubby to do this then wait until you get to the airport. And don’t feel weird about cleansing in a public bathroom, I honestly see people doing this all the time at the airport! It makes you feel so much better and much fresher than just wiping your face with a wipe.

Travel Hack Tip: For extra refreshing beauty points, brush your teeth on the plane too. This will instantly perk you up!

 

Use a moisturiser with a fresh, relaxing scent

The Moisture Plus Rare Rose collection from Jurlique smells absolutely divine.

There’s the Moisture Plus Rare Rose Lotion which is quite light and fresh. The Moisture Plus Rare Rose Cream that is nice for drier skin and a the Moisture Plus Rare Rose Gel Cream which is really good for combination skin as it fights oiliness.