I Travel for a Living—These 7 Beauty Products Permanently Live in My Carry-On

I refuse to go on an airplane without hypochlorous acid in tow. It helps reduce bacteria on your skin while simultaneously soothing irritation. So when I hop on a plane, I spritz. After the first snack service, I spritz. Before I put on my headphones to take a nap, I spritz. When we land, I spritz. Furiously. It’s the one product that keeps my skin from freaking out on a flight.I pretty much avoid doing skincare on flights for the aforementioned reasons (reminder that planes are gross). But the one thing I will use is the Biodance mask. I’ve worn this on every overnight flight (or anything longer than six hours) for the last two years. These masks, made of hydrogel, cling to your face, and over a few hours, the ingredients inside penetrate your skin. But you have to wear it for at least four hours. And when else do I have four hours to soak in a mask but on a plane? After a few hours, the mask turns clear (showing that my skin has absorbed all the goodness), and my skin is glowy and plump.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowOne thing’s for sure: I will never board a plane with makeup on. Before I get in my seat, I wash my face. For years, I would bring cleanser and suds up in the bathroom before heading to my gate. And I’ll still do that the few times a year I make it to the lounge in time. But these micellar wipes have make it extremely easy to remove makeup, grime, and whatever bacteria is on my skin. Normally, I hate something that’s individually wrapped for the sake of waste, but it really makes sense in this format. I can just throw one or two in my bag, then toss it out when I’m finished.On the wipes front, I swear by these for the rest of my body to refresh. Sometimes, mid-flight, I start to feel so gross. So I’ll take one of these wipes to the bathroom and wipe my underarms, between my thighs, and anywhere that feels sweaty and icky. They leave my skin feeling clean but not stripped.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowAfter I cleanse, the only thing I care about is moisture before a flight. This Dr. Althea cream not only hydrates but calms down inflammation. It’s actually more of a gel consistency, so I can layer it underneath a thicker barrier cream (see below!) if my skin feels dry.The high altitude on an airplane zaps your skin of moisture. But with this cream, you can counteract it a little bit. Ceramides, squalane, and glycerin pull in moisture and act as a shield to keep water in your skin. So when you’re up in the air, you’re less likely to lose hydration with this slathered all over. As the last step of my routine before I get on the plane, I’ll coat my face in a healthy dollop of this cream and rest assured that I won’t land looking like SpongeBob out of water.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowWe’re in the golden age of lip balm, and this is the best I’ve used. Technically billed as a lip mask, this peptide-packed formula has a rich consistency that glides on my lips and stays on for hours, which is why it’s so good on a plane. And I love that it’s in a squeeze tube. Anything that eliminates needing to dig my fingers into a pot on an already germ-laden plane is a win in my book.Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.