There seems to be a theme going around many blogs as of late: travelling! Such a fascinating, exciting and nurturing activity–who can resist?
In my years as a regular international traveler (Gala Darling's famous "International Playgirl!" moniker springs to mind but it is too glittery for me, I'm afraid), I have accrued some experience on how to make the most of even the longest and most boring flight. Today, I want to talk about those little lifesaver items that come in very handy and will help you step out of the plane feeling reasonably refreshed, cool and glamorous, ready for adventure, as opposed to an icky and scruffy tightly packed sardine. It might sound frivolous, but feeling confident about your appearance and having a general sense of well-being can really set the tone for your trip.
So here is my list of must haves, basic items for traveling in style:
Earplugs, Headphones.
One of the things that surprised me the most the first time I boarded a plane was how loud the engines are! A good quality pair of headphones is a great way to sooth your nerves from the noisy environment by creating a cocoon with your favorite music. I also prefer to bring my own headphones to listen to the inflight entertainment features, instead of using the low quality, fragile-looking recycled ones provided by the airline.
Sleep mask.
A must for long international flights and an ally for a better rest, it also doubles as a “do not disturb” sign. The more eccentric, the better!
A travel scarf.
This is a trick that I learned from the ever-stylish and magical Veronica Varlow. A beautiful, soft scarf sprayed with your favorite scent can add a touch of effortless style to your outfit, and give you some extra comfort on those cold, drifty flights; also, you can carefully wrap it around your face -like a glamorous ninja- while you take an inflight nap to prevent the embarrassing open-mouth/drooling scenario. Unfortunately, during my last flight I had the opportunity to confirm that it also serves as a nice perfumed shield against sudden, unexpected bad odors. Ugh! Some people…
Emilie Autumn and her travel scarf. Photo from Danger Dame (Veronica Varlow's Journal).
Healthy snacks.
The food on planes has a reputation of being atrocious for a reason, so be prepared by bringing your own snacks if you don’t want to be subjected to plastic-like sandwiches, cheap chocolate or greasy cheese on toast. Need some ideas for good snack options? A healthy protein bar, like Lära bars is a very tasty and nutritious choice; you can also take a portion of unsalted cashews or pistachios, or a small bag of kale/sweet potato/beet chips –either homemade or store-bought. I am also a big fan of these:Nature Addicts Fruit Snack: Light, healthy and tasty! In convenient little packs.
Graphic proof that I love carrying with me those little N.A! fruit bags...
Facial wipes and serum.
The air conditioning system of the plane is very drying and international flights can make your skin look tired and dull very easily. The key to keep your skin looking and feeling soft and supple–besides staying hydrated, obviously!– is a small two-step routine: first, once you are comfortably installed in your seat, remove all of your make up and clean your face with a soft facial wipe. Then, apply a rich, moisturizing serum to your skin giving a gently massage. My favorite is Nivea Q10 Anti-wrinkle Serum, although I've read that the beautiful Helena Christensen uses Olay Serum.
I love its texture, very moisturizing but not greasy at all! An makes your skin look good and uniform instantly, magic!
If you don't trust me, you can trust the gorgeous Izabel Goulart, a VERY frequent traveler who usually travels with a bare, clean and moisturized face!
Hand cream.
Those hot towels provided for you to clean your hands before meals can be very drying, so keep your hands feeling soft with your favorite hand cream! My favorites are L’Occitane Date Bouquet, The Bodyshop's Absinthe Hand Cream (which is also disinfectant) and Alverde’s (German organic brand) Pomegranate plus Karité Butter Intensive Hand Cream.
L'Occitane Date Bouquet: it has such a heavenly smell!
Gut und Günstig!
Portable slippers with soft sole.
Knitted colorful slippers from White Noise Maker.
Why? To keep your feet warm and cozy during the flight; trust me, with the pressure changes -and the swelling that comes with them- you won’t want to wear shoes during a long overnight flight. However, walking around the plane in your socks and risking stepping on a puddle of unidentified liquid in the bathroom is quite icky, so bring a pair of comfortable, light slippers that can be easily folded and carried in your hand luggage.
My mother got me some really dainty ballerina slippers similar to these, and they were perfect for the trip! This ones are from Matalan.
A great book.
My absolute favorite source of entertainment during flights. Do I need to say why?
Breath Fresheners.
Bad breath is one of the sad realities of long journeys. Since the water on the plane’s toilet can be quite sketchy, Listerine cool strips are a real lifesaver – you can almost feel them killing the germs! They’re quite potent. Otherwise, I rely on sugar free gum or mints in order to keep a fresh breath during the flight.
Little strips of instant freshness.
Beauty mini-kit.
A small mirror, a small pack of baby wipes, travel deodorant, tinted lipbalm, tinted moisturizer, eyelash curler and mascara is all you need if you wish to arrive to your destination looking fresh and with a subtle glamorous touch without looking overdone. Extra tip: I always keep a small pot of concealer to bad over the dark circles under my eyes and some shimmery rosy tinted eyeshadow that makes me look instantly awake.
Small pot of hair wax/serum and elastic bands.
My allies against frizzy and unruly travel hair.
In case your hair is not cooperating at all after hours of being pressed against your seat, you can always recover your chic by doing the classic emergency ponytail (the higher, the better it looks) or a stylish messy bun. Extra tip: you can go all the way and turn your overnight flight into a beauty sleep by applying a leave-in hair conditioner treatment. Not only your hair will look silky smooth and weightless the next morning, but it will also smell amazing!
Pen and small notebook.
One never knows when inspiration will arrive, so be sure to have pen and paper at hand to write your genius ideas, take notes, make lists or even do some in-promptu journaling or sketching.
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What do you think? Do you agree with my list? What are your favorite products -your must haves- when your are traveling? Don't be shy and share with us in the comments section!
Thank you for reading,