Embarking on an epic journey through the clouds for a marathon flight can be a real test for even the most seasoned travelers. It’s not just about the potential battles with dry skin, puffy feet, and the looming threat of dehydration. The mere anticipation of venturing to distant horizons can stir up a whirlwind of pre-flight nerves. Having soared through countless skies over the past 12 months, we’ve become seasoned pros at the art of jet-setting. Here are a few of our long haul must haves.
Armed with our hard-earned wisdom, we’ve crafted a list of absolute essentials—our travel treasures that we wouldn’t dream of leaving behind. Get ready to elevate your packing game, because these are the must-haves that will be soaring high with us into the adventure-packed year of 2024.
Anything SOL de Janeira; from the luxe thick body cream to the body mist, to the shampoo and the hair repair treatments – we are slathering and spritzing this brand everywhere. Not only does everything smell devine (especially the Brazilian Crush mist) but it lingers throughout the day. We’re total SOL de Janeira converts.
FreshWipes are like a quick shower in a wipe and as they are plastic-free, 100% biodegradable, they are perfect for when showering in hot water isn’t an option (like on a long haul economy class flight). If you are heading somewhere hot or taking a day on the beach they are ideal for staying fresh – wiping away body odour, sweat and bacteria in seconds. They can be composted and will degrade over time so that you can dispose of them without worry. They are saturated with two gentle antibacterial agents, which work to cleanse the body efficiently making them an obvious addition to our list. The light coconut scent is our fave.
Spacemasks are ideal for a chill out session and have become a cult favourite. They are self-heating, delicately fragranced and come in 3 scents, providing instant relief from headaches, tiredness, and eye strain. They are the perfect long haul flight accessory to help you go to sleep or if you’re in need of a bit of ‘me’ time.
We start using this nasal spray around 2 weeks before going on a big trip to keep us free of bugs. Trying to actively keep away from anyone with a cough or cold is all very well and good but it can be hard to keep yourself wrapped in a bubble, so before heading out having a little squirt of BioSURE means that you have added protection from airborne viruses meaning our trips are sniffle-free.
The Soapsmith range of hand sanitisers and washes are so potently scented it’s like a perfume in a hand gel. The London based bath and body brand’s Bricklane Handsantisier is a travel essential, and a great addition to every bag. We like to carry the Soapsmith hand sanitiser with us throughout the day so if we’re hopping on public transport or enjoying a spot of un-scheduled tempting street food then we know we’re fresh and clean.
These Aswagandha supplements by Purolabs are supposed to help reduce anxiety and stress by calming the brain – we’re fairly chilled out passengers so can’t claim how much of an effect they had on us but if you’re a little anxious of flying they are certainly worth a try.
Similar to the BioSURE nasal spray, we figure an extra boost to the immune system isn’t going to hurt and we can certainly say no colds, coughs or other illnesses were caught after a few weeks pre-travel taking of the City Survivor Immune Support supplements.
If your skin is feeling a bit dry or puffy then these Croma masks are perfect. We suggest trying the face mask out before you get on your flight for some added hydration (also it does look a little scary and, as it is packed with hyaluronic acid, it’s best used when you have a bit of space and access to a sink and towel) or when you get to your destination to replenish your skin.
The Croma Energising Eye Masks (£48 for 8 masks) provide an instant boost of hydration to wake up tired eyes. The mask is packed with soothing ingredients and contains powerful antioxidants, including vitamin C, that help to moisturise and reduce signs of fatigue while providing an extra energy kick for a fresh and energised appearance.
The Hyaluronic Acid Face Mask (£48 for 8 masks) refreshes dehydrated skin, alleviates visible dryness and helps to improve the skin’s elasticity. It contains Hyaluronic Acid, Imperata Cylindrica root extract, and Chrondrus Crispus Extract (Irish Moss). It provides a pleasant cooling effect and helps smooth small wrinkles to ensure a radiant complexion.
