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How to Look Fabulous on the Fly

Polly Blitzer, editor-in-chief of BeautyBlitz.com, provides us with key beauty tips for traveling. The all-around style guru’s Web site is dedicated to keeping its readers in check with insider trend advice. If one thing is for sure, looking great should never take a back seat — even at 30,000 feet in the air.

944: What effects does flying have on your appearance (i.e. red eyes, acne)?
POLLY BLITZER: Spending time at 30,000 feet above sea level is no picnic for your skin or eyes. The dry, cold airplane air makes my contacts feel like cardboard. I use saline drops to keep them hydrated. To reduce the appearance of bloodshot eyes, a celebrity makeup artist taught me to use blue-tinted drops that also have the vasoconstricting properties of Visine. They’re called Collyre Bleu and they do wonders. As for acne, I swaddle my skin in Dr. Brandt’s Blemishes No More Oil-Free Hydrator and wash the travel off my face the second I check into my hotel room.

944: Why does your hair get oily and frizzy when in the air?
PB: The harsh, frigid air can sometimes trigger your pores to produce more sebum and oils. Plus, schlepping around the airport and rushing around pre-flight can give you a case of the greasies. And no matter how sleek a blowout you have, the synthetic seats and friction can rough up your hair. I just throw my hair back into a bun and wear an elastic headband to keep hair out of my face. Once I get to my destination, I touch-up roots with a sheer misting of Klorane’s hair powder spray. It’s made with rice brand, instead of talc, so it never gets gummy or chalky.

944: Are airplanes really as germ-infested as people say? Should we avoid the bathrooms at all costs?
PB: My policy is: Do not touch. Avoid sitting on or touching anything in the bathroom, and don’t wash your hands. Instead, use a sanitizing wipe when you return to your seat. I’ve heard scary rumors about what’s in airplane water. So avoid ice cubes, too. Grab a tissue to protect your hand when you flush in the loo.

944: What are some basic beauty misconceptions or myths when flying? Are women really in the know or not? What should we watch out for?
PB: Don’t fly within 12 hours of having dental work performed. The change in atmosphere pressure can cause major pain. Seatguru.com rates every single seat on every type of plane. You can find out which seats have the “least recline” or are near the bathroom or above the engine. Now, if only they could show you where the screaming babies will sit …

944: Is it true that drinking alcohol on the flight is a beauty don’t? If yes, why?
PB: Avoid the temptation to hit the bar cart for alcohol to guzzle pre-flight, either. If you need to quell nerves, take a sleeping pill or tune in to Jack Johnson, the musical equivalent of Xanax. Drinking alcohol can make you feel woozy and give you the effect of accelerated intoxication. When we fly, our body fluids evaporate quickly in the pressurized dry cabin of an airplane. So under that pressure, alcohol absorbs more rapidly, making us feel the effects of the alcohol quickly. Plus, your skin needs water, water, water. So focus on hydrating, rather than building a buzz.

944: Restrictions are so limited on what can be brought onboard a plane. Where can you get sample sizes of all your favorite beauty products?
PB: Drugstores sometimes have dollar bins with mini shampoos, hand creams and deodorants, and companies like Lancôme and Kiehl’s give away deluxe samples at their stores. When my faves don’t come in mini-me sizes, I decant them into little bottles. It sounds like a time-consuming pain, but it’s nice to have your self-tanner, face cream, SPF, face mask and hair care in convenient spill-proof bottles.

944: What do you suggest when packing your travel cosmetics? Are Ziploc bags the way to go?
PB: I’m a staunch believer in Ziploc bags. I even keep one in my purse. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve stained the inside of a great bag with sticky gloss, or gone fishing for a pen only to come out with a tampon and lip liner.

944: What beauty essentials should you pack in your carry-on at all times?
PB: I’m all about disposables on the plane. Colgate Wisp toothbrush, lavender-scented antibacterial wipes, Binaca breath spray (so old school, but I love it!), Emergen-C vitamin powder for my water bottles, packet of hand cream, tinted lip balm, bronzer and a blush brush.

944: What are a few pre-landing make up tips?
PB: Skip foundation on the day of your trip and instead wear moisturizer and big sunglasses. The last thing you want to do is clog your pores. I mix Dr. Brandt’s Blemishes No More Oil-Free Hydrator with NARS Brightening Serum. If I feel a little dull and green in the gills pre-landing, I perk up my sad, sallow face with a shimmery bronzer like Guerlain Terracotta in a sheer shade. My friend Mally Roncal (she does Beyoncé’s makeup!) taught me to stroke it lightly across the tops of cheeks, bridge of the nose, temples and along the bottom of my jawline for a sun-kissed, face-slimming effect. Also, keep lips hydrated all flight long with a tinted balm like Clinique’s. Avoid powder. Who wants a cakey mess clogging your skin in the dry recycled air? Also, Dr. Brandt’s Blemishes No More line’s pimple-thwarting concealer is great on suspicious blemishes-to-be.