Only one profession would require you to power through long hours and different timezones, stay in a moisture-depleted environment while dealing with demanding passengers, and look fresh as a daisy. It’s definitely no joke being a flight attendant.
Despite waking up for red-eye flights, carrying heavy luggage, and dealing with dehydration, flight attendants are still expected to always keep a presentable appearance. How do they do it? Undoubtedly, it takes investment and skill to maintain flawless looks. And fortunately for us, many stunning flight attendants aren’t tight-lipped about their beauty secrets. From skincare routines to essential makeup tools, here is everything we could ever wish to know about staying fresh on air.
Disclaimer: This article was first uploaded on 22 Jul 2019.
Also read: Here’s What the Life of a Flight Attendant is Really Like
“It’s very simple. I just wash my face with a mild cleanser, and then I use a moisturiser with SPF. After a day’s work, I immediately remove my makeup with some cleansing wipes, wash my face, and then use a facial toner to remove any makeup residues. I never skip my nighttime routine no matter how tired or sleepy I am.”
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“We are required to wear bright red lipstick. For that, my number one lipstick is the Ruby Woo – MAC Cosmetics because of its universally flattering shade and because of its staying power.
For foundation, I use Clinique Even Better. This is more of a tinted moisturiser. I use it for work because it’s very light on the skin, plus it has SPF. I try to avoid using makeup foundation as much as possible.
I use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade for my eyebrows just because it’s easy to work with. In my opinion, a little bit goes a long way, so I don’t run out of product easily. Also, it doesn’t smudge or fade out, even on long-haul flights.
Finally, I use a good old eyelash curler to lift my lashes and brighten my eyes a bit.”
“Hydrate. Drink water as much as you can, because the air inside the aircraft cabin at 30,000 feet is very dry and can really dehydrate your skin. I personally drink at least two litres of water inflight.”
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“Never forget to put on sunblock or wear sun protection (like hats, shades, etc.). It will really help your skin from future damage when you get older.
Always hydrate. I cannot stress this enough: Water is key for us to have a healthy and glowing body inside and outside. However, we sometimes forget to drink water when we travel or engage in activities. I think we should always carry a bottle of water to replenish all those body fluids we lost.
Enjoy and be in the moment. We only get to travel once in a while, so let’s immerse ourselves in the places and activities we want to see. As much as possible, take time off from taking pictures for social media. We’ll definitely feel happier and more beautiful from the inside. Live in the moment and make those memories count.”
“First, I remove my makeup using the Garnier micellar cleansing water. Then, I wash my face with the Herb Day Cleansing Foam by The Face Shop. I put on Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner and then apply the Time Revolution ampoule from Missha. After that, I put serum from The Ordinary.
If it’s daytime, my next step would be putting on sunblock. I use Essence Sun Milk with SPF 50++. If it’s nighttime, I put on the Laneige water sleeping mask, Laneige lip sleeping mask, and the Kiehl’s creamy eye treatment.”
“For foundation, I use Fenty and Maybelline. My concealer is Naturactor, while my eyeshadow is from MAC Cosmetics. My favourite lipstick brands are MAC Cosmetics, Inglot, Sleek, and Sunnies Face. My eyeliner and mascara are both from Maybelline. My blush-on are from Sleek, Covergirl or Nars.”
“Since I have oily skin, I need to have my Clean & Clear oil control film with me all the time. I also use the Innisfree no-sebum mineral powder to control the oil.”
“I just have a normal skincare routine. I usually cleanse my skin with water in the morning to keep it hydrated. Then, I apply toner before putting on my make-up. I also make sure to put on moisturiser.”
“Lipstick, blush, and mascara.”
“Simple. I just make sure I keep myself hydrated. I drink a lot of water.”
“Beauty comes within. Make sure you keep yourself healthy by eating fruits and vegetables to boost your energy level. Most importantly, consume plenty of water.”
“I follow the famous Korean Skin Care routine, but I cut mine down into nine steps:
“I prefer to wear simple makeup outside of work. Face Shop Lip Tint and Etude House Drawing Eye Brow are my go-to makeup tools. On duty, I also use Iope Super Vitality Cushion. It’s my favourite! With just a little dab on my face, it creates a Korean glow that lasts for hours — sorry, fan talaga ako ng Korean look!”
“Water is my top beauty secret for staying fresh on the plane. I drink a lot of water to keep me hydrated and keep my skin moisturised.”
“Just don’t forget to apply moisturiser and sunscreen when travelling. The aircraft is pressurised, and your skin will easily dry up. Also, the aircraft is surrounded by harmful UV rays from the air (even at night!), so you need to apply sunscreen to protect your face.”
