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Having recently had cause to fly from LHR to LAX fairly often, I’ve been fine-tuning my in-flight kit to try to ensure a more refreshed appearance upon landing and better sleep. A good-quality eye mask, a skin-plumping face mask, a good cushion and some kind of noise-cancelling gizmo can all make life more comfortable.
Skin masks
Apart from the hydration benefits, the act of unpeeling and applying a sheet mask is a welcome distraction. And Sarah Chapman’s 3D Moisture Infusion mask (£18) is good for plumping tired skin. The Jet Setter Eyemask Kit by 111Skin has three different eye pads for puffiness on flights and the jet-lagged days beyond it (£30, selfridges.com). Dior’s logo-stamped Hydrating Eye Patches are a massive flex (£63 for 5 pairs) and offer a cooling sensation, while Muji’s compressed face masks (£6.95 for 20) are basic (and require you to apply your own moisturiser beneath) but satisfyingly space-agey. Don’t like sheet masks? Emma Lewisham’s overnight Supernatural Sleeping Mask (£74) is a peptide-packed hydrating treat to leave on during a flight. Its 50ml packaging is bulky, so I decant into a smaller, cabin-friendly pot.
Ear plugs
Reducing background noise always assists relaxation. While I personally don’t like the pressure of over-ear headphones, well-travelled friends are currently raving about the noise-cancelling excellence of Sony’s new WH-1000XM6 model (£399, johnlewis.com). I like Loop’s Switch 2 earplugs for their adjustable (Quiet, Experience and Engage) levels and because they’re lightweight and kind of futuristic, especially in gold and silver (£54.95). Happy Ears’ Ocean Plastic earplugs are made from post-consumer seabed waste and look like jellyfish. They’re also washable (£26.50).
Cushions
McKenzie’s inflatable lumbar roll makes aeroplane seats infinitely more comfortable for my tricksy lower back. It’s no looker, but it’s barely heavier than a handkerchief, and it’s quick to inflate and top up (£19.95, healthandcare.co.uk). Another functional favourite of well-travelled acquaintances, Trtl’s Travel Pillow wraps round your neck and boasts an in-built neck brace (£49.99). Similarly designed to steady the head but bulkier in your hand luggage is the soft, bamboo-blend Infinity Pillow (£42). Silk may be kinder to hair and skin: Slip’s Jet Setter silk travel pillow is film-star glam but fairly cumbersome and expensive (£120). More economical is Snoooze’s Mini travel pillow, which rolls up into a stash bag you can attach to luggage (£24.80). It comes with a cotton cover, but you can buy silk covers in the same size.
Blankets
Even the lightest of blankets can make a difference in a chilly cabin. I like one that I can wear to travel, saving on space. Rise & Fall’s Oversized Finest Cashmere Wrap is lightweight but large enough to drape over your whole body (£195). Brunello Cucinelli’s fringed cashmere blanket is an ultra-luxe option (£1,190). Weighted blankets can help you fall asleep faster but many are full of synthetics. Baloo’s are quilted and plastic- and chemical-free and come in soothing colours. The mini is a good size for travel and for children (£149).
Eye masks
A good eye mask should block out light and protect your eyes from dehydrating air-con. Nothing throws shade quite like Prada’s jet-black viscose/silk style (£430). More affordable: Blissy’s silk Profile style with extra padding around the eye socket, which prevents eye contact and is helpful for longer lashes (£46). Trtl’s Glimpse eye mask (£49.99) wraps round the face like a bandanna and has a convenient raisable front panel and adjustable eye pads. Manta Sleep’s range includes its forbidding Pro Sleep Mask (£79) — no one will dare wake you when you resemble a snoozing Spider-Man. And Shleep’s merino wool fleece mask offers natural fibres for a snuggly snooze (£86; johnbellcroyden.co.uk).
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