Tips from the Pros: How to Be a Fresh-Faced Frequent Flyer
As a frequent flyer, you know how to pile up the points, manage your miles and pack the perfect suitcase. But once you’ve reached your destination, are you always feeling — and looking — your best? Here, professional make-up artist Carrie LaMarca shares her top tips to keep you as fresh-faced as possible.
Up All Night
Business travelers are usually faced with long-haul red-eye flights, layovers and interrupted sleep patterns. So what’s a weary traveler to do? Answer: create an in-flight beauty regime.
"One product every traveler should pack in their carry-on is face cleansing wipes," said LaMarca. "The first thing I do after takeoff is remove all of my makeup. Then, hydrate your skin. I recommend that you carry on either a thick moisturizer — like La Roche-Posay’s Nutritic Intense Rich — or a hydrating overnight mask like this one by Origins. A hydrating mist spray also works well to keep skin hydrated throughout the flight."
As for fighting long-haul fatigue? Get some shut-eye.
"I know it's hard for a lot of people to sleep on planes, but it's so important for skin and overall health," said LaMarca. "I always make sure to bring a good sleep mask and some earplugs on board because they really do help. Once I complete my in-flight routine, I put on my sleep mask, play some white noise on my iPhone and get in the zone."
Carrie recommends purchasing Bed Bath and Beyond’s Bucky 40 Winks Ultralight Sleep Mask. Its cupped design doesn’t press up against your eyes while you sleep so it guarantees maximum comfort and completely blacks out any light your neighbors might shine while they wrestle with their own in-flight insomnia.
Let’s Talk Business
While business travel works wonders for racking up miles, travelers can often find themselves tight on time once they’ve reached their final destination. To save you some time, here are a few essential products LaMarca recommends packing in your carry-on if you're going straight from the plane to a business meeting.
"For women, I would say a dry shampoo," said LaMarca. "Not only will it remove oil from your scalp, but it will help revive your style and give added texture to limp hair."
If you only have time to run to the local drugstore before your next flight, LaMarca recommends Pssst!’s travel size dry shampoo. Generous on time and with your wallet? Pick up what she calls the ‘best of the best’: Klorane’s dry shampoo with oat milk.
"Men have it a little — okay, a lot! — easier, but a good texturizing pomade to resculpt hair will help male business travelers tremendously," said LaMarca. "I recommend Bumble and Bumble’s Sumotech, which is great for all hair types and weather conditions."
When it comes to skin care, men and women alike should pack a good moisturizer — like Kiehls’ ultra facial cream — as well as some lip balm, eye drops and an eye mask.
For an instant beauty pick-me-up, pack an eyelash curler and mascara — no questions asked. Once curled, top your eyelashes with a swipe of mascara to make you look instantly more alert and pulled together for that important business meeting.
"I promise you, an eyelash curler is one of your best friends!" said LaMarca. "It instantly makes your eyes bigger and appear more awake. I even use one with some of my male clients because it really does make a big difference."
If You Lose Your Luggage…
First of all, don't freak out. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, always carry the essentials listed above with you, and if you're in a pinch, grab what you need once you get there.
"Women should pick up a red or pink lipstick at the airport or local drugstore. Use this on your lips to take your look from day to night," LaMarca said. "You can also use lipstick on your cheeks instead of a blush. Pat some on the apples of your cheeks with your fingertips, allowing the lipstick to melt into your skin and create a natural flush."
LaMarca also recommends picking up deodorant… for obvious reasons. And a good conditioner. "You can usually get by with the hotel's shampoo but the conditioner never quite makes the cut," she said.
And if you're going to France, don't bother bringing any products with you. "Hit the pharmacy as your first stop because France has some of the best products in the world and it’s my favorite place to stock up!"
A Final Tip
As a frequent flyer herself, LaMarca revealed her #1 tip to mask her own long-haul fatigue: "Drink a ton of water, get some sleep and carry a great under eye concealer!" She also said mixing her favorite concealer with some moisturizer to create a foundation allows her to customize her coverage level while cutting down on the amount of products she has to travel with.
What are your secrets for looking your best on the road? Share them with us, below.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.