Six inflight beauty treatments you can do without looking too weird.
Ever seen someone on a plane slather her hair with coconut oil and then wrap it in a bath towel, or give herself an inflight manicure, including nail clipping, cuticle trimming, and polish application? (yes and yes, unfortunately) Although it’s tempting to make use of downtime on a long flight to indulge in beauty treatments, it can be awkward as well as annoying to your seatmates to try out anything too intense.
That doesn’t mean you can’t step off the plane looking bright-eyed rather than bedraggled; there are several discreet and fragrance-free inflight beauty treatments you can do. Here’s how to create your own seatback spa in a way that won’t draw the attention (or ire) of everyone in your row.
Dissolving Teeth Whitening Strips ($24 for 28 strips)
Emerge from the plane with whiter teeth to show off in your vacation snapshots. Snow’s teeth-whitening strips dissolve in your mouth as you use them, so you don’t have to worry about taking them off and disposing of them. Plus, the strips feature a lavender and mint flavor that will leave your breath fresh once you deplane.
A Discreet Face Mask ($26)
Doing a sheet mask inflight will definitely get you some weird looks, but no one will be the wiser if you opt for Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask instead. This fragrance-free (for the sake of your seatmates) mask comes in a creamy lotion form that you don’t have to rinse off after applying—just rub it in and relax. The Jet Lag mask is designed to combat typical skin issues that can occur after flying, such as dehydration and dullness.
Curl Your Hair ($9)
Have a full day ahead of you before you can check in to your hotel for a shower? At least your hair can look good if you wear it in the No Heat Curling Rod Headband while on the plane.
Lip Mask ($10 for 30 masks)
Adofect’s Collagen Crystal Lip Mask comes in single-use packets, which means you can apply this mask without actually touching your lips, which is what you want in a germy airplane environment.
Hydrate ($15 for 20 packets)
Does hydrating count as a beauty treatment? Considering that dry airplane air can contribute to dry and dull skin, chapped lips, and other unfortunate effects on your appearance, I say yes. Pack some Key Nutrients electrolyte packets and a refillable water bottle (I like this Brita purifying one; $23) to make your own ultra-hydrating drink to sip on throughout the flight.
Self-Heating Eye Mask ($17 for 16 masks)
Skip the eye mask included in your inflight amenity kit in favor of one that does double duty as a beauty treatment. The ProCIV Steam Eye Mask will not only block out light to help you sleep but is self-heating to help reduce eye puffiness. Once opened, the mask will warm up within 30 seconds and last for 30-40 minutes.
Twist’s Take: Try any or all of these six inflight beauty treatments to disembark from your flight refreshed and looking good!
