I’ve always been more type B when it comes to packing. I’m the person pulling outfits together the morning of a flight and tossing toiletries into my suitcase at the last minute. However, I’m the complete opposite when it comes to prepping my personal item. What I have with me as I board (especially on a long-haul flight) makes all the difference in how I feel along the way. Because while traveling is typically a fun and memorable experience, getting to your destination isn’t always the most enjoyable part. From crowded airports to sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, flying can be stressful, tiring, and far from glamorous.
The good news? A handful of thoughtful travel essentials can completely elevate the experience. Think of these as small, built-in moments of self-care that make your travel day feel a bit more considered. Whether you’re waiting at the gate or settling in for a 10-hour flight, these items can help you feel more comfortable, refreshed, and ultimately more put together.
1. Hydrating face mask
Airplane air is notoriously dry, often leading to irritated, dull skin upon arrival. To keep your skin as hydrated as possible (and provide a spa-like moment in the air), apply a moisturizing mask at some point during your flight. This one from Summer Fridays is a popular option because it doesn’t need to be rinsed off—think of it as an ultra-luxe moisturizer. It’s also discreet enough that it can be applied without those around you noticing. It sure beats a sheet mask in a crowded cabin if you ask me!
2. Travel pouches
If you have a larger personal item bag that you stash underneath the seat, things can easily get buried, making it difficult to find what you’re looking for mid-flight. Keep your essentials tidy by using a few travel pouches to organize different items. You could use one to house snacks and electrolyte packets, and another for tech items or beauty products. A little organization can go a long way in making you feel more put together—even when you’re 30,000 feet in the air.
3. Cashmere wrap
It’s no secret that airplanes can go from stuffy and warm to freezing cold at any point between takeoff and touchdown. Packing a cashmere wrap provides a practical layer when you need some extra warmth while adding a touch of luxury to your travel outfit. Keep it in your carry-on or personal item so you always have the option to cozy up. If cashmere isn’t in the budget, an oversized scarf or wrap made from any soft fabric will do the trick.
4. Lip mask
Just as your skin can dry out during a flight, your lips often take a hit, too. A nourishing lip mask is an easy way to stay ahead of dry, flaky lips. Apply it at the beginning of your flight and as needed throughout your time in the air. I suggest going with a mask that doesn’t require you to dip your finger in a jar (because we all know airplanes are far from clean).
5. Hydrating face mist
Craving a reset while on board? A quick spritz of face mist can feel refreshing and energizing during a long flight. Look for one with soothing ingredients like aloe, cucumber extract, or grape water. If you tend to deal with breakouts after a flight, a hypochlorous acid spray can help combat flare-ups. You can also save this ritual for once you’ve landed (freshening up in the airport bathroom is sometimes more comfortable).
6. Change of clothes pouch
Changing your clothes toward the end of a flight is wildly underrated. It might feel excessive to pack a different outfit to land in, but you’ll feel so refreshed deplaning in something you haven’t already been wearing for hours on end. Pack a pouch (or even a packing cube) in your personal item bag with a clean change of clothes—this simple switch will feel surprisingly transformative.
7. Weighted sleep mask
Silk eye masks definitely fall into the category of little luxuries, but a weighted mask takes things to the next level. The gentle pressure feels so soothing, and I often think these block out more light than your average eye mask. These are also great to use once you get to your destination if you have trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar place.
8. Cooling eye stick
Now this is very much personal preference, but I’m not likely to apply an undereye mask in public. Instead, I reach for a cooling eye stick to refresh and hydrate my skin mid-flight. Similar to the moisturizing mask I suggested above, these picks will ensure your moment of skincare goes under the radar, all while providing you with a little moment of R&R.
9. Cozy layers
I’m always floored by how many people I see boarding flights in outfits that look far from comfy (to each their own, I guess!). I’m all about staying cozy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look or feel put together. My top tip is to reach for pieces that don’t cling to your body, like an oversized cardigan or wide-leg linen pants. Having some breathing room will allow you to feel more comfortable during the trek.
10. Rechargeable book light
Flying means sharing a small space with a bunch of other people. And if you like to read during the flight, keeping the overhead reading light on while others are trying to sleep can feel awkward. This personal version offers a great workaround. Turning on your own portable reading light gives you a slight sense of personal space and eliminates the feeling of having a spotlight on you.
11. Kindle cover
If you travel with a Kindle, adding a cover is a simple way to level up the experience. It’ll make the ritual of pulling it out of your bag feel a bit more special. Plus, a cover can make it more comfortable to hold (especially if it features a hand strap) and keep it from getting dirty or scratched during your journey. Another added bonus: It’ll be easier to disinfect after your travels are over.
12. Cashmere socks
After rushing through the airport, swap your regular socks for something more inviting. Whether you’re team take-your-shoes-off-on-the-plane or you prefer to keep your sneakers on, changing into an ultra-soft pair of socks will feel like a moment of self-care ahead of a long flight. Cashmere obviously feels extra luxe, but a plush set of fuzzy socks can also feel lovely on tired feet.
Kara Thompson, Contributing Home Writer
Kara Thompson is a Denver-based journalist with a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Oregon. In 2022, she left her full-time job as an editor and started her own writing, editing, and social media firm, Kara Thompson and Co. She has over five years of experience writing lifestyle content for publications including townandcountrymag.com, elledecor.com, goodhousekeeping.com, and Parents, where she covered all things home, food, health, travel, fashion, and holidays.
Products featured in graphics linked within article. Additional graphic images credited to: Joelle + Lyndon Bradfield | Dupe, Anna Gordon | Dupe, Cora Pursley | Dupe