It seems everyone is taking collagen supplements now and Absolute’s little pouches come with a massive 8000MG per dose. We tried the Mango and Mandarin and the Lemon (which was our personal favourite).
Absolute Collagen’s daily supplement has undergone rigorous clinical testing which has shown that 100% of the trialists experienced improvements in skin quality making them perfect to take travelling and including in your wider skincare routine to keep that holiday glow. It is something you need to stick with to see results – like every good thing in life, you have to wait!
Absolute Collagen is available from £26.99 RPP at Absolute Collagen. We liked it so much we’ve gone with a monthly subscription.
If you need to save space with your carry on and your liquid allowance then the AKT gender free Deodorant Balm tubes gives you a little more room. The application of it took some getting used to (you can smooth it on with your fingers or use the handy little spatula) but the small inconvenience versus the knowledge your plastic use is getting reduced is a worthy cause.
The guys behind the brand are West End performers who found that other deodorants weren’t doing the job, were staining their clothes and were leaving them sweaty and smelly after a gruelling performance schedule. So AKT is their answer to the issue, with a sustainable approach and a selection of natural, chemical free choices.
This Farmacy duo will leave your skin feeling plump and soft as well as smelling delicious. Farmacy Beauty’s bestseller, the Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm contains sunflower & ginger root oils that cleanse and nourish the skin for a glowing complexion, with moringa and papaya extract naturally purifying and exfoliating the skin’s surface.
The ultra-hydrating Honey Halo ceramide moisturiser utilises the highest grade of buckwheat honey to provide moisture retention at the skin’s dermal layers, boosting the skin’s natural regeneration cycle.
While we know the advice on a flight is to keep hydrated, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol we have been known to indulge in the odd G&T and mini bottle of wine so getting our liver in tip top shape is a must.
Responsible for over 500 vital functions and holding 13% of the body’s blood at any one time, a compromised unhealthy liver leads to the symptoms of flight fatigue such as brain fog, lower immunity and higher blood toxicity. By detoxifying and optimising your master organ, it mitigates the common issues we face on long haul flights.
Whether you’re looking to dampen the effects of a few drinks, knock off a cold or in need of a mental clarity boost to stay awake, the potent plants of de-liver-ance promise peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying your travels.
Marine Miracle Créme – the luxurious, nourishing moisturiser from Transformulas uses the natural healing benefits of sea marine ingredients algae, giant sea kelp and sea salt extract combined with an advanced rejuvenating formula for the ultimate de-ageing skincare results. Deeply hydrating, but lightweight, it nourishes and rejuvenates dry skin, whilst firming and helping to minimise fine lines and wrinkles, transforming skin so it’s noticeably smoother, softer, more radiant and healthier looking.
Team it up with Transformulas Marine Miracle EyeZone – a powerful cream that targets fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area. Infused with marine plant extracts and ultra-concentrated aldavine 5x, it maximises potency and delivers visible results.
The lightness of the Marine Miracle creams are ideal for daily holiday use, especially after any sun exposure, as you can really feel it absorb though after a few minutes of application.
Finally, what are we packing all of this essential travel must-have’s into? Well a bag with a lot of compartments, plenty of easy access pockets, that is both durable and sustainable, and is versatile and super comfy to carry around – it has to be ROKA.
We LOVE the FINCHLEY design; it’s a great size (fits in a laptop / iPad easily plus your lunch, water bottle and all your gadgets needed throughout the day), has lots of nice features like a padded back and wide straps (making it comfy to carry around), side pockets for easy access to umbrellas or bottles, and hidden pockets for keys or phones. It’s packed full of features, is made out of recycled material and is a steal at £74.95. We’ve taken ours around the world and can tell you it has been tossed around, squeezed and crushed into small spaces and carried through pouring rain but it still looks brand new!
There are plenty of styles and colours to choose from plus handy smaller, matching cross body bags and totes.
