By Sophie Foster, Deputy Travel Editor at Mailonline
15:48 June 24, 2024, updated 16:33 June 24, 2024
Flight attendants have shared their top tips for passengers looking to emulate their classic makeup look – and revealed how they look perfect for hours on end despite their busy work schedules.
In the anonymous forum Reddit, they shared their best tricks and advice, answering a curious vacationer.
Reddit user “TinaTina8” asked: “Can flight attendants share their beauty and makeup routines?”
“I’m not sure if I’m the only one who thinks flight attendants have the best makeup! Even on long-haul flights, I’ve always seen them look flawless.”
They continued: “Yesterday I caught the last flight of the day and the flight attendant looked fresh as a daisy with impeccable foundation, perfect lipstick and mesmerizing highlighter.
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“I couldn’t ask her about her routine, though. Please tell us your secrets – and the right products – for long-lasting, beautiful makeup.”
The crew members happily complied with the request.
A flight attendant revealed that she changed her makeup techniques due to long-haul flights.
Author Kathernemay said: “I used to work long distance and the main differences to my normal makeup routine was that I used powder, especially around the eyes, to help the eyeliner stay put the whole time.”
“I used to use Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (it stayed on better) and then used a liquid one to cover any faded edges.
“To freshen up my makeup, I use a facial mist about every hour to prevent the makeup from looking cakey.
“For lipstick, I would wear Fenty liquid lipstick, which literally lasts the entire flight, even after eating and drinking.”
Good to know!
Other cabin crew also offered advice. “Flamepintbros” explained: “Personally, I never wore make-up or powder because of the dry air on the plane.”
“The health of my skin was more important to me, so I constantly smeared my face with multiple layers of occlusive moisturizer.”
“Ultimately, no makeup will look good after spending 16 hours in a desert windpipe that sucks the moisture out of every pore.”
Flight attendant ‘Viskel43der’ advised: ‘Bring a small hairspray or gel and a spoolie [a mascara wand with no product] to tame unruly hair.’
Next, another crew member admitted that not everything was as it seemed.
Wontshowyoumyface noted, “It doesn’t really last all day, we touch up our hair and makeup multiple times a day.”
“Sometimes when the makeup looks cakey because of the dry air, we remove it completely and reapply it.”
The flight attendant looked fresh as a daisy with impeccable foundation, perfect lipstick and mesmerizing highlighter. Reddit user “TinaTina8”
Meanwhile, “smalltown_dreamspeak” explained that it’s not just what you use that matters.
They said flight attendants were “religiously careful to drink water, moisturize their skin and use sunscreen.”
The poster added: “You know those big water bottles on many flights? Many flight attendants try to drink at least one or two of these a day and take the leftover bottles with them for their layover.”
They continued: “Many flight attendants use their free time on the plane or between flights to touch up their makeup. This is not a one-time thing, but takes the whole day.”
They also found that cabin crew can access cosmetic items that are out of reach of most people.
The crew member added that they can “fly to other countries to obtain products and procedures that would otherwise be inaccessible or unaffordable.”
Some airlines have strict rules for cabin crew when it comes to makeup and hair styling. This could be one reason why flight attendants often look so well-groomed.
British Airways cabin crew regulations state: “Women must have a neat appearance and a hairstyle and make-up that is appropriate for a professional environment and matches our uniform.”
Emirates even offers Dubai-based flight attendants access to its “Beauty Hub,” where they can learn from an “in-house team of advisors… on makeup application, nutrition, fitness, skin care and hair care tips.”
United Airlines’ rules state: “Apply makeup conservatively to achieve a natural look and use shades that complement your individual skin tone.”
The rules state that “extreme colors are inappropriate and must not be used.”
Some airlines have chosen to update these requirements, such as Virgin Atlantic, which has eliminated its makeup requirement. However, almost all flight attendants must meet certain working standards when it comes to their appearance.