Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein are the brains behind the beauty podcast, Fat Mascara. Both are New York-based beauty editors packing all the intel about the industry and with access to the best in the business. Everyone from Beyoncé’s makeup artist, Sir John to perfume critic, Chandler Burr have been guests on the show. Whether they’re chatting about couples massages or a beauty hack, Fat Mascara has won over beauty obsessives and newbies alike. On a recent episode, the two briefly chatted about their beauty rituals when they travel. Naturally, they covered all the important topics, including that “farty feeling” of being on a plane and stealthily dealing with germs (lots of Dr. Bronner’s lavender hand sanitizer, FYI, because who hates lavender?). It only made sense to ask the hosts to share a full breakdown of how they travel and the beauty products they bring along for the ride.
What do you hate about flying?
Jennifer Goldstein: Flying messes with my stomach and I get mad bloated. I try not to have alcohol or salty snacks, and drink as much as possible. I used to go for club soda with lemon, but I recently realized that most of the canned club sodas on planes has added sodium! Seriously, check the label. Now it’s boring water—no ice—for me. And then I try and take a long walk or a run when I land, which helps to get my insides moving and bring down the bloat.
Jessica Matlin: Knowing that you’re strapped in this little flying Coke can in the sky with a bunch of strangers—with absolutely no way out—is such a frightening thought. Add in loud talkers, screaming children, seat kickers, and increased gassiness and bloating (it’s just a fact that the cabin pressure does a number on everyone’s system), and it’s enough to make you want to stay home with a good book.
What are some of your coping strategies for flying?
JG: It’s all about comfy over-ear headphones—the Philips Wireless ones feel like pillows—and ambient music. I like Brian Eno’s Music for Airports or Walter Basinki’s The Disintegration Loops. The “Nightstorms” playlist on Spotify is also nice.
JM: I don’t drink alcohol or buy a big ol’ bag of those crunchy snacks before I board. I made the mistake of buying peanut butter pretzels before a flight, and I blew through it within an hour—I wanted to throw up. Instead, I try to get some fruit and then some healthy stuff in case the meal isn’t good. As for entertainment, I don’t watch anything too deep. Flying can be such a slog, so I like to keep the mood light. Love anything with Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart. My family makes fun of me, because I literally LOL and slap my knee when I watch any dumb comedy. On planes, people stare because I laugh so loud.
You both also chatted about dry air on the plane. How do you keep moisturized?
JG: Hydration from the inside out is important, so drink a ton and get an aisle seat so you can get out easily for all the ensuing bathroom trips. As for moisturizing your skin, you have to realize that some face oils are occlusive but not hydrating: If you put them on a dry face, you’re basically sealing dryness in and preventing your skin from pulling moisture from the air. So I do a two-part strategy and apply a moisturizer, then put on the face oil to seal it in. Lately, I’ve been into the combo of Tatcha The Water Cream and Dr. Jackson’s 03 Everyday Oil, which also comes in a lovely rollerball for travel.
JM: I’m the only beauty editor that doesn’t have a whole kit. I just bring a great lip balm (right now, I’m using Lush Honey Pot), hand cream, and face cream (if I remember!). I am very excited about this new de Mamiel Altitude Oil I received. You inhale this herbal-y oil while on the plane and it’s supposed to clear your mind and refresh your energy. Seems nice, and I can’t wait to use it on my next big flight (Kauai!).
In terms of your liquid intake, what should be be actively drinking and conversely, avoiding? Jenn also mentioned something called Smooth Moves. What does that do?
JG: Ha! Constipation sometimes comes along with the bloat! I pack one or two Smooth Move tea bags and have a cup of that when I get to the hotel. It usually gets my system moving again without the drama of taking a laxative, if you know what I mean. If you feel like getting fancy about it, or the tea doesn’t work, the Good To Go supplements are amazing for travel.
JM: I don’t drink alcohol on the plane because it often gives me a migraine, and that’s the last place you want a migraine. I alternate between water, Diet Coke with a lot of ice, and apple juice.
Jenn shared her “refreshment strategies.” I’d love for her to go into detail about the products she uses and why (i.e. Dr. Bronner’s). One thing Jenn said which I loved was, “No one gets mad at lavender on the plane. I’m sorry.” What makes lavender plane-friendly and on the flip side, what are some beauty products that are heavy on the scent and that you don’t want to be spritzing or applying mid-flight?
