Look Good when Traveling

Whenever you travel on an airplane or sit through a long car, bus or train ride, it's easy to end up looking really tired and messy from jet lag, exhaustion and being cramped into a small seating area. Yet, looking your best when traveling isn't impossible and the suggestions here will help you look good at the end of your journey.

Steps

  1. Begin by avoiding additional stress. Even before you set out on a long trip, be sure to do everything needed well in advance so that you don't begin the trip flustered. For example, pack well before it's time to leave and be sure to have done all the leaving chores in plenty of time, such as shutting up your house, canceling papers, sorting bills, etc. Having these concerns on your mind once you start traveling can cause you to fret, so make sure they have been dealt with to your satisfaction before leaving. In addition, give yourself plenty of time to get to your chosen transport's departure point, or if traveling in your vehicle, to get to your destination. Extra time waiting at the other end is not wasted; you can read, sigh with relief that you have done everything without rushing and simply chill out.
  2. Make sure that you get enough sleep. One smart thing to do would be to take some coffee.
  3. Choose clothing that is comfortable and stylish at the same time.
    • Wear a pair of fitted sweatpants, so you can stay comfortable while looking somewhat presentable. Fitted sweatpants are available for both males and females. However, if you don't much like them, check out travel pants in outdoor stores as they'll have some trendy but comfortable options too.
    • Wear a light fitted top but carry a sweatshirt with you (airplanes tend to be cold inside).
  4. Stick to neutral clothing and accessorize for a pop of color. All your tops should go with all your pants.
  5. Never wear new shoes on a trip. Limping is not flattering.
    • Wear slip-on shoes or shoes you can take off easily (you may have to take them off in the airport for security reasons).
    • Wear socks, so your feet don't get cold. (And so you don't have any problem with odor when you take them off for security!) Choose socks that wick away moisture, such as Cool-Max® enhanced or bamboo socks.
  6. Take care of your skin when traveling. Travel often means changing climate or at least sitting inside a vehicle or airplane that has stale air circulation. Bring some moisturizer or an atomizer so that your skin won't be dry and pale. This is as important for guys as it is for girls, so don't be shy––get a moisturizer suited to your skin and style.
    • Carry a spritz bottle with a water such as Evian (often used by models and celebrities for skin refreshing) and a couple of drops of lavender oil. Spritz onto your face to freshen skin.
    • If you're on a long-haul flight, wear a moisturizing face pack suitable for the night. Next morning, simply wash it off in the bathroom and apply some moisturizing serum. Your face will seem much brighter for this.
    • Slather hand cream over your hands while traveling. Use one with a scent you enjoy, as the familiarity will help to keep you rested.
  7. Reduce the chance for stale or unpleasant odors from the long travel. Simply sitting in one place and not doing your usual activities can result in smelling a little less fragrant than you're used to. Easy ways to fix this include:
    • Freshen that breath. Carry breath mints to freshen your breath and brush teeth to get rid of built up gunk.
    • Don't smoke. The odor will linger all over you and irritate your fellow passengers and you'll arrive smelling stale.
    • Try to avoid alcohol while traveling, especially air travel. It won't do your body any favors, as it can easily disrupt any chance of sleep you might get, it'll dehydrate your skin and leave you with stinky breath and skin pores. You can have a glass of your favorite on touchdown!
    • Take along your favorite scent. Spritz yourself with a little of it at journey's end to freshen yourself. Do this after de-planing. Some people are sensitive to scent and can be nauseated by sitting next to someone who is not aware their fragrance is overdone or unappealing.
  8. The best smell is clean. Travel wipes can go a long way towards freshening up in the airplane restroom.
  9. If you tend to have dry eyes, use artificial tears. For dry nose, use some spray saline.
    • For women, wear panty liners and discard regularly to keep fresh. If you have your period when traveling, change your sanitary pad or tampons regularly to avoid odors and any risk of infection. Remember to pack enough sanitary items!
  10. Wear your hair in the most comfortable way for you. If you have long hair, consider wearing it down, or up in a loose hairdo that doesn't pull, such as a loose braid or ponytail. For everyone else with shorter hair, simply keep it combed.
    • Carry a travel-size bottle of leave-in conditioner and apply just before you arrive. Or, choose an anti-frizz solution if this is likely to be a problem for your hair, especially if you're going from a cold/temperate climate into a humid one.
  11. Don't wear too much make-up if you wear make-up normally. Do put on a little bit of lip gloss and a dab of clear lip gloss on the eyelids (for that "healthy looking glow"). When you reach journey's end, you can spruce up the make-up a little but again, don't overdo it until you're back in the comfort of a decent room with a good mirror and lighting.
  12. Sleep if you can. A little sleep along the way can do wonders for how you look and feel at the other end, so do your best to include some snooze while you're traveling. Even shutting your eyes with an eye mask drawn down and just meditating or pausing to do nothing but sit there in the dark can give you a refreshing rest.
    • If it's too noisy or distracting to sleep, apart from wearing ear plugs and an eye mask, stop fighting your thoughts. If all you're doing is saying to yourself: "I can't sleep for all that noise from the kids in aisle 10A", then you'll focus on what's annoying you and not sleep. Let go and allow yourself to simply rest rather than punishing yourself for not being able to sleep perfectly.
    • If you can choose to travel by sleeper car in a train, always prefer this. It's a dignified way to travel, you can sleep properly (and rhythmically), and you'll arrive most refreshed of all types of travel. In fact, travel by train can be a pampering experience! If traveling in Europe by train, look for specials on first class deals.
  13. Carry a water bottle when traveling. This way, you'll always be hydrated. Plus, it looks like you take care of yourself, which is always a confidence booster.
    • Drink water while traveling rather than sugary drinks or alcohol. It will give you the hydration needed and won't leave you feeling hyper (ready to crash) or drowsy.
  14. Eat healthfully while you travel. For many, this probably means avoiding the airline food if you're flying, so pack some fresh, whole foods of your own to bring on board. For car, boat, train or bus travel, again it's wise to pack your own healthful food, since you can't be assured of finding a place that has such food on your journey. However, if you plot the route in advance, you can check online for healthful eating places to see if these exist and if they do, whether stopping at them fits with your schedule or not. Some healthy food to have with you includes:
    • Sandwiches or wraps with your favorite filling.
    • Fruit that travel well, such as apples, oranges and bananas.
    • Nuts and seeds.
    • A small salad in a container.
    • Carrot and celery sticks.
    • If you're traveling interstate or across borders, be aware that in some places quarantine regulations will require that you throw away any uneaten food. This depends on where you're traveling, so check online for more details.
  15. Try to smile a lot, people will want to be around you if you do.

