If you follow me on IG then you may have seen me post about an upcoming Italy trip that I’ll be going on!
If you don’t, welllll SURPRISE! I’ll be heading to Rome in June and I could not be more excited.
I got a chance to study abroad in Florence while I was in college, and ever since returning home, Italy has had such a special place in my heart! I miss it so much and can’t even contain my excitement when I think about all the gelato, cheese, and pasta I’ll be eating. Also, I actually like wine now – when I lived in Florence I was 19 years old and hadn’t quite grown an appreciation for it yet (I actually hated it). SO, you can only imagine how excited I am to drink alllllll the red wine while I’m back!
It’s been about 5 years since I’ve gone on a flight that was longer than 5 hours, so I’ve started to brainstorm about what items are must-haves in my carry-on so I can be well prepared to get through such a long travel experience!
When you work in fashion (and probably a ton of other industries) red-eyes are kind of the norm. Why waste a whole day traveling when you can board a flight at midnight, (hopefully) fall asleep, and wake up bright-eyed and ready to work upon arriving to your destination? EFFICIENCY IS KEY YOU GUYS!
After my handful of red-eye flights, I’ve gotten pretty pro at bringing those often-times-overlooked-items that get you from that “I just spent 5 hours sleeping next to strangers” look to “I’m a girlboss and I’m ready to work” look as soon as you exit the plane (or at least after exiting the airport bathroom).
FIRST THINGS FIRST:
D O N ‘ T W E A R M A K E U P O N T H E F L I G H T
What’s the point? It’s midnight, you’re traveling, unless you’re a celebrity…literally no one cares what you look like, and the airflow on planes is nasty – AKA: don’t clog your pores more than you already are going to by being on a plane for 5 hours with little-to-no air circulation.
If you must wear makeup – BRING MAKEUP WIPES. This is my go-to if I didn’t have time to wash my face before getting to the airport. They’re quick, easy, and you can throw them away easily. No need to visit the bathroom and wash your face in the barbie-sized sinks.
ITEMS TO ABSOLUTELY BRING, AND WHEN TO USE THEM:
Alright, so… Obviously you need some cute accessories to store all of this ish, so let’s review Mon Purse. They MONOGRAM their cute leather goods (as you can see above), AND you can even CUSTOM BUILD a bag if you don’t see the perfect combo online! I just customized the cutest shopper bag and cannot wait to show it to you guys when it arrives. Crossing my fingers it’ll be here before I jet off to Italy.
O T H E R M I S C. B A G G A G E T O B R I N G :
Passport cover (if you’re going international), makeup bag (in case your makeup decides to explode in your purse mid-flight), and a tiny-items bag! (Yes, that’s the official term I’m using for this amazing bag pictured here that is the best shape, weirdly/perfectly structured, and the most ideal shape to fit all of my tiny items.)
More from Mon Purse
M O I S T U R I Z E
This includes, but is not limited to your LIPS, and FACE!
Planes are so drying and unforgiving on the skin, so LATHER UP! If you’re getting ready to catch some zzz’s on the plane and your makeup is already off, then you’re ahead of the game. An added bonus would be to lather on your favorite PM moisturizer before you knock out for the night! Better yet, and overnight treatment mask!
This “Take the Weekend Off” moisturizer is an “intense anti-aging, renewing and purifying overnight leave-on treatment that will help rid skin of environmental toxins and pollutants.” JUST what we need on these nasty non-air-circulating flights!
Don’t forget to show some love to your LIPS before you fall asleep, too! This extremely moisturizing Lip Repair Balm (and might I add, also CHIC bc GOLD) from BABOR is my current favorite.
fast forward to 15 minutes before you land…
G O O D M O R N I N G S U N S H I N E !
I don’t know about you, but I have major BAGS under my eyes when I wake up. That’s when I like to call in for reinforcements: UNDER EYE MASKS! These are still my favorite Under Eye Masks from Amazon.
If you’re like me and you’d prefer to get ready in the airport bathroom, then just enjoy your under eye masks until you land with some soothing morning music to prep yourself for your new location. (If you prefer to get ready on the plane, then follow whichever steps work for you!)
Upon entering the bathroom…
WASH. YOUR. HANDS.
I hope this isn’t something I even need to be saying. But just in case.
WASH YOUR FACE.
You piled on all that moisturizer to do its work while you slept, but it’s time to start fresh! Whether you decide to bring your favorite face wash, or just stick to makeup wipes – don’t forget this step!
Added bonus: if you get sick after taking plane rides a lot, then this will change your life for the better!
Dip a q-tip into some hand sanitizer and dab the inside, most forward parts of your nose (does that makes sense?) right when you get into the bathroom (or better yet, right when you land). This kills any germs that may be seeking refuge in your nose (gross) and should help you combat any sickness that may threaten to ruin your trip!
RE-MOISTURIZE: AM moisturizer is also KEY. I just picked up a new one from Skinn with SPF in it and I am LOVING IT. I use it daily before I apply my makeup, and it’s so light and non-oily!
Now you’re ready to throw on your favorite BB Cream, or liquid foundation to feel as fresh faced as possible! I usually bring my whole makeup bag on my carry-on if I’m headed straight to meetings…but if you’re not too worried about a full-face, here are two items from Bobbi Brown I’ve been suing that would be perfect and easy-to-use for a quick glow boost.
Skin Foundation SPF 15
It is super lightweight with a water-based formula so it sinks right into your skin, instantly helping to plump, moisturize and boost your natural glow (V IDEAL AFTER A FLIGHT). In addition to weightless, long-wearing coverage and hydration, the formula minimizes the appearance of pores, conceals imperfections, and delivers broad spectrum UV protection. (ALSO V IDEAL AFTER A FLIGHT).
Skin Foundation Stick
“Designed to look and feel like skin, this highly renowned and award-winning foundation features Smart Technology for targeted moisturization or oil control depending on what your skin’s in need of – all while evening out your skin tone. The formula is creamy, yet lightweight, and is water-, sweat- and humidity-resistant. Often used in combination with Skin Foundation SPF 15, this foundation delivers medium to full coverage and comes in a convenient, portable stick for on-the-go application and touch ups.”
Last but SO NOT LEAST: Spritz yourself with your favorite perfume! I just got Bless This Mess from Anese and I’m loovvvinnggggg it. Not only is Anese witty AF with all of their product packaging, but their aesthetic is on-point. Bless This Mess is a crisp and clean scent, blended with Organic Aloe Vera, so it works to moisturize and smooth your skin. MY FAVORITE detail is that it can be sprayed in your hair. PERFECT for those post-flight mornings.
Beauty Must-Haves
That’s pretty much it you guys! Aside from equipping yourself with your comfiest jacket to fall sleep with, some sound-eliminating headphones to keep you asleep, and in-flight entertainment via iPad, I think we covered it all!
I’m SO EXCITED TO GO TO ITALY and can’t wait to take you guys with me. SO PLEASE follow along, and share any of your in-flight/post-flight essentials if you think I forgot something majorly necessary!
XX
This post came right on time! I’m going on a red eye to NYC next week and that qtip thing is GENIUS! Could have probably saved me from having the flu in Santorini… wish I knew earlier!
Champagne Lifestyle
Omg yay I’m so glad you can use it! I use that trick for every trip and it seriously helps sooo much!
Have so much fun love! Santorini is #1 on my travel wish list!
Really helpful blog. Eye lotion work great to get rid of red eyes fast. Just make sure that you regularly use this lotion to get the desired results within a shorter time span. Thanks for sharing.