Pack and Glow: Travel tips to help look and feel your best
Maggie Davis
Travel-size skin care and a great magazine!
Pack and Glow - Tips and tricks to help with jet lag and to look your best when you arrive at your destination
I don’t know about you, but if I’m going on a trip – for business or pleasure – I want to look and feel my best when I get to my destination. I’m often asked what I do to make the best of a long plane trip, so I compiled some of my best tips and tricks to manage jet lag symptoms, help skin looking and feeling its best, and other travel tips for a more healthy, comfortable travel experience that I’ve learned over the years
Chances are if are going on a flight where you cross two or more time zones, you will feel the symptoms of jet lag. For example, a trip from the West coast of the US to Europe can cause brain fog, trouble sleeping and general “blahs” not to mention dull, dehydrated skin. Read on for travel tips that help you look and feel better for those long flights.
What to wear for the plane ride
Wear comfortable, stylish clothes (you never know if you’ll get that upgrade to business class!) especially something that allows you to wear compression socks. Swap out your shoes you wear on the flight to a pair of cute ballerina style slippers that fit over your compression socks.
A cardigan or similar – this J.Crew Juliette collarless sweater is perfect for travel
Scarf or pashmina – a lightweight, big scarf helps keep you warm on the flight. Blends like cashmere and linen in a go-with-everything light grey like this beautiful Italian-made scarf from Roztayger’s online store.
Short-sleeve tee shirt or no-sleeve silky top – useful in case you get hot during the flight, can be worn under a pullover
Comfortable, good-looking shoes - if suitcase space is an issue, wear your boots on the plane then slip on compression socks and washable ballet slippers during the flight.
Dark rinse jeans or pull on black pants – with enough room in the leg to wear the compression socks.
Large bag (ideally with optional cross-body strap) or elegant backpack – Metallics make for a great go-with-everything choice. Love this light gold shopper found on online shop Roztayger.
Once on the plane
Let’s face it…plane travel can be unpleasant. Here are some tips to improve your journey.
Put on your compression socks and ballet slippers – I used to get the worst swollen feet and ankles during a flight but now that I wear compression socks on all 3+ hour flights, no more swelling and I feel better! I like Comrad Compression Socks.
Top tip: Bring washable ballet slippers on the plane and use them at your destination to use around your hotel room.
Bring sanitizing wipes and tissues – After reading an article on the dirtiest parts of the airline I now make good use of sanitizing wipes on the plane. When you get in your seat, wipe down the arm rests, tray table and the little lever that keeps the tray up, the screen and the headrest of the seat. Please do the headrest! Take my word for it, you’ll want to wipe this area down. One other area to clean is the inside of the seat back pocket where you’ll put all your stuff. This area never gets cleaned and has all kinds of yuck going on.
Top tip: take the plastic bag off the blanket and pillows and insert the bag in the seat back pocket. At the end of the flight, clean up is a snap when the flight attendant comes around for the final trash pickup and you don’t have to reach your hand in to the yuck that is the seat back pocket.
Don’t wear makeup on the plane – although lipstick is a nice way to brighten the face.
Top tip! Transform a drying, too-bright lipstick by applying Plump It Up Lip Balm first to keep lips hydrated and moisturized, then layer lipstick. This gives you a sheerer tint and a lightly glossy look.
Layer skincare – When getting ready for your travels, on cleansed and toned skin, start with a hydrating serum, then eye treatment, then top off with moisturizer and facial oil to protect against the dry air of the plane and the dehydration. Follow with sunscreen (I like Anessa sunscreen) and then Plump It Up Lip Balm.
Top Tip! During the flight, I spray travel sized Hydro-Boost Toning Mist on throughout the flight and layer over additional serum or facial oil if needed during the flight. I spray and layer serum and/or facial oils every couple of hours on a long flight.
Carry on the things you don’t want to be without if your checked bag is lost or delayed – Always keep the essentials with you and stash hydrating and moisturizing travel-friendly facial products in the seat back pocket (after lining the seatback pocket with the airplane’s plastic bag that covers the blanket).
What’s in my TSA-approved bag for liquids:
Paxos Calm Skin Cleaning Oil in the our new one ounce travel size – In case you did not know, this cleanser features facial-oil grade ingredients and can double as a facial oil, cuticle treatment, hair smoother or body moisturizer, if you too limited in your packing allowance and want a multi-tasker.
Paxos Hydro Boost Toning Mist – talk about multi-tasker! Our new one-ounce travel size is perfect for refreshing on the plane, setting makeup and toning after cleansing your skin. Did you know that the pressure of the plane can often give people gas? It’s true (and it’s why I always bring chew-able Gas-X on a flight. Thank goodness!
Top Tip! Here is another real-life application for the Toning Mist spray – if the air around you is not so fresh due to another passenger’s odor issues, when you spray your face, the wonderful, orange blossom smell gives you temporary relief of any bad smells!
Paxos Vitamin B Serum – I apply this serum morning and night as the first layer on cleansed skin. This fantastic all-around fantastic serum is my other must-bring skin care item. Apply it during the flight after a spray of the Toning Mist and your skin will drink it up in seconds! The bottle is 1 ounce, and glass, and I’ve had great luck with it not breaking and it fits great in my liquids bag.
Paxos Azure Facial Oil or Brightening Facial Oil – Both are light-weight facial oils and are great on just about anyone’s skin. The oils will help keep your skin looking great and is perfect layered over the Vitamin B Serum. Both facial oils are now available in adorable and refillable travel/trial size mini vials.
