On board at 40,000ft, stay fresh with grooming essentials that keep you looking sharp from takeoff to touchdown
Travelling far is exhilarating, but the journey itself rarely is. Regardless of cabin class, space is scarce and the air is unforgivably dry. For those who are serious about hygiene, skipping a shower borders on madness. And unless you can sleep through anything, expect to disembark feeling out of kilter. While some in-flight discomforts are inevitable, others can be alleviated. Here, we spotlight seven grooming essentials—excluding the obvious toothbrush, toothpaste, and wet wipes—essential on board to help you look sharp and land fresher.
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
Cabin air is notoriously arid, making a hydrating facial mist indispensable. Seek out ingredients like rose water, aloe vera, glycerin, or hypochlorous acid for a soothing lift. A cult favourite, Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist doubles as a refresher and setting spray. It is free from mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, urea, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and phthalates. Beyond plumping and hydrating, it shields against the free radicals that are abundant in cabin air.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
We refuse to sleep with sunscreen, oil, and impurities clogging our pores, so Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser, in a travel- friendly size, is a saviour. It removes grime and make-up without stripping hydration. Instead, it soothes and replenishes—vital in the parched air of the cabin.
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Like skin, the scalp accumulates oil and requires cleansing. Washing your hair mid-flight is hardly practical, which makes a dry shampoo indispensable. Amika’s Perk Up Dry Shampoo is talc-free, absorbs oil, neutralises odour, and restores volume with an invisible finish. Infused with sea buckthorn and rice starch, it is a classic travel refresher that revives hair between wash days and keeps it buoyant throughout a long-haul journey.
Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil
Beloved by beauty insiders, Dior’s Lip Glow Oil is a non-negotiable essential. Enriched with cherry oil, it nourishes, softens, and revitalises lips with a glossy sheen. Beyond make-up, it is also a powerful treatment: apply before sleeping and wake to hydrated, refreshed lips. It excels even in the driest of environments.
Crème de la Mer
Long regarded as one of the finest moisturisers available, Crème de la Mer is powered by La Mer’s proprietary Miracle Broth—a fermented blend of sea kelp, vitamins, and minerals. It soothes, strengthens, and restores skin, while lime tea neutralises free radicals. Rich and deeply hydrating, even one application leaves skin visibly transformed.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Blurred Matte SPF 30 UVB/UVA/PA +++
When your flight lands under the morning sun, it’s a must to use sun protection. Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturiser with SPF 30 offers lightweight wear, shine control, and skin-conditioning benefits, alongside broad ultraviolet protection. Its light, buildable coverage and natural matt finish resist oxidation, instantly evening the complexion for a refreshed look after long-haul travel. A small amount goes far, making it an easy all- in-one base for the trip, with no need for concealer or foundation.
This story first appeared in the November 2025 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here
