DOSSIER

When flying for more than four or five hours, these are my go to beauty travel tips:

1 | Board the plane bare-faced. Or once you settle in, use a cleansing cloth to remove makeup. Never use the water in airplane bathrooms to brush your teeth or wash your face, studies show that it is contaminated with feces.

2 | Avoid caffeine and alcohol. I know, no fun, but caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your skin and when changing time zones, it also increases your chance of getting jet lag. Also steer clear of foods high in sodium. This will cut the chance of swollen feet and ankles.

3 |Once you have a clean face, apply hydrating face oil and use facial massage to help drain the excess fluid in your face. Most of the oil will soak into your skin during your massage so once your massage is complete, apply one more layer of hydrating face oil. While this begins to absorb, drink 12 ounces of water.

4 | Next, use a heavy moisturizer to seal in the hydrating face oil.

5 | If at any time during the flight your face begins to feel dry or tight, avoid spraying water on your skin because this actually pulls the moisture away from your face. Instead, drink more water and reapply hydrating face oil and heavy moisturizer.

6 | If you are trying to avoid jet lag and plan to sleep through your flight, bring melatonin with you. Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Some people who have trouble sleeping have low levels of melatonin. It is thought that adding melatonin from supplements might help you sleep and readjust your body’s internal clock. Dissolve one tablet under your tongue before you drift off to sleep.

7 | When choosing a sleep mask, always opt for an adjustable elastic strap, this will reduce breakage on your hair and insure a comfortable fit. Also look for a mask made of a natural fiber that is slippery, like silk. It allows your skin to breathe and will reduce the appearance creases from your mask transferring to your face.

8 | Avoid hydrating beauty masks made of cloth because it attracts the moisture from your face and ends up drying your face out more than hydrating it.

9 | The most important thing to remember is drink water! Not only will this keep your skin hydrated, but it will reduce your risk of jet lag, indigestion, headaches and picking up unwanted air born illnesses on the flight.