Looking Great After A Long Haul Flight

We all love getting to exotic destinations at the end of a long haul flights but coping with the flight itself can be somewhat trying. Cabin crew are flying constantly and have picked up a few handy tips on how to cope with lack of sleep, long hours in a drying environment, not being able to move about and change in time zones.

Here are some health and beauty tips from Emirates crew members to look and feel your best when travelling long-haul.

Which beauty essentials should passengers have to hand when flying? 

• Cabin Crew wear natural plant-based products to help protect the skin and retain moisture when worn for long periods.
• For a healthy look, BB and CC creams or mineral-based make-up are the best options and it’s better to remove make-up with an alcohol free cleanser and use a clear hydration mask during the flight to hydrate the skin
• Use lip balm continuously to prevent lips from drying out and cracking
• Before landing, and applying make-up, use a cleanser/exfoliator, moisturiser and an eye gel. This mini skin care routine will help the skin to appear vibrant and fresh.
• Good anti-fatigue eye serums have a tightening effect and really help to energise tired looking eyes, ready for landing.
• Under-eye concealers with light reflectors are recommended and for a fresh look, apply a tinted moisturiser, rather than using powder, to infuse the skin with moisture followed by a light blusher and lip gloss.
• For men, shaving can irritate the skin and cause dryness therefore, if shaving before the flight, we recommend using shaving oil to help soften the hairs and moisturise the area, preventing skin irritation and dryness. A shaving brush to apply the shaving gel/foam will act as a natural exfoliator and help with ingrown hairs! 

How to maintain perfect locks when flying long-haul.

• To avoid the effects of low humidity and retain moisture, the use of styling products is a definite no. Once on-board it’s a good habit to apply hair oil or serum to the ends of the hair to counteract this
• If brushing your hair, use a wooden hairbrush so that the aircraft’s static electricity doesn’t leave your hair standing on end!
• Another way to avoid hair looking static is to rub a drop of water onto the hands and smooth it over the hair –  Cabin Crew sometimes use a pea-sized amount of hand cream or lip gloss to smooth down fly aways and control frizz, which works a treat.

Which parts of the body suffer the most from the effects of dehydration during long-haul flights?

• Dehydration will affect the skin in general  especially the hands, face and cuticles during long haul flights. To combat this, drink lots of water throughout the flight and hydrate as much as possible the days prior to flying by drinking abundant amounts of water, fruit and vegetable juices (especially cucumber).
• Putting body lotion or body oil on clean skin before take-off also really helps, as well as removing any make-up and applying moisturiser to the skin.
• Avoid waterproof mascara as this will dry out the lashes on-board.
• Hydration sprays are a great way to maintain the moisture balance in the skin.

What kind of meals and drinks should be avoided and which meals are recommended during long haul flights?

• Water based foods including fruit and vegetables are the best options for long-haul travel. These types of food will not only maintain hydration and prevent puffiness, but will also provide the added boost of important antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients.
• Although it’s tempting to enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine inflight, caffeine and alcohol are both major causes of dehydration so we highly recommend going for a fruit juice instead.
• Processed snacks such as crisps and pretzels should definitely be avoided, as well as cheese and cold-cut meat which contains high amounts of sodium and will cause bloating while on-board.
• Another top tip is to drink copious amounts of water or coconut water to stay hydrated. This seems an obvious one but you would be surprised how many people don’t compensate enough for the dehydration caused by long-haul travel. This is especially important if alcohol is being consumed.

How can passengers minimise the negative impact of a long-haul flight blood circulation? 

• Walking through the cabin when the fasten seatbelt sign is off is a good way to avoid blood circulation being impacted.
• There are plenty of ankle and wrist rotation exercises that can be done from your seat. Clothing made of stretchy and synthetic fibre should be avoided when flying as this will cause static electricity. Instead, opt for clothes made from cotton, linen or wool.