Hello my lovelies,
So, in just a few days, I’m off on a big school trip, to China! It’s extremely exciting, and I’m looking forward to experiencing some of the amazing things that Beijing has to offer, and also to receive confirmation of the negligible nature of my Mandarin skills (I’m taking GCSE, but you can’t tell…). I’m going slightly crazy with planning and lists (you know what I’m like!) and am slightly swamped in to-do lists, travel sized toiletries, and the odd stray sock. But one of the things that I’m most looking forward to is the flight (sounds stupid, when you think of all the incredible things I’ll see when I get there, but shh…) as I love flying, especially long-haul. So today, I thought I’d share my in-flight essentials with you guys, particularly for a long-haul overnight journey.
Lip balm. I like to keep toiletries to a minimum, because of all the hassle of plastic bags and security etc., but I’d say that a good lip balm is a must. The air in planes is so dry and artificial; it’s really not good for your skin, and mine often ends up horribly dehydrated. My lips are usually the first to go, so I always make sure I have a something with me (usually Nivea Essential Care), to keep the cracking at bay. I wouldn’t go for something at all pigmented – when you’re in a plane, the last thing you want to be worrying about is falling asleep and smearing pink all over your hand/face/clothes/the wall.
A good intense moisturiser. In the same vein, with all the people breathing the same air in and out, my skin always ends up horribly tight, so I like a reasonably thick moisturiser, to really give it a boost, and keep it hydrated.
Hand cream. You know that weird feeling when your hands get a bit dry, and get a really nasty texture? Maybe you don’t… Well, I can’t stand it, and so I’m never far from a hand cream, even on a plane.
Mascara. I really can’t be at all bothered for makeup while travelling – my skin has enough to deal with – and usually I don’t bother putting any on when I get off the plane either, but sometimes, if you’re running on half an hour of sleep, and you have to face a full day because of the time difference, you just need that lift. That’s where mascara comes in. The last thing you want to be doing is attempting to blend foundation, or construct a smoky eye, but whacking on a couple of layers of mascara can take you from long-dead corpse to living human being, quickly and easily.
Hair brush and scrunchie. Is it just me who’s hair has a full on freak-out every time they step on a plane? While flying I just whack it up in the messiest of buns (and not the “messy-but-perfect” type, trust me), but when you arrive, the best way to become presentable is to pull a brush through it, and then go for the fail-safe high ponytail, just to be on the safe side.
Book. Pretty obvious, but you need entertainment, and it’s best not to rely on airline films: not all planes have screens, sometimes the film selection is atrocious, and watching screens for hours gives me a headache. It’s good to give your eyes a rest, tempting as it is to try and plough through as many back-to-back films as you can. Personally, I love to read, and so I wouldn’t go anywhere without a book. Great for airport delays/waiting for connection flights, too.
Notebook and pen. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest of times, so why not 30,000 feet up in the air? I also really enjoy just putting pen to paper, and writing out my thoughts, fragmented and bizarre (and sometimes worrying!) as they are. This is also the time that I usually write the first entry of my holiday diary, in which I record thoughts/events/experiences every time I go travelling. I love having the memories to look back on.
Mints. Let’s face it, none of us are at our most hygienic on a plane, and sometimes it’s just too much effort or there’s too much of a queue to bother going to the tiny toilet and brushing your teeth. Bad breath and a “dirty” feeling mouth are unpleasant, however, so I always bring mints with me, to keep my mouth feeling fresh, and stop the people unlucky enough to be sitting next to me from passing out. Gum’s great and all, but at least with mints you don’t have the dilemma of how to get rid of it when you’re done.
Scarf. Temperatures fluctuate like crazy on planes, but more often than not it’s freezing. Because of this, I find it handy to bring a big scarf, which can be used as a pillow, or wrapped round me for warmth, like a blanket.
Oversized cardigan/jumper. Always go for comfort over style on a plane, and oversized is the way forward. It’ll make you feel more at home and relaxed, and I’m definitely more likely to sleep curled up in a huge jumper and leggings than struggling with tight crop tops, or restrictive jeans.
Hand sanitizer. Planes aren’t the cleanest of places, and it’s incredibly unlikely that you’ll get a chance to wash, so hand sanitizer is my hero. So many germs in such a small place, and I always feel better if I can keep myself feeling at least relatively clean.
iPod and earphones. Snuggle down with music, and forget where you are, and all the random people surrounding you. Get really comfortable, and I find that that’s when I’m most likely to manage to snatch some sleep.
Fluffy slipper socks. Cold feet = no sleep is my new mantra (it’s not, but it almost rhymes, so I had to include it somehow!). Again, I prioritise my comfort here, and want to keep myself feeling snuggly.
Some kind of sweets. That popping in your ears at takeoff and landing can be really nasty, so I always take a packet of sweets to suck on, which really helps. Boiled sweets are the best, but they’re not always the nicest, so anything you can suck on will work – wine gums, fruit pastilles etc.
Those are all my in-flight essentials, and that will be what I’ll be packing in my rucksack (easiest kind of carry-on to deal with) for my up-coming flight. I hope you enjoyed this post, or found it in some way helpful (long shot, I know!) and do let me know what you can’t fly without, by leaving me a comment. Any tips on how to sleep while flying? I can’t deal with eye masks, but always struggle to sleep…
Lots of love,
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