Over60
Travel Tips

How to look fresh and fantastic after any flight

Think only celebrities look good at airports? Wrong! Say goodbye to wrinkled clothes, scarecrow hair, dry eyes and grey complexions with our tips on how to look and feel fresh and fabulous in the arrivals lounge.

Plan ahead

Give some thought to what you will travel in. Layers are perfect for travelling. Choose sandals over enclosed shoes as feet often swell up on flights and it will save you trying to squeeze puffy feet into constricting shoes when you arrive. Have a pair of warm socks with you in case it gets cold on board in the middle of the night. Those blankets don’t always reach as far as your feet!

Choose clothes made of material that doesn’t wrinkle easily. Your linen trousers might be comfy but after 26 hours of sitting down they’ll look like a used napkin! Light cotton trousers with an elasticated waist are good – and printed fabrics hide wrinkles. It’s also a good idea to pack a change of clothes; living in such confined quarters with trays of food and snacks everywhere can easily result in spillages or smudges.

Lastly, before take-off, wash and blow-dry your hair properly so your style lasts longer. 

Sleep, sleep, sleep

We all know how hard it is to sleep upright without being able to stretch your legs out (unless you’re lucky enough to fly in business class!) so it’s important to increase the odds in your favour.

Earplugs are a must, and the waxy ones stay in better and block out more noise than foam ones. An eye mask can work wonders when you’re feeling sleepy but the lights are still on, or your neighbour’s screen is glowing like a beacon in the dark. Try to limit your alcohol intake, but if a mini bottle of shiraz will help you nod off then go for it. Try to read before you sleep rather than watching a movie- you’ll soon find the words start swimming on the page and you’ll have a more restful sleep.

Keep hydrated

Drink as much water as you can (and as little wine as possible!) to plump out your skin and combat the damaging effects of the cabin pressure.

Hydrate on the outside too- use a cleansing wipe to remove all traces of make-up, followed by a spritz of hydrating toner and a rich moisturizer. We recommend stocking up on little sample bottles before you fly so you don’t weigh your carry-on down with toiletries and so you can be sure everything you have is under 100ml.  Alternatively, decant into a little pot or bottle from the pharmacy.

Eyes often dry out too. If you wear contacts, take them out and put your glasses on (not forgetting to pack a spare pair of lenses) and use eye drops to replace the moisture you lose.

Freshen up

If you have a layover to change planes, take the opportunity to have a shower. It not only makes you feel like a new person but also means you’ll arrive feeling much fresher after the second leg.

With or without a shower, a little roll-on deodorant, perfume in an atomiser, clean underwear and toothbrush and toothpaste will help you feel more human.

Primp and preen

Beat the last-minute queues for the bathrooms by getting yourself ready about an hour before you’re due to land.

Use deodorant and perfume, and clean your teeth.

Cleanse, tone and moisturise again, then follow with a light foundation or tinted moisturiser, mascara, blusher and lip colour.

If your hair tends to start looking flat or greasy after one day, give yourself a quick spray of a travel-size dry shampoo, wait a few minutes then brush if through. If you have long hair, tying it back will hide a multitude of sins.

What to pack:

Tags:
travel, beauty