“Quick and easy. Using too many skin care products is not sustainable for me, especially after a tiring flight. I use Pond’s Cold Cream to remove my makeup, and Olay Regenerist Revitalizing Cream Cleanser to wash my face. This is followed by my favourite toner, the Eskinol Classic White — for some reason, pimples magically show up whenever I try other brands! I also use the serum and moisturiser from Olay Regenerist. My favourite thing to hydrate my lips with is the Lucas Papaw Ointment.”
“Shawill Two Way Eyebrow Cake and Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick. I’m a fan of local makeup brands.”
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“Light makeup, a good diet, and tons of water. Putting on too much makeup — no matter how expensive the brands are — can never mask the stress and jet lag. To stay fresh, I take care of myself from within. Instead of using a good concealer and foundation to hide pimples and dark spots, I eat a huge bowl of vegetables for every meal. I also avoid sugars and bad carbs. It’s simple, yet effective.”
“Hydrate. The aircraft’s air is extremely dry, so remember to keep yourself hydrated by drinking water. Lipsticks can quickly dry out your lips, so use lip balms instead. And, rehydrate your face with your favourite face mist. Just make sure you carry a water bottle with you — not more than 100ml, or it’ll be confiscated. Safe skies, everyone!”
“I start off by ensuring that I remove my makeup properly. Banila Co. Clean It Zero is my holy grail when it comes to makeup removal, as I don’t need to use cotton pads because it just melts everything away. After cleansing, I ensure that I use a moisturiser to keep my skin hydrated.”
“My go-to makeup items are concealer and cheek tint. When I’m not flying though, I try to keep my skin bare as much as possible to allow it to rest and breathe.”
“The key to staying fresh on a flight is wearing long-lasting makeup. It gets pretty busy during a flight; oftentimes, we don’t have time to touch up our make-up. So, the solution is to wear long-lasting makeup and to make setting spray your best friend.”
“One important tip I can give Pinay travellers is to stay hydrated and moisturised. The aircraft air is very dry; hence, it makes your skin prone to breakouts. Drinking a lot of water and investing in a very good moisturiser will save you from all the stress of dealing with breakouts.”
“I follow this in order every day, every morning:
Then, I try to exfoliate my skin with Kiehl’s Skin Brightening Exfoliator at least two to three times a week. I use sheet masks from the Nature Republic whenever I deem necessary. At night, or before I go to bed, I make sure to remove my makeup with Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, no matter how tired I am. It’s a must for me. No excuses!
After all that cleansing, toning, and moisturising, I always finish my nightly ritual by applying a night serum. I highly recommend Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Obviously, Kiehl’s is a favourite. I’ve been using their products for almost eight years now!
“My holy grail:
“I use Sukin Organics Spritzing Rose Hydrating Mist Toner all over my face! I found this gem in Sydney, Australia.”
“Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water, avoid caffeinated drinks, and have a lip balm or a hand cream ready! I use the Carmex Medicated Lip Balm and the Kamill’s Hand and Nail Cream in Balsam.”
“I have a combination skin type. If I have a lot of time, it’s really a must for me to complete my skincare routine:
Three times a week, I do the following:
“While many people say “kilay is life,” I go for “lashes is life.” I always go out with my mascara (Maybelline The Falsies Mascara), blush-on (Sunnies Face Airblush in Moon), and nude lipstick (Happy Skin in Under the Sheets).”
“Less is more. I don’t use foundation and face powder because I want to achieve a dewy finish. It’s my way of staying or looking fresh. I’m always exposed to dry air, so I don’t like a matte finish. In connection to this, I like that my makeup doesn’t feel heavy on an eight- to ten-hour flight. I’d also rather lessen the chemicals I use on my skin since we’re talking about daily makeup here. Skincare is more important than makeup! I complete my five-step skincare routine (cleanse, tone, serum, moisturise, and sun protection) every day.
My inflight makeup routine consists of the following:
“I want to tell everyone that makeup is supposed to enhance our features, NOT cover them. Makeup doesn’t help resolve our skin problems. On the other hand, having clean and healthy skin will allow the makeup you wear to look a whole lot better on you.”
“I used to follow an eight-step Korean skincare routine, but I couldn’t bring myself to fully commit to it! Now, I just wash my face with a facial wash, then I use toner, serum, and finally, moisturiser. I exfoliate once in a while, too.”
“Concealer, lip and cheek tint, and mascara!”
“I always keep myself hydrated. I drink tons of water and spray a mist on my face, too!”
“You may find this a cliché, but it’s really important to always, always drink water when you’re travelling and when you’re on a plane. It’s dry up there!”
Also read: 5 Beauty Tips You Should Incorporate In Your Travels
Despite their hectic schedules, flight attendants still make sure to exert a lot of effort in maintaining a healthy glow. Now, we know that all it takes is a consistent skincare routine, a healthy diet, high-quality makeup, and water. Lots of water.
Quotes have been edited for grammar, clarity and flow. This article contains affiliate links. When you make purchases through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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