I’m currently tapping out this post mid-flight en route to Milan (by the time you read this I’ll be eating gelato for breakfast), cursing the fact I that didn’t spend £3 extra for more legroom and wondering if the small child behind will ever stop pounding on the back of my headrest. Don’t you just love flying? Luckily it’s nothing that a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, a few leg stretches and an episode of The Office can’t fix. Could there be a better occasion to share my hand luggage heroes with you? I think not. Before the past year my flying experience was pretty minimal – I was one of those that used to cheer when we landed – but in the past few months I’ve racked up a few air miles (no longer whoop at touchdown) and reckon I have a few tips, tricks and must-packs to share. Be warned that I am the type of person who is convinced that their luggage is going to get lost so do drag around a few extra toiletries and an extra pair of pants more than I need to. Think of it as an extra arm workout.
Let’s cover the non-beauty basics first. Bag-wise, I reckon it’s always best to pack everything into a handbag that you’re planning on using when you’re away, otherwise they are a pain the derriere to stuff in your suitcase. The bigger, the better (though be mindful of airline restrictions – boo). Gum, hairbands and earplugs go without saying. I throw sunglasses in out of ‘lost luggage paranoia’. And for electronics I bring my laptop for blogging/emails/The Office marathons, a portable charger for my phone and the aforementioned pair of noise-cancelling headphones which basically drown out the world.
The standout hero though is This Works’ Deep Sleep Stress Less Rollerball which makes me feel cool, calm and collected even when I’m not. A nervy flyers best friend. For toiletries I also lug around a mini deodorant, toothpaste, fold-up MUJI toothbrush, hand sanitiser, a baby bottle of Bioderma incase I just fancy wiping it all off and a perfume rollerball that I picked up from Sephora on my last trip there, to freshen me up.
Makeup I keep minimal because I quite frankly don’t give two hoots what I look like when I’m getting antsy at baggage reclaim; though a few bits do get thrown into a MUJI clear pouch. This time round I plumped for a YSL Touché Eclat (which hides the fact that I’ve never, ever been able to sleep on a plane), CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in B20 (I bring this along for the ride mainly because of the mirror), Clinique’s High Impact Waterproof Mascara and a mini of the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 (which is not only super cute, but acts as my lip colour, gloss and balm in one).
See? It’s not too bulky. All the essentials with a few extras, you know – just incase.
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