The Best Travel Skincare Tips From Our Editors
By CNT Editors. Photos: Courtesy of respective vendors.
Traveler editors can be hard to keep track of. If we're not at our desks, chances are we're on assignment checking out the hidden corners of a faraway city, scouting a new boutique hotel, or 32,000 feet in the air. We spend enough time on planes that we have our inflight skincare and beauty routines down to a science, with a couple of essential (and TSA-proof) products that always make it into our carry-on bags. And since we're often running from the airport straight to meetings, we know a thing or two about making it look like we didn't just spend 8 hours sandwiched between a screaming baby and an aisle strewn with the crumbs of 3 questionable meal services. From inflight refreshers to pre-landing touchups (and don't get us started on lip balms and moisturizers, of which we'd initially chosen ten) here’s how our editors keep it together when they’re on the go.
PRE-TAKEOFF PREP
“Pre-departure, I like to stack the deck on feeling fresh and smelling good as a defense for long travel days and potential delays. My favorite deodorant of all time that holds up to the longest flights and the most challenging conditions is a stick roll on from SPEICK (German, of course). And Burt’s Bees makes a nice, subtly fragranced body powder that's easy to travel with.”—Matt Hranek, Men’s Style Editor
"The one product I always have in my carry-on is Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O micellaire solution (the cute mini version is TSA-proof at just under 3.4 ounces). It removes all traces of makeup and dirt with a cotton pad or tissue, and it just feels so good on your skin. I pick it up at the pharmacies in French airports while waiting for my flight home, but you can also find it online at LeFrenchSkincare.com (or on Amazon)." —Alexandra Bousquet-Chavanne, Editorial Assistant
“Buly 1803's Pommade Virginale is a bit heavy for everyday use, but I layer it on before boarding a long flight because I feel like it gives my skin a protective barrier against gross plane air. And it comes in the prettiest retro packaging.” —Andrea Whittle, Assistant Editor
THE HAND SANITIZER THAT DOES IT ALL
“Plane germs skeeve me out to the point where, even on long flights, I tend to sit like a mannequin to limit my exposure to any surfaces. I obsessively reapply EO lavender hand sanitizer—the scent is borderline addictive and doesn’t dry out by hands like the drugstore brands. Plus it comes in a 2 Fl oz TSA-approved bottle.” —Candice Rainey, Executive Editor
“A must-pack in my carry-on product is the lavender hand sanitizer spray from EO. Its far less drying than Purell and I sort of use it as a room spray if the person in the seat next to me is chowing down Taco Bell, which always seems to be the case.” —Rebecca Misner, Lifestyle Editor
MVP MOISTURIZERS
“My insta-dew ultra-hydrating go-to face moisturizer is Josie Maran’s argan infinity cream. It never leaves my travel bag, and it allows me to go from overnight flight to a meeting without a shower (if necessary)!” —Pilar Guzmán, Editor In Chief
“I have uber sensitive skin and can’t use anything else than Pai's rosehip oil on my face. A few drops go a long way on a very drying airplane trip. Never oily, just moisturizing and conditioning.” —Sarah Meikle, Fashion Director
“My skin gets crazy dry on a flight so I go for heavy moisture. I’ll use Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm on my face (minus the forehead, since I have bangs). Whatever’s left on my hands, I’ll rub into my cuticles. It’s thick—some may say too thick—but it slowly absorbs and by the end of the flight, you’ll glow. I swear." —Lauren DeCarlo, Deputy Editor
“I always travel with a 1oz tin of Nivea crème, because it is the most emollient cream imaginable for flights and smells pretty neutral (I’m aways cognizant of not using heavily perfumed creams on an airplane).” —Alex Postman, Features Director
THE BEST LIP BALMS
“Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream, which is really more like a balm, is the one product I always have in my carry on. It’s the ultimate multi-tasker—it’s the best lip moisturizer, I rub a little into dry hands (I’m an obsessive hand washer on planes, so dry skin on flights is sort of a given), it works wonders on cuts and scrapes, and, this may sound gross, but I rub a little inside my nose before takeoff and I swear it keeps the airborne germs at bay.” —Rebecca Misner
