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How to look amazing after long international flight

How to look amazing after a long international flight is possible with these tried and tested tips.

I have made hundreds of international flights. I have traveled for 48 hours to many places and used planes, trains, buses, and taxis, and that’s just a one-way trip. It took me years to learn these tips, and I hope this will help you look amazing when you get to your destination.

The best way to look great upon arrival is to fly first class. Now, if you are not in the top 1% income bracket or travel so much that you have incredible upgrades, these tips will apply to you.

Shower a couple of hours before you leave for the airport.

On a 7-10 hour nonstop flight, I looked fresh if I showered a couple of hours before the flight and put a little perfume on when I arrived.

If traveling more than 12 hours with a layover, check to see if you can shower at the airport. This will make an incredible difference once you arrive.

Do your hair. Take dry shampoo.

I prefer to flat iron my hair because of the texture and frizz level of my hair.

Some of you might choose not to do this, but over years of traveling, I noticed that my hair didn’t get too messy if I used a flat iron. When I arrive, I use a little dry shampoo in the bathroom. Don’t forget your hairbrush in your carry-on as well.

Braids are also a good option if your hair is long enough. You can undo them once you arrive for a wavy look.

The next tip for looking amazing after an international flight is,

Wear dark clothes

Yes, wearing white when traveling internationally does look chic—unless your yogurt cup or coffee spills on you and you look like a war journalist on assignment.

Dark clothes are more forgiving if accidents happen as you travel.

Darker clothes with pointed-toe shoes or sporty sneakers look nice, and if you have a classic style, you will look good once you arrive. I always like to take a jacket that doesn’t wrinkle with me. Here are some tips on what to wear.

Please remember you are flying and not at a slumber party, so you might be comfy, but you won’t look amazing once you arrive if you’re wearing your jammies.

Don’t get the middle seat.

Yes, I am screaming on the mountaintop. Pay more, go online, and get your seat assignment to get a window or aisle seat. If you only do one thing, let it be this one. Life is too short to sit in the middle seat.

Once, I sat in the middle of two 300-pound weightlifters for a 16-plus-hour flight from Dallas to South Africa. It was not fun. There was no way to lay claim on the armrest; I had to sit sideways the whole flight. There was practically nowhere for these two big guys to go; their arms were the size of my waist.

Hopefully, that will be my last flight in the middle seat. I hope this will save you from that experience.

If you do get the middle seat, here are some helpful tips.

Stay hydrated

In flight: A one-to-one ratio is a good rule of thumb. For every beverage that is not water, drink a glass of water. Then, drink water throughout your flight.

I always make sure to drink at least 64 ounces of water the day before a transatlantic flight and then drink a glass with every beverage on my flight.

Minimize alcohol. However, some European missionaries will drink a gin and tonic on the flight. The quinine in it helps destroy harmful bacteria, you don’t need the gin the tonic will also assist. But the two together are the most effective.

On your international flight, try to

Get sleep

Preparing for jet lag. When I was 18-21, I would stay up all night before my flight and then sleep the moment I put my seat belt on. I would hit the ground running once I arrived. But on the return, it was horrible—jet lag. So I made some changes.

I take early or evening flights, depending on the schedule. I also know myself, and the night before my trip, I get too excited to sleep. It’s like Christmas morning, and I’m a six-year-old. So, a few days before my trip, I make sure I get at least 8 hours of rest. I also minimize my packing stress by having it ready a day or more before the trip.

On the flight, I start to get myself on the destination country’s time frame. Then I do what I need to do to sleep. Count sheep, watch the Britsh Baking Show, listen to relaxing music. And when I arrive I feel more refreshed.

Once you arrive at your destination

Wash your face and reapply your make-up.

If you have a 24-hour foundation and it looks good, then just check your eye-make-up and reapply a little color if needed. Sometimes, I will just reapply my foundation and powder, then add some glow or blush. Since it takes longer to do, eye-makeup and airport bathrooms are generally busy. If your skin is dry and flaky, then add moisturizer and foundation.

If you are able to take a shower, reapply your make-up, then on your next flight, you should be good.

On shorter flight like 6-8 hours nonstop get a foundation that is 24 hours. Waterproof mascara and eyeliner, and use powder to set your make-up and don’t forget the primer and moisturizer.

If you’re not a make-up person, then make sure your skin is washed and moisturized.

Change your clothes at the airport.

If you are going straight to your hotel or where you are staying forget this step. But most mission trips have been plans right after landing, lunch, site-seeing a brief meeting.

If I know this, I will change my clothes in the restroom at baggage claim before the luggage arrives. This will help you smell better, look better and probably feel better. You will also make a good impression when you arrive if you did all these steps.