This month at Bath & Unwind we’ve been talking all things travel, and if you’ve spent any time on an airplane, you know that it plays havoc with your skin. You start out feeling fresh, and you arrive at your location feeling dehydrated, tired and looking dull. We asked Gail to shares her tips, secrets and stories from working as a First Class Flight Attendant, if anyone is going to know how to conquer our beauty travel issues it’s her!
GAIL: My life as a First Class Flight Attendant
Having worked as a First Class Flight Attendant for more than 15 years, I often get asked to share stories and experiences over dinner and drink, and I have plenty of tales to tell. However, it’s a first for me to be asked for my personal tips on beauty and wellbeing. Well I guess I can say I am a professional traveller.
At 39 years old, a female Cabin Manager for a long haul airline, I’ve travelled the world! Although, travelling is not always an adventure, for some it’s a necessity. Not all the passengers on board are there for pleasure… some excited, those nervous or stressed, many faces telling a different story! Whether you’re travelling for business, last voyage as an elderly grandmother, a young mother excited to introduce her new born to the extended family, backpackers, honeymooners, emigrants… the list can be emotionally endless!
The celebrities are the ones who gain the most excitement from the crew, it can add a highlight to our day in the sky. Having the privilege as the manager to introduce myself to many a celebrity onboard this can be both nerve wrecking and a dream come true (of course discretion is our priority). Now I’m not saying that over the years I haven’t glanced over the first class cabin divider to see what our celebs have changed into for comfort or which hand luggage their sporting the season but whats most interesting especially to us females is whats their beauty routine onboard?
Before take off
The undoubtedly, unashamedly, number 1 top tip from all celebs is that they cleanse their skin before the flight and remove every item of their make up (unlike the crew who are unable due to work load). After a day at work then travel to the airport maybe by public transport, the airport atmosphere and the air-conditioned climate, our skin must be screaming to be cleansed from the already hectic start!
Bath and Unwind’s Product Suggestions:-
- Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water – removes makeup thoroughly yet gently and cleanse the skin at the same time (available in travel size).
Makeup to wear (if you must!)
As flight attendants we cant be seen without make up, there would be no glamour at all! So for us and those of you can bare to be bare faced the answer is… mineral make up! I like to use a good moisturiser as my base topped by a mineral powder blended onto the face (this can be built up for added coverage).
Bath and Unwind’s Product Suggestions:-
- Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Powder – blends with your skin tone, is easy to apply and allows your skin not only to breathe but your natural glow to shine through, as well as offering long term coverage for those long flights.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
As for hydration this is the key factor to successful flight for you and your body, this is your ultimate survival tool! Health-wise drink a litre or two throughout the day or prior to your flight (as much as possible), you will always be provided with water onboard so take a small bottle on board. The one thing we’re not shy normally to ask for is alcohol, unfortunately this isn’t the answer… keep alcohol and coffee intake to a minimum! Boring as it seems the H2O not only hydrates you but keeps your skin supple and your brain engaged. On arrival when you’re tired and cant find your passport, the airport exit or the taxi signs, the water will have kept your brain alert and you’ll see you can manage these tasks without looking lost and requiring tears of frustration.
Bath and Unwind’s Product Suggestions:-
- Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist a neroli and rose scented face mist to refresh and wake up tired skin.
- Korres Wild Rose 24-hour Cream – a 24-hour rich moisturiser that deeply hydrates thirsty skin (perfect for those long haul flights!).
Protect
Moisturising well the morning of a long haul flight is also a great tip, especially if you’re going to the sunshine or on holiday and hoping for an all over tan! I like to use one with an SPF – remember, when you’re up in the sky you are closer to the sun, and more prone to sunburn!
Bath and Unwind’s Product Suggestions:-
- Ultrasun Face SPF 30 – protect your delicate skin from harmful rays with this high SPF moisturiser.
- New CID i – tint Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 – perfect for when you want the no-make-up look, this lightweight tinted moisturiser gives a sheer luminous coverage with added SPF 15 sun protection.
- Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF 50+ – guards the skin against UVA and UVB damage and help prevent premature ageing.
After landing
Jetlag and tiredness are often confused! Jet lag occurs when to travel to another time zone completely (travelling form the UK to USA or Middle East). The best tip for this is to get yourself as quickly as possible onto the local time, vitamin D provided by the bright light from the sun is ideal recovery for jet lag.
My favourite and ultimate luxury treatment after a long haul flight is to have reflexology, the relief, the destress and the relaxation followed by herbal tea and a deep afternoon or evening sleep which follows is my ultimate recovery tip for any long haul traveller.
