Stay in-flight gorgeous – beauty essentials for the long haul
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Having recently had cause to fly from LHR to LAX fairly often, I’ve been fine-tuning my in-flight kit to try to ensure a more refreshed appearance upon landing and better sleep. A good-quality eye mask, a skin-plumping face mask, a good cushion and some kind of noise-cancelling gizmo can all make life more comfortable.
Skin masks
Apart from the hydration benefits, the act of unpeeling and applying a sheet mask is a welcome distraction. And Sarah Chapman’s 3D Moisture Infusion mask (£18) is good for plumping tired skin. The Jet Setter Eyemask Kit by 111Skin has three different eye pads for puffiness on flights and the jet-lagged days beyond it (£30, selfridges.com). Dior’s logo-stamped Hydrating Eye Patches are a massive flex (£63 for 5 pairs) and offer a cooling sensation, while Muji’s compressed face masks (£6.95 for 20) are basic (and require you to apply your own moisturiser beneath) but satisfyingly space-agey. Don’t like sheet masks? Emma Lewisham’s overnight Supernatural Sleeping Mask (£74) is a peptide-packed hydrating treat to leave on during a flight. Its 50ml packaging is bulky, so I decant into a smaller, cabin-friendly pot.
Ear plugs
Reducing background noise always assists relaxation. While I personally don’t like the pressure of over-ear headphones, well-travelled friends are currently raving about the noise-cancelling excellence of Sony’s new WH-1000XM6 model (£399, johnlewis.com). I like Loop’s Switch 2 earplugs for their adjustable (Quiet, Experience and Engage) levels and because they’re lightweight and kind of futuristic, especially in gold and silver (£54.95). Happy Ears’ Ocean Plastic earplugs are made from post-consumer seabed waste and look like jellyfish. They’re also washable (£26.50).
Cushions
McKenzie’s inflatable lumbar roll makes aeroplane seats infinitely more comfortable for my tricksy lower back. It’s no looker, but it’s barely heavier than a handkerchief, and it’s quick to inflate and top up (£19.95, healthandcare.co.uk). Another functional favourite of well-travelled acquaintances, Trtl’s Travel Pillow wraps round your neck and boasts an in-built neck brace (£49.99). Similarly designed to steady the head but bulkier in your hand luggage is the soft, bamboo-blend Infinity Pillow (£42). Silk may be kinder to hair and skin: Slip’s Jet Setter silk travel pillow is film-star glam but fairly cumbersome and expensive (£120). More economical is Snoooze’s Mini travel pillow, which rolls up into a stash bag you can attach to luggage (£24.80). It comes with a cotton cover, but you can buy silk covers in the same size.
Blankets
Even the lightest of blankets can make a difference in a chilly cabin. I like one that I can wear to travel, saving on space. Rise & Fall’s Oversized Finest Cashmere Wrap is lightweight but large enough to drape over your whole body (£195). Brunello Cucinelli’s fringed cashmere blanket is an ultra-luxe option (£1,190). Weighted blankets can help you fall asleep faster but many are full of synthetics. Baloo’s are quilted and plastic- and chemical-free and come in soothing colours. The mini is a good size for travel and for children (£149).
Eye masks
A good eye mask should block out light and protect your eyes from dehydrating air-con. Nothing throws shade quite like Prada’s jet-black viscose/silk style (£430). More affordable: Blissy’s silk Profile style with extra padding around the eye socket, which prevents eye contact and is helpful for longer lashes (£46). Trtl’s Glimpse eye mask (£49.99) wraps round the face like a bandanna and has a convenient raisable front panel and adjustable eye pads. Manta Sleep’s range includes its forbidding Pro Sleep Mask (£79) — no one will dare wake you when you resemble a snoozing Spider-Man. And Shleep’s merino wool fleece mask offers natural fibres for a snuggly snooze (£86; johnbellcroyden.co.uk).
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