There is a particular kind of arrival that every frequent flyer knows — the one where you catch your reflection in the airport bathroom and wonder what happened. Dull skin, flat hair, that indescribable combination of tired and dehydrated that no amount of aeroplane coffee seems to fix. After over just over a decade flying internationally and 26 years of travel, I can tell you with complete confidence that it does not have to be this way. Feeling like yourself on arrival is not about luck or genetics — it is about a system, applied consistently, from the night before until the moment you walk through arrivals. And when you feel like yourself, it shows.
The Night Before — Where It Begins
One of the most liberating things I ever did for my travel routine was stop trying to do my hair on the day of departure. Wash and dry it the night before — or even two days before for longer trips — and if you colour your hair, a fresh colour before a big trip removes one of the most distracting pre-travel anxieties completely. Roots are not something you want to be thinking about in the departure lounge. The morning of a flight should feel calm and considered, not rushed — and removing your hair from the equation entirely is one of the simplest ways to make that happen. A silk pillowcase the night before a flight also protects a blowout beautifully and is something I never travel without — this is the one I use and recommend.
For skin, double cleanse, your most nourishing serum and a rich overnight moisturiser — and please do not forget your lips. Lip dehydration at altitude is severe and most people only notice it when they are already on the plane and the damage is done. A generous lip mask before bed makes a visible difference by the time you land.
For hair — and I say this as someone who trained as a hairdresser before spending just over a decade in the air — I always pack my own shampoo and conditioner rather than relying on what the hotel provides. Hotel hair dryers are notoriously small, weak and drying, and if you can fit a travel-sized ionic dryer or your own straightener or curler in your carry-on, do it. The difference in how your hair behaves for the rest of the trip is worth the space.
At the Airport — Keep It Light
On flying days, I keep my base light. No powder — your skin dehydrates significantly in the cabin and powder makes this dramatically visible by hour six. A tinted moisturiser or skin tint, mascara, a groomed brow and a good lip balm is all you need to board. You will refresh everything in the air.
One thing nobody talks about — if you are prone to static on your clothes, a light mist of anti-static spray or even hairspray on your stockings or any polyester pieces before you board makes the flight considerably more comfortable. This is also why I always travel in natural fibres wherever possible — linen, cotton and cashmere breathe, move and never cling.
Every Two to Three Hours in the Air
Any air conditioned environment is low humidity, but plane cabins are extremely dry — and at altitude you lose approximately 70 millilitres of water per hour simply by breathing. This applies to all flights, and particularly on longer ones the effect compounds significantly. Airline food adds to this — it is typically higher in salt and often contains preservatives that accelerate dehydration further. This is not something you can ignore and fix at the other end.
Every two to three hours throughout the flight, without exception:
A generous mist of a hydrating face spray — I use Mario Badescu Rose Water Facial Spray in the mini size, which fits perfectly in a carry-on liquids bag and is the most refreshing thing imaginable at hour nine of a long haul. I press it gently into the skin rather than letting it evaporate. I follow immediately with a small amount of my moisturiser or a hydrating serum to seal everything in.
I reapply lip balm and hand cream generously as needed. And drink 250 millilitres of water, with an electrolyte sachet dissolved in it if you have them. I never fly without electrolyte sachets — they replace what you lose far more efficiently than water alone and make a visible difference in how you feel on arrival.
Applying an under eye gel mask mid-flight does something beyond hydration — it is a signal to your nervous system and everyone around you that this is your rest time, you are unavailable and you are taking care of yourself at 35,000 feet. The cool gel against tired eyes in a dry cabin is genuinely soothing, and the fifteen minutes it takes to work is fifteen minutes of enforced stillness that your body quietly thanks you for — these are the ones I use.
Hair on Flying Days
Because the cabin is so dry, if you have curled your hair before boarding, you will find the waves begin to drop within a few hours at altitude. Low maintenance styling works best on flying days — a sleek blowout, a soft bun, or simply embracing your natural texture rather than fighting it in a dehydrating environment.
If you are flying into a humid climate, I keep a smoothing serum in my bag — humidity brings out curl and frizz in ways that can feel unpredictable after a long flight. A small amount of serum worked through the ends before landing keeps everything controlled without weighing hair down. Flying into a dry climate is the opposite — sleek styles hold beautifully and a little texture spray or dry shampoo refreshes the root without adding weight.
The Arrival Ritual
Before you land, a final face mist and moisturiser, a fresh application of my base, and my lip colour of choice. This is the moment I always reach for something with a little warmth — a soft coral or a berry that lifts the complexion and tells your body the journey is done and you have arrived feeling exactly as you should.
I drink 500 millilitres of water before leaving the airport. Getting natural light within two hours of landing resets the body clock faster than anything else. I change out of my travel clothes as soon as I reach my accommodation. No matter how tired I am, a shower and fresh clothes after a long haul flight is my automatic reset — it leaves me feeling fresh and ready for whatever comes next.
The complete In-Flight Beauty Guide covers everything above in full detail — every product, every step, every timing note — as an instant download from the Avenue Quarter Etsy shop. It is the guide I wish someone had handed me on my very first long haul flight, and it makes a real difference from the first trip you take it on.