JG: You can’t go around spraying body mists or home fragrance sprays because you’d make enemies real quick. But if you spray a nice-smelling hand sanitizer and people look at you funny, you can just pretend like you were sanitizing your hand and, oops, some got into the air. Voilà! You have just managed to refresh your airspace without starting a fight. Dr. Bronner’s lavender hand sanitizer is scented with all-natural oils, the fragrance dissipates quickly and because it’s not synthetic, it doesn’t make people all sneezy.
You both also shared a Nicole Richie-approved tip for flying on Fat Mascara and avoid getting sick. Can you share a bit more about that?
JG: I put Vaseline or Lucas Paw Paw ointment inside my nostrils and I swear it prevents me from getting sick. Basically, when your nasal passages are dry, the little hairs aren’t as good at trapping airborne germs and the skin is compromised, so germs can permeate. I swear they create a little gelatinous barrier against the germs.
JM: Definitely going to try that one.
What are your beauty tips for de-planning, especially after a long or overnight flight?
JG: I slowly massage on a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen to mush my face back into place. My favorite is the one from Dermalogica; it warms up my skin if I’m looking pallid, but also takes down redness if I’m dry or irritated. Then I’ll rosy up my lips and cheeks with something like Tata Harper’s tint in Very Charming or a tinted balm such as Korres’ Wild Rose Lip Balm, which is amazing on cheeks, too. My hair usually goes into low loose braid, which feels more polished than a ponytail for some reason.
JM: If I have a face wipe, I use it! Otherwise, I just re-moisturize, then pop on some blush or bronzer, and add lipstick. Also, I never wear mascara on a plane—it will smudge—so I might add mascara to my bare lashes. But hopefully, none of this matters. In an ideal situation, I am just going straight to a hotel or friend’s place to basically give myself a Turkish bath. I am so disgusted after a plane, that I scrub down for 45 minutes with every product within reach, then need at least a three-hour nap.
All-time favourite travel-size products and why?
JG: Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Hand Sanitizer: See above.
Blum Natural Daily Dry/Sensitive Towelettes – Individually Wrapped: These are hands-down the best face wipes. They don’t sting your eyes, they take off makeup, they smell amazing, and they come individually wrapped, which is great when you’re on the go. I use them for removing mysterious gunk from plane seats, to clean my hands, to refresh my face and neck, and to wipe up spills because I am preternaturally clumsy.
Dove Advanced Care CoolEssentials Deodorant, Travel Size – One of these is the perfect amount of deodorant for a week away, and the solid doesn’t pop out of the tube, which often happens with other brands’ travel-size deodorants.
Sensodyne travel-sized toothpaste and G.U.M./Butler Travel Toothbrush: Jess and I have this constant fear that we might be the person with bad breath, and we have a pact to tell each other if we ever smell something. Traveling just makes me more paranoid—maybe it’s all that dehydration? Anyway, I always have Sensodyne toothpaste and a travel toothbrush in my bag. I hate those old-school travel toothbrushes that come in a square container with a little brush that pulls up and reverses; they never stay in and you end up brushing with a half-sized brush. I buy the G.U.M. ones because the handle is sturdy and you don’t need a separate cap or anything.
JM: I always have a stash of minis, but I’m not particularly loyal to one brand when I travel. I love looking through my bag of deluxe samples to see what’s going to make the journey! Recently I’ve loved a mini Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate (it’s the most amazing one-and-done nighttime oil). I also loved the Caress mini body wash I took to London. The water is different there—quite hard—and this made my skin super-silky.
I love collecting fragrance minis, too. Diptyque’s are particularly generous. They have a spray atomizier (versus a cap), so you can just pop them in your bag or pocket without worrying about them spilling. They’ll give them to you at their shops if you ask nicely.
Oribe minis are great, too. The Dry Texturizing mini spray is nice for travel it gives hair some life without requiring any hot tools or really, much time. (I rarely ever bring hot tools when I am traveling. It’s just too much.)
Best way to deal with being sick on the plane (any products you use, things you do)?
JG: When I have a cold, I travel with a saline nose spray—any old store brand works—to make blowing my nose less uncomfortable. And I love Halls Defense Vitamin C Drops. Medically, I know they’re not doing anything, but they moisten up my throat, taste refreshing and, hey, 53 extra miligrams of vitamin C can’t hurt, can it?
JM: Pop on a sleep mask, put in some soft music, ask for ice, and just think of how nice it’s going to be once you’re in a proper bed.