"For lips, I like Amilab lip balm. It smells like an orange creamsicle, but it’s not cloyingly fragrant.” —Lauren DeCarlo
THE MID-FLIGHT REFRESH
“Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Chewing Sticks. I picked these up in a health food store almost a decade ago and am devoted to them at a cultish level. The ones impregnated with tea tree oil are my fave, but the cinnamon oil iteration is also nice; both toothpicks are spicy and herbally antiseptic. They chase the dragons out of a stale mouth and you can even use them to scrub the sweaters off your teeth. I swear by them.” —Chantel Tattoli, Editorial Assistant
“While we’re in the air, I spritz generously and often with Mario Badescu’s Aloe and Rosewater Facial Spray. (It’s technically 0.6 ounces over the TSA limit, but I have yet to be caught.)” —Andrea Whittle
“If I need a mid-flight refresher, I'll spritz some Claudalie beauty elixir on my face." —Erin Florio
“My friend just sent me this Woodlot Calming Mist with Rose and Palo Santo. You can mist it on yourself or just in the air, and it smells amazing. I used it on my last flight and my seatmates loved it!” —Linda Denahan, Photo Editor
“On longer flights, I sneak away to the bathroom to cleanse with Philosophy’s One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths and follow with a spritz of Mario Badescu’s Rose Water.” —Rachel Coleman, Social Media Director
“Ursa Major makes face wipes that come in single use packs—great for a mid- or post- flight fresh up.” —Matt Hranek
HAIR FIXES
“My hair gets unusually staticy when I fly so I’ll take a few drops of Weleda’s Rosemary hair oil and finger that through my hair just before we land. Then I’ll hit my bangs with Oribe’s dry texturing spray to give them some oomph.” —Lauren DeCarlo
After dying my hair platinum for two years I’m now trying to give it some much needed love by using Argan oil at least once a week (sometimes two) even when I’m traveling. I literally pour it on while I’m watching TV at night and leave it in for a couple hours and my dry ends soak it right up. I also love this lightweight product called All In Milk by Davines that I use every day. I have super fine hair—like you practically can see through it—but this doesn’t weigh it down or make me look like I’m wearing a wig. It’s just light enough that I can spray a bunch in my hair while it’s wet and head out the door.” —Candice Rainey
“I pick up a mini bottle of Klorane dry shampoo (the new one with nettle is especially good for oily hair) whenever I’m walking through Sephora’s (dangerously tempting) pre-checkout travel-size bins. It does the job well and it doesn’t have a heavy scent, which I feel like a lot dry shampoos do.” —Andrea Whittle
"Typically when I'm packing, I'll commit to one hot tool to take with me on my trip, since I never have room for more than one. The Amika Movos is perfect to bring along since it's the only full-size wireless hair straightener on the market right now. You can charge it up and take it out in-flight to touch up your hair prior to landing." —Mara Balagtas, Associate Fashion Editor
PRE-ARRIVAL REVIVAL
“Blûm Naturals Towelettes: I bring the individually packaged chamomile version to refresh my travel-tired (and maybe greasy) face. Their effect is cooling and gently cleansing and then, when you’re running around town, they’re great for those pre-meeting checks." —Chantel Tattoli
“I never board a flight with mascara, but I always end one with it. And I’ve finally found one that doesn’t smudge: Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara. Then I’ll swipe my lips with Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey—it’s been around forever, it’s flattering on everyone and gives you that sort of done-without-trying look.” —Lauren DeCarlo
“I don’t wear any makeup when I’m flying except for this incredible Japanese mascara my hairstylist turned me on to called Kanebo Sensai Mascara 38C. It seriously never smudges. Ever. That and Dior’s Addict Lip Maximizer in apricot and I’m good to go.“ —Candice Rainey
"I commute an hour into New York City everyday, so I'm the self-proclaimed queen of on-the-go makeup application. Whether I'm hopping off of a plane, train, or bus, I swear by two classics from NARS: Instant Line & Pore Perfector and Brow Gel. The first one smooths fine lines and the second grooms unruly eyebrows. Both are so user friendly, you won't even mess up if you experience some unexpected turbulence." —Mara Balagtas
This story originally appeared on Conde Nast Traveler.
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