Tips

  • Chew gum or chew candy during take-off to help your ears pop.
  • Give yourself plenty of time to pack before leaving. This will allow you to get a good night's sleep before you leave, as well as help keep you from forgetting anything.
  • Choose good luggage that works for you when carrying it. Don't buy luggage that is heavy when it is empty. It'll be immovable when full. Luggage that you can easily carry or pull along results in less strain and worry while traveling. Make sure it is secure and strong. For baggage that you keep with you, it's a good idea to have plenty of pockets to make it easy to compartmentalize your items and find them easily. Remember which pocket contains which items. Doing this will help to reduce the stress of trying to find your moisturizer, breath freshener and toothbrush in the semi-dark!
  • Walk confidently through the airport so you don't look incredibly exhausted and jet lagged.
  • If driving, always plan in plenty of stops for refreshing all car occupants. Walk, kick a ball around, stretch and generally relax whenever you get out of the car.
  • If you're traveling by boat and you tend to get seasick, take some appropriate seasickness pills with you. Ask your doctor or chemist for a recommendation. If you believe in homeopathic remedies, there are homeopathic solutions available; however, it's still wise to have back-up seasickness pills in case.
  • If you are prone to nosebleeds the dry air on the plane can trigger them. Put your saline solution in your nose and wear darker clothing.You don't want a bright red spot of blood on your favorite white skirt.
  • Girls with long hair can brush it by taking a small, compact size brush (found at dollar stores) to keep your hair silky.

Warnings

  • Don't wear really tight or uncomfortable clothing like skinny jeans or miniskirts. You may want to look good, but you will definitely end up preferring being comfortable for a long trip.

Things You'll Need

  • Moisturizing products.
  • Water and water bottle (check airline rules on water if flying; you can usually fill up an empty water bottle with tap water after you've cleared security).
  • Healthy food and snacks.
  • Sleep helpers such as a blow-up pillow, earplugs and eye mask.
  • Medication, seasickness or air sickness pills, etc.
  • Makeup (if relevant).
  • Lip balm (cracked lips are common when traveling, due to stale air and temperature or humidity changes)
  • Comfortable clothing and shoes.
  • Sanitary wear if relevant.

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