Just Plane Pretty

Travelling this summer? European vacation perhaps? Well, I am, and I am trying to decide what the heck to bring in my carry on for that 6-9 hours of travel. Being in the air can leave you dehydrated, tired and puffy. Not good.

Try to prepare. Try to eat lightly and exercise before travel. I try to avoid salty foods which can cause you to retain water and swell up. The night before get your skin ready for the stress of recycled air. Try a hydrating mask, tone, and ensure you wear a rich moisturizing cream for overnight. The next morning, cleanse and apply moisturizer to damp skin. Keep your makeup very light. Wear just the bare minimum. You are going to want to keep reapplying moisturizer throughout the flight, so skip the foundation. Instead, try a light cream blush, concealer, and a tinted lip gloss to trap moisture.

Drink up. No, I don't mean a cocktail. Your body dehydrates 3 times faster when you are in the air. Ensure you drink a lot of water, water, water. Buy a 1.5 to 2 litre bottle of water and drink it continuously over the course of the flight. Pack some tea bags for when the cart comes around. Your skin will thank you when you deplane.

What to bring:

My sister and I love the travel sized Evian Mineral Water Spray. Spray directly on your face and it instantly revives your skin, and counteracts travel fatigue.


Philosophy, (available at Sephora) has a wonderful set called "Miracle Worker" which has everything you need in travel sized bottles. It includes a facial cleanser, daily moisturizer, perfumed shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, and a foot and hand cream. Hands are also very important to keep hydrated. As long as everything fits in a sandwich sized ziploc bag, you are good to go.


Don't forget your body butter! I tend to skip the perfume and opt for a scented body butter. My favorite? Sephora's Body Butters-Whipped Body Delights. The Coconut Nectar scent is summer in a jar! So yummy!


Hair. Don't forget your baby travel brush, some hair spray, and hair elastics. When I'm basking in the sun in the French Riviera, you better believe my hair will be in a bun at the top on of head in a big ol' floppy hat. While in the ocean, protect your hair from the sun with Aveda's Brilliant Damage Control. Helps to protect against UV damage.

Sun Block. What's this? Well, considering when I go to the "sunblock area" in the drugstore, I go straight to the Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil, I thought I better do some research on sun protection. I hear the sun is very different in Europe. I think I may need a 30 SPF.

Other items that would be worth bringing in your bag: a small travel pillow. Do you really want to use the ones on the plane? No. Dirty. Face mask for your eyes for when you go for a snooze in total darkness. Toothbrush and toothpaste to brush before you land, and most importantly your iPod and a good book. If you bring a small part of the comforts of home, I find you will ultimately enjoy your experience a whole lot better.

A Fond Memory

When Sephora first opened in Toronto, I was in cosmetics heaven. My girlfriend and I waited in line for the “grand opening”. There was a slew of press there, drinks, the whole nine.

Not only did we not even talk to each other as we browsed, we were exposed to products that had to either be special ordered from a specialty store in Yorkville (talk about expensive), or ordered online at US prices.

Upon reluctantly leaving the store (at closing), we receieved a whole slew of testers. We also got a GOODIE bag on our way out. Sephora put together complementary gift bags for every customer. It was like opening your stocking on Christmas morning when you are 8. In my bag was not only testers, but full size products included! In that bag was products that I never even dreamed of. Ah....what a great day that was.

:)