In Flight Beauty Routine

I’m that passenger, that terrifies you while mid night flight as the light from your phone time check flickers onto a very Mike Myers’esque mask staring at you; a very oiled up hand torturing it with a strange tool over and over, as the smell of hospital disinfectant wafts in the air. 

Glamourous I know. But sometimes the most glamourous acts can morph themselves into, well quite literally a horror movie scene, swap out the face contouring tool ( Nurse Jamie Face tool, Jade roller and Gua Sha face roller. ) for a chainsaw and we could be on a flight to Texas. 

And although I am one to story every spray, scrub, moisture droplet and wipe, I’m not quite sure why, but inflight routines have become a ground of epic popularity and I am, to be honest, so down with it. My OCD can finally be glorified for what it is.  An anxious millennial who’s also obsessed with skin care. Who knew I could finally be the popular girl at school just by indulging my insecurities and germaphobia. 

Now not to put a dampener on your next trip in the tin box in the sky but have you ever (this is a clear NEVER DO IT warning) googled the germs that can travel in an aircraft, or the sheer number of bacteria left on your seat from the previous squatter, who clearly doesn’t carry three purels and wet one wipes with them on board. Each to their own, squatters’ rights and all. 

Well I have, and let’s just say it can put the most grunge worthy of us into a desire to travel in a space man suit, no matter how many times you’ve been to Glastonbury, or how many gap year hostels you have stayed in, and definitely no matter how many drunken episodes you have of eating Joe’s pizza off your floor. Well maybe that can be an exception, though I’m not sure what there is to be proud of there. 

So, with this fresh in your mind, as to not to come across as a completely committable fanatic (though the thought Naomi would be in the same ward does comfort me), I take you to the first most important step of my inflight routine.

WIPE DOWN THE SEAT. A quick trip to CVS or Boots pre-flight is all it takes to stock up on wet wipes of all different shapes and sizes, and don’t get me started on the smells and colours of the hand gels now. It’s a beautiful clean sensory overload. I quite literally use half the packet on the seat, tv, seat belt and table. (Purell wipes and antibacterial package, Travel antibacterial wipes) 

Moving on to the saving grace of no missed holiday days stuck in bed, or the inevitable sneeze as you take your first step off the plane. Use lysol anti bacterial spray and spray to your hearts content and when all those eyes of disgust aim at you, simply look and smirk with the great knowledge that you’ll be laughing when they’re stuck coughing up phlegm for two weeks while you enjoy the luxuries of clear airways. 

Now that we’re fully clean, safe and able to relax. Let’s get onto all thing’s beauty. 

Not only will the very necessary dosing yourself in antibacterial have you and your gelled-up hands screaming for moisture but so will the cabin air; which quite literally dry’s you out from the inside out. Isn’t travelling just so luxurious.  So, step 1 of my favourite beauty routine, Moisturise. Now everyone and most importantly everyone’s skin is different, so I list you a few options. My face is oil prone, and as much as I’d love to lather endless oils on, this will result in a lovely red lump or two, so I find a very happy medium: oil free Origins night cream, this is lightweight but extremely giving. For those of you oil loving fans out there Sunday Riley and Glow recipe watermelon mist and watermelon overnight mask are havens. Prior to lathering up I like to scare the cabin, and child who won’t stop crying by completing my first sheet mask of the trip. 

I like to start off with something cleansing Dr jaart’s clearing solution sheet mask is a personal go to, also (link two others)

While this sits, I naturally will find any way to continue beautifying, by attending to the only part of my face uncovered, my lips which ideally I could gain that not Kylie Jenner pout, but at least an almost bee sting shimmer without any surgery please; incoming Glamglow’s POUTMUD lip mask.

Mask removed, passengers unalarmed, air marshal no longer on standby, and moisture haven of choice applied, I like to add some extra detoxing to stop those ever too common words “travel break out” from leaving those plumped soft lips of yours. My personal go to and clear instagram popularity winner is Mario Badescue’s drying lotion. For those that aren’t quite down with prancing about with bright pink splodges all flight take a look at Murad’s spot clearing lotion; this is also great as its not super drying yet still tackles those pesky ‘friends’ ( I will never to this day know why the trend is to call spots friends. Are they not more so an enemy!?).

We’re now into the middle of the flight journey and no matter how long, I take time to consider wellness, and by wellness, I mean downing CBD oil and water mixed with hydration sachets like they’re spicy margaritas. ( Higher wellness do a great pure CBD oil.)

Now whatever you choose to occupy yourself with during the flight; whether that be Netflix series on repeat or washing down that electrolyte mix with 1 or 5 gin and tonics is up to you and no judgement made. 

The pilot announces 40 minutes to landing and routine part 2 begins. 

I can only hope the car service, or uber drivers appreciate the freshness of my face upon landing, and in my head they do as they hold out my name in shining lights, and a fully choreographed dance number breaks out in arrivals behind them. 

Step 1 phase 2; you guessed it another sheet mask, this time a little less detox a little more refresh; Dr jart’s hydration mask and Charlotte Tilbury’s magic dry sheet mask are great for the end of flight glow. Post unison sigh of relief from this being the final sheet mask, now my main focus is de-puffing. Flights cause water retention and puffiness (as do the 5 mini gin bottles fyi but it’s all about balance). Here comes the activity-based section you’ve been training for, all those YouTube videos of people attacking their face have finally come into play. Grab those Face rollers linked above and focus on rolling away from your mouth and into your hairline, watch those Chrissy Turlington cheek bones slowly appear as you follow the natural shape of your face structure.

They say the eyes are the windows of the soul, so I make sure my windows are bright, slick and a no baggage zone. I travel with enough baggage as it is; where do you think all these products fit. Time to get yourself camera ready for that trending ‘eye patch selfie’, with Skyn Iceland’s hydro eye cooling masks.

After the allocated amount of waiting minutes at least 2 of which spent trying to figure out how to pose for the eye mask selfie, comes the creams. Origins Ginzing refresh eye cream brightens like the sun out your tiny double layered plane window.