Paxos Night Bright Eye Balm – this balm doesn’t need to go in the liquids bag and is great to travel as it helps when skin looks dry and dehydrated during travel and does not take up much space.
Travel size R+Co PARK AVE Blow Out Balm or Shine treatment – I don’t bother with packing shampoo or conditioner, but always bring a hair treatment. Most blow dryers at hotels are awful, so plan on air drying or packing your own, plus an adapter that doesn’t blow out the circuitry of the hotel (trust me, it can happen!). The checkout line at Sephora has great travel size products, or Birchbox online.
Saline nasal spray and eye moisturizing drops as my eyes and nose dry up on the long trips.
Other tips for the flight - these are some of my go-tos for a good flight
Pack an apple, nuts, and consider pre-ordering a special meal like Kosher meal.
Top Tip! Special meals are served before everyone else and the food is often better when flying coach.
Buy a BIG bottle of SMART WATER or two at the airport and drink it all or a better choice for the planet is to bring a refillable bottle and your favorite packets of Electrolytes.
Drink water, water, water
Top Tip! Choose an aisle seat to avoid disturbing your seat mate so that you can get up and visit the washroom after drinking all that water.
Get up and stretch and in your seat, flex your toes and rotate your ankles periodically throughout the flight.
Bring your own herbal tea and ask the flight attendant for hot water, drink the non-caffeinated tea.
Consider melatonin or light sleeping pill if you want to sleep during the flight (get your doctor’s approval first).
Top Tip! Take homoeopathic jet lag treatment No-Jet-Lag chewable tablets that you can find on Amazon.
Keep out the light with a sleeping mask – this pink satin is adorable!
Binder Clips – Not just for paper, binder clips have multiple purposes on a trip. This one is a two-fer top tip!
Top tip #1 - Large binder clips keep your eye buds from being lost on the plane and keep the cord from getting tangled up. Secure the ear buds with the binder clip in your bag. When on the plane attach the clip to the seat back pocket and clip the ear bud cord to the binder clip when you’re not using the ear buds.
Top tip #2! If your hotel room is too bright bring a paper binder clip to keep the curtains closed.
Sheet masking on the plane – Yes, on the plane! A hydrating sheet mask can be discreetly applied when the cabin is darkened. Hide under my big scarf or blanket to avoid scaring fellow travelers. 😉 Yes, I really do this and it’s a top skin care tip to help keep skin hydrated and feeling fresher upon landing. Try DR. JART+ sheet masks like Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution.
Do you best to sleep on longer flights - After eating, watching a movie reading a book, stretching, and visiting the bathroom, it’s time to try and sleep. Too much screen time is terrible for sleep so slip on that satin sleep mask, get comfy and try to sleep.
Neck pillows really are helpful in this case.
Top Tip! Save valuable space in your carry-on bag by attaching a washable travel pillow and/or water bottle to your carry-on bag with a Carbiner Clip.
If you do sleep on the plane, when you wake, drink a bunch of water, get up and stretch, brush teeth before final snack and meal service when everyone else gets up to use the bathroom.
What to AVOID during your flight:
Caffeine, wine, booze – if you must have some alcohol, limit to one drink
Sugar, bread, simple carbs – so important! The body will crave simple carbs during travel. Try to resist.
Staring at light-emitting screens (Movie, iPad, Phone) for hours and hours. Keep it to 2 hours or less. The light interferes with your sleep.
Once you have landed and are at your new destination here are a few tips to keep avoid jet lag symptoms
Now that you made it to your destination, you are likely to be tired and ready for a nap. Here are some things to consider when faced with the temptation to face-plant on the bed.
Go to the light! (Natural light) - The most important thing to do when you arrive, is to get out in the natural light for a few hours.
Why go out in the natural light? When you travel, your circadian clock resets gradually, over a period of days, after prolonged exposure to natural light. So, while treating the symptoms helps, natural light over time is the only thing that helps change how you feel. Exposure to light is the only thing that affects the actual jet lag disorder.
When you arrive at your hotel/place to stay:
Drink water, green tea if in the day, take your daily vitamins, vitamin B12, B6 (ask your doctor for the supplements you can take)
Freshen up and go out in the natural and walk, walk, walk for a few hours.
Eat a salad or veggies and a protein, nice glass of wine, and skip the bread and that fab dessert the first night.
What to do that first night:
Magnesium-rich bath spa treatment - Dry brush your body, get in a bath with 1-2 cups of Epson salts that are rich in magnesium. Bonus if the bath salts have essential oils that help you relax and sleep. I put a mask on while in tub. I like my Paxos Pumpkin Enzyme Glycolic Acid Mask for a quick 5-minute active mask.
Top Tip! Pick up your Epson bath salts at your destination so you don’t have to pack them.
Take a pill - That night, if doctor approved, consider taking an over the counter sleeping pill like Somenex or Advil PM or melatonin. Again, check with your healthcare provider to find out your best option.
Make it dark - Cover up any of the lights in your room, like the alarm clock. Remember the tip above, to use paper binder clips to keep the curtains closed. Lately, hotel rooms are installing many illuminated lights in the room that can disturb sleep. Try covering them up to keep the room as dark as possible. I use tissues or paper.
Tea please - Herbal teas at night before bed. Dandelion tea mixed with some chamomile tea is a nice mix. Dandelion tea helps with water retention and chamomile tea for sleeping more soundly.
Take your vitamins - Vitamin D is ideally taken at night.
If you wake during the night – Try to spend time on your phone or electronics! If you cannot get back to sleep, try reading a book or drinking some water and take one more melatonin if it is 2-3 am. Try counting backwards from 500 until you fall asleep.