Let’s face it: nobody feels their best after a long flight. However, if you’ve got somewhere to be shortly after you land (whether it’s a business meeting or even an outing with friends), the fact remains that you want to at least avoid looking like a total zombie. Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to freshen up and look your best, even after the roughest of flights.
Hydrate Your Skin Before and After
Avoid wearing makeup on the flight; thanks to the dry air inside airplanes, you’ll likely need to re-apply it once you land, anyway. Instead of wearing makeup, apply a hydrating lotion to your face immediately before your flight and re-apply once you land. Doing so will keep your skin from getting dry and flaky. And if you have somewhere to be after landing, a well-hydrated face is the perfect canvas for applying some fresh makeup.
Stick to Healthy Snacks
If you don’t feel well once you land, it’s going to show. A lot of times, people opt for unhealthy food during their flights for the sake of convenience. Heavily processed foods are often offered by airlines as in-flight snacks, but they’re likely to leave you feeling bloated. The same goes for beer and other alcoholic beverages. Try to stick with healthy nutritious foods instead. A big bottle of water will help keep you hydrated on your flight much better than a glass of wine will, and a fruit cup or convenient granola bar will provide you with the energy you need for whatever plans you have when you land. Staying healthy while traveling may not be the easiest thing in the world, but it’ll be worth it.
Eye Drops Are Your Friend
The dry cabin air inside an airplane can wreak a lot of havoc on your eyes. If you tend to get red, itchy, or otherwise irritated eyes while flying, consider bringing a small bottle of eye drops along with you. Once you land, go ahead and use a couple of drops on each eye. This will help you avoid looking excessively tired.
Furthermore, if you tend to get puffy eyes or under-eye bags after a long flight, you might even want to consider asking your flight attendant for a small bag of ice as you leave your flight can really come in handy. Take a couple of minutes to place the ice over your eyes; this will help to reduce swelling and puffiness, helping you to appear more awake and alert.
Use Makeup Strategically
If you’re going to apply makeup before you head out, do so strategically to make yourself look as fresh and alert as possible. Start with a nice foundation and/or BB cream, which will help to re-hydrate your skin after a long flight. From there, you may also want to use some under-eye concealer to cover up any remaining under-eye discoloration that may be present. Furthermore, applying a little bit of a bright blush on the apples of your cheeks will put a little life back in your appearance.
When it comes to your eyes, mascara and an eyelash curler will be your best friends. Step into the airport bathroom for a moment to curl your eyelashes and apply a few swipes of mascara, which will really open up your eyes and make you look awake and alert. Finish with a little bit of tinted lip balm and you’ll be good to go!
Freshen Up With Dry Shampoo
If your hair tends to get a little scraggly or greasy on long flights, having a small, travel-sized bottle of dry shampoo can make all the difference. When you land, brush through your hair and then bust out the dry shampoo. Shake well, then spritz the dry shampoo onto the roots of your hair. Work the dry shampoo into the roots with the tips of your fingers and allow to sit for a moment before brushing it through your hair. This is a great way to combat greasiness, add volume, and freshen up the scent of your hair after a long flight.
Take Some Time to Stretch
You might be surprised at what a difference a little bit of stretching can do for your energy levels, especially after a long period of sitting still. If you don’t mind getting a few odd glances from passersby in the airport (and if you’re not in a huge rush to catch a cab or get elsewhere), set your luggage down and take the time to perform a few basic stretches while performing deep breathing exercises.
Re-Hydrate Your Body Right Away
Finally, if you weren’t drinking lots of water on your flight, now is the time to re-hydrate your body. Grab a large bottle of water from the nearest airport shop and enjoy. Avoid energy drinks or caffeine, as this will only provide you with a short-term burst of energy and will likely cause you to “crash” within a few hours. Water will provide you with the hydration and nourishment that your body needs to power through the rest of the day.
A long flight can wreak a havoc on the body, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to freshen up during and after your flight. This way, if you have places to be once you land, you can present the best version of yourself. Happy travels!
