You’ve heard the lament – that gone are the days when flying was glamorous and people dressed up to jet-set around the world. Sure, airports today are filled with masses of people in sneakers and yoga pants (guilty), but we can do our part to get back to the glory days of travel.
When we got the opportunity to interview Camila Skubala, a perfectly coiffed Emirates cabin crew member, we jumped at the chance. Here’s her expert advice on how to stay chic in the sky and beyond.
Rue La La: Flight attendants have a reputation for looking picture-perfect. What’s your standard beauty look when you fly?
Camila Skubala: Long-haul flights can be tiring, and it’s hard to look and feel your best on an airplane. But we have some easy tricks to keep ourselves looking and feeling fresh (and effortlessly glamorous) in the sky.
One: Choose light tones. Makeup can change its appearance under aircraft lighting, so we avoid darker shades of eye and face makeup, since those can make you look tired. Opt instead for rosy, peachy, or pink tones to draw attention away from tired skin and eyes. Also try to avoid bronzers – they tend to be thicker than other face or foundation powders, so they can clog your pores if worn for a long time.
Two: Protect your lips. Red lipstick is part of the Emirates signature look, so we all know how important this is. Lips are often the first part of the face to look dry when flying. Exfoliating can help, but also try applying balm under the color to ensure lips remain moist and lipstick stays fresh throughout your journey.
Three: Go easy on the eyes. We love our eyeliner, and it’s a great way to open up the eye. When you’re tired, though, lining your bottom lid can make dark circles look even darker. Apply eyeliner to the top of the eye only to create a fresh, “eyes-wide-open” look. Also avoid waterproof mascara at all costs – it tends to dry out lashes much faster than the regular kind.
RLL: Any Emirates-specific beauty tricks of the trade?
CS: When you’re ready to sleep, use a wipe to remove your makeup and keep your skin fresh. This will also prevent you from looking noticeably smudged. As for lip gloss, it should be avoided at all costs while flying since it’s sticky and needs to be applied more frequently than lipstick. If you wear lipstick, color your lips in with a matching lip liner to extend the life of the color. Placing foundation over your lips and eyes can make the color stay on longer as well.
For nails, wearing light or natural polish is the best when traveling since chips won’t show as much. Pack a clear topcoat in your suitcase to keep your manicure looking fresh on the go.
RLL: Which beauty products do you never fly without?
CS: Makeup remover and my creams – I never go without them. Face cream for day and night. I use hand creams regularly to prevent dryness. I also use a serum for a boost. (My creams are all Clarins and my serum is Estée Lauder.)
RLL: It’s no secret that flying dries out your skin – what are your in-flight moisturizing secrets?
CS: It’s so important to keep skin moisturized from the inside and out to combat the dry plane air. Drink lots of water and avoid food and drinks that can dehydrate your skin. I like to add electrolytes via coconut water or by dropping in a powder like Emergen-C – it’s like creating an instant energy-infusing sports drink. Also, avoid caffeine – it’s a major cause of dehydration. Opt for fruit juice instead.
Food-wise, nuts contain anti-inflammatory fats that fill you up, which means you won’t reach for processed snack foods. The sodium in things like chips and pretzels can cause you to bloat. Water-based foods, like fruits and raw vegetables, will not only keep you hydrated and prevent puffiness but also give you the added boost of important antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. For omega-3 acids, go for peanuts and walnuts to help make your complexion glow.
The real secret weapon for many of us crew members, though, is using hydrating spray during the flight – it can be applied over makeup to give skin an instant boost.
RLL: We don’t think about this enough, but is SPF important when you’re 30,000 feet up?
CS: Yes, it’s even more important up in the sky. I use SPF 30 under my makeup, always.
RLL: Let’s talk hair. How do you ensure you’re just as fresh for landing as you are upon takeoff?
CS: To prevent your hair from falling flat (especially where you’ve slept on it), use an inflatable neck pillow. If you don’t have one, roll a blanket into a shape that fits comfortably around your neck. To fight static, rub a drop of water on your hands and smooth it over your hair. You can also use a pea-sized amount of hand cream or lip gloss to smooth down flyaways and get frizz under control.
Another way to keep hair tame and tangle-free on long flights is to tie it back in a bun, braid, or a low ponytail. If you have bangs, pin them back with bobby pins or secure them with a headband so they don’t go limp before you land.
RLL: Jet lag can be brutal. Any tips or tricks to fight the effects?
CS: As experts in the sky who are constantly on the move, no one knows better than a crew member how to combat and avoid jet lag when traveling across different time zones. First, reset your clock. If you know you’ll be traveling to a country in a different time zone, start switching up your schedule a few days in advance. Change your bedtime and eat your meals as if you’re already abroad. Also set your watch to the local destination time; this will help your internal clock with the shift.
Once you’re on the plane, plan to rest. Choose a light and healthy in-flight meal, pack slippers or fuzzy socks, make use of your earplugs, and be sure to catch some zzz’s so you’re not sleep-deprived.
A few hours before landing, get up to walk around and stretch. Refuel with fruit and a healthy meal to get your energy up. Use a cold towel on your face. You want to land feeling refreshed.
When you arrive, spend as much of the day outside as possible. Exposure to sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm, so avoid dark, dim places when you can. Plus, if you stay out of the hotel room, it’s not so tempting to lie down for a nap.
By Chrissy Waters, Editor
