How do flight attendants look so flawless (even after a long-distance trip)? Cabin crew share beauty hacks to keep them looking glamorous all day long
Flight attendants have shared their top tips for passengers looking to emulate their classic makeup look, and revealed how they stay looking flawless for hours despite their busy work schedules.
On anonymous forum Redditthey weighed in with their best tricks and advice in response to a curious holidaymaker.
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 most amazing makeup! Even on long-haul flights, I’ve always seen them look flawless.”
They continued: ‘Yesterday I took the last flight of the day and the flight attendant looked as fresh as a daisy, with flawless foundation, perfect lipstick and mesmerizing highlighter.
Flight attendants have shared their top tips on Reddit for passengers looking to recreate their classic makeup looks. It came in response to a question from one user who asked: ‘Can flight attendants share their beauty and makeup routines? I’m not sure I’m the only one who thinks flight attendants have the most amazing makeup!’
“I couldn’t ask her about her routine, though. Please share your secrets – and real products – for long-lasting, beautiful makeup.”
The crew members were happy to do that.
One flight attendant said long flights prompted her to change her makeup techniques.
The poster, ‘Kathernemay’, said: ‘I used to work long-term for a long time and the main things I noticed that were different from my normal makeup routine were that I used powder, especially around my eyes, and that I used the left eyeliner on all the time.
‘I always used Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (it lasted longer) and then I applied a liquid eyeliner to touch up any faded edges.
‘To freshen up my makeup, I used a face mist every hour so my makeup wouldn’t look cakey.
‘For lipstick I use Fenty liquid lipstick, which stays on throughout the flight, even after eating and drinking.’
Good to know!
Other cabin crew also provided advice. ‘Flamepintbros’ said: ‘I’ve never worn foundation or powder because of the dry air on the plane.
Emirates (file image) is offering flight attendants living in Dubai access to its ‘beauty hub’, featuring a fleet of makeup, skincare and hair experts
‘I cared more about the health of my skin, so I constantly slathered my face with layers of occlusive moisturizer.
‘Ultimately, no makeup is going to look good after 16 hours in a desert air tube, with all the moisture sucked from every pore.’
Stewardess ‘Viskel43der’ advised: ‘Bring a small hairspray or gel and a spoolie [a mascara wand with no product] to tame unruly hairs.’
Then another crew member admitted that not all 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, if the makeup looks too dry from the dry air, we take it all off and reapply.’
The flight attendant looked as fresh as a daisy with flawless foundation, perfect lipstick and mesmerizing highlighter.
Reddit user ‘TinaTina8’
Meanwhile, ‘smalltown_dreamspeak’ explained that it’s not just what you apply that makes a difference.
They said flight attendants are “religious when it comes to drinking water, moisturizing their skin and using sunscreen.”
The poster read: ‘Remember those big water bottles on many flights? Many flight crews try to drink at least one or two a day and take the remaining bottles with them for their layover.’
They continued: ‘Many flight attendants will use the free time on the plane or between flights to touch up their make-up. It’s not something that happens all at once, it lasts throughout the day.’
Additionally, they noted that cabin crew can obtain beauty items that are out of reach for 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 requirements for cabin crew when it comes to applying makeup and doing their hair, which may be part of the reason why flight attendants are often so well-made up.
British Airways’ cabin crew rules state: ‘Women must wear smart clothing, with hair and make-up appropriate to a professional environment and complementing our uniform.’
Emirates even offers flight attendants living in Dubai access to its “beauty hub,” where they can meet an “internal team of advisors” to learn more about makeup application, nutrition, fitness, skin care and hair care tips.
United Airlines regulation states: ‘Apply makeup conservatively to achieve a natural look and in shades compatible with individual skin tones.
The rules state that ‘extreme colours are not appropriate and may not be used’.
Some airlines have chosen to update these requirements, such as Virgin Atlantic, which has eliminated the mandatory makeup rule. But almost all cabin crew have to meet a certain work standard when it comes to their appearance.
