Monday's Beauty Bits: Airplane Beauty

Although I admired this girl's initiative and lovely narration, I'll admit I was pretty frustrated with the lack of useful tips on surviving a long-haul airplane flight and looking pretty. I've clocked up a fair amount of plane travel in my time, so here are some things I do to minimise the trauma airplane travel can have on your skin. Plus, it keeps me entertained. ^_^

Before sleeping

Never use the water from the airplane loo's tap to brush your teeth. Bring a bottle of water instead. Too lazy? Just bring a tiny bottle of mouthwash and give your teeth and gums a good rinse.

Always take off your contact lenses! Clean your hands with a wet wipe and use a small hand mirror that can stand on its own to remove your lenses. I use a small towel to drain away the excess fluid from cleansing. Or just pop them into cases and fill with fluid - it's better than nothing! Renu sells amazing contact lense travel kits that obey flight restrictions and even come with two zip-lock bags. I also suspect the solution is extra moisturising and kinder to dry eyes.

Take off your makeup with a facial cleansing wipe. I love the ones by Simple, they can take off everything but the most stubborn of mascaras. The sheets are big enough for your entire face and its basic, unfragranced formula lessens the chance of irritation.

Go through your regular night-time routine. Use travel jars and bottles to bring it along with you on the plane. This will lessen the trauma the stress of travelling can have on skin.

Slather on extra (as in, more than usual) hydrating moisturiser like ~H2O+ Face Oasis, or Clinique Moisture Surge Extra. Airplane air is legendarily dry and this will help you wake up looking fresh instead of dessicated. If your skin is acne prone like mine don't be tempted to use heavy cream moisturisers. You'll STILL breakout. Oh and I don't need to ask you to slather on lip balm do I?

When you wake up

Grab another cleansing wipe and give your face a once-over. You'll feel much more refreshed! I also like to use the blanket as a modesty shield and use a wipe to give my body a wipe down too.

I'm sure you'll also want to give your teeth a brush or rinse. Unless you feel like torturing anyone you speak to!

Pop your lenses in. The small hand mirror and towel comes in handy again. Watch out for turbulence!

Go through your regular daily routine. If it's vastly different from your night one, make do with the stuff you have from your night routine. Your skin will like the extra moisture anyway.

A brightening primer like Clarins Flash Balm or Benefit That Gal primer will help you fake a radiant glow even though you feel like death warmed over.

Use a brightening concealer around your eyes and a heavier more matte concealer to cover red spots and blemishes. You can even mix some with moisturiser to even out skintone. Set with your compact powder or even powder foundation.

Use powder foundation. Anything else is just too complicated. You know my personal choice - ZA's 2-Way Foundation.

Choose a perkier peach or pink blush with some shimmer to make you look fresh and awake.

Keep eye makeup simple, and clean. Some highlight shimmer across the lid. A darker shade to contour along the crease and outer V. And powder shadow to line. Cream shadows don't fall under liquid restrictions so go for those if you want. I would skip mascara, curlers, liquid and pencil liners. Who wants to deal with those on a jumping plane?

Glosses fall under liquid restrictions. So opt for a solid gloss or sheer lipstick for your lips. A sheer natural pink with some shimmer is probably your best option. Anything too pale will wash you out and hot red lipsticks are a hassel.

Now sashay your foxy way off that plane and have everyone (but the person who sat next to you) wonder how on earth you can look so damned perky after flight. ; )