‘Tis the season for mid-winter getaways! With the holidays behind us, and the unpleasant prospect of…oh…ten or so weeks of winter ahead, it’s no surprise that many of us are taking flight for a change of scenery. If you’re like me, you board the plane with visions of a glamorous arrival in your fabulous location, only to glimpse yourself at baggage claim and wonder “what happened to the fresh-faced vacationer that boarded that flight from Vancouver this morning?” To avoid the usual post-plane beauty slump, I’ve got a new list of tips and products (all in TSA-approved sizes) to stay glamorous from take-off to landing.

1) Set yourself up for a comfortable ride. Come prepared with a neck pillow and sleep mask. While that pillow might look dorky, there’s nothing cute (or comfortable) about cranking your neck at a Cirque du Soleil-inspired angle while trying to catch some shut-eye. Chances are, if you try it, you’re going to deplane with a kink in your neck and the tell-tale under-eye bags of a poorly rested traveler.

2) Drink plenty of water! The effects of dehydration can be seen in your skin, and airplane air is notoriously dry. It’s recommended that for every hour in the air, you drink 8 oz. of water – FYI that’s the size of a tall Starbucks coffee. Oh, and speaking of coffee, don’t drink it on the plane. Avoid caffeinated beverages since they will only aggravate your dehydration. Better yet, guzzle a coconut water or sports drink loaded with electrolytes to keep your body in balance.

3) Adjust your pre-flight makeup routine. Skip the eye makeup and mascara that can travel all over your face and swap thick foundation for a tinted moisturizer. If you’re desperate, you can always do as the celebrities do – don a pair of oversized sunglasses and no one will be the wiser!

4) If you do wear makeup, come prepared for maintenance. Instead of layering on more foundation, spritz with a facial mist to refresh your face. Pack along makeup remover options such as q-tips pre-loaded with remover or facial wipes. Blotting sheets are another great way to manage shine without layering on cakey powder.

5) Clean up! If you are going to apply products mid-flight, be sure to sanitize your hands first. Otherwise, you risk transferring whatever you’ve picked up on the plane onto your face – before you know it, you’re showing off a brand new pimple when you land at your vacation spot!

6) Save your hair. Wrap your locks in a chic head scarf, pack a cute hat to hide any flight-induced disasters, or carry-on a travel sized dry shampoo to liven up limp hair.

7) Keep the sparkle in your eyes. Bloodshot eyes are an unfortunate side effect of hours in the air – from staring at electronic screens to fight off in-flight boredom, from dry and irritating cabin air, and from probably not getting much rest on a long-haul flight (they’re called ‘red eye’ for a reason, right?). Lubricating eye drops help soothe your eyes and eliminate redness so you look a little less like a zombie upon arrival.

1. Little Honey Travel Pillow, $15, available at Amazon
2. Mineral Fusion Hydrating Mist, $17 for 2oz.
3. Bare Escentuals On the Spot Eye Makeup Remover, $5 for 24 cotton swabs
4. MAC Wipes, $18 for 30 sheets, available in Vancouver at MAC Robson, 908 Robson St., 604-682-6588
5. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissues, $10 for 65 sheets
6. Bath and Body Works Anti-Bacterial Pocketbac Sanitizing Hand Gel, $5 for 5 1oz. bottles
7. Ojon Full Detox Rub-Out Dry Cleansing Spray, $14 for 1.8oz., available at Sephora
8. Thera Tears Eye Lubricant, $15 for 24 single-use doses, available at London Drugs

By: Madison Blake, Vancouver

You should follow me on Twitter @muchloveMB.

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