The 1:40pm out of JFK is delayed again, so I’m stuck in a gate with a laptop, a lukewarm coffee, and about 40 minutes to decide what I actually want to buy before landing. It’s how most of my October happened — in transit, in hotel rooms, in the 10 minutes between a landing and a meeting. So this month’s list is built the same way: nothing on it unless I’d repack for it.
Full disclosure up front: if you buy something through my links, I may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I’ve genuinely lived with, and this list is all of them.
Irene Forte Hibiscus Night Cream — the one that ended an era
I’ve been deeply loyal to Augustinus Bader’s Rich Cream for probably ten years. I’ve tried things along the way, sure — but nothing made me even think about swapping. This night cream did. It’s deeply hydrating, and after a couple of months of testing my skin looks smoother and more lit-from-within. But even short-term: you wake up looking better. I left it behind on a trip to Paris and missed it terribly. Splurge-tier, carry-on-worthy, worth the gate delay.
Olaplex Shine Spray — soft and glossy, zero weight
The best shine spray I’ve tried: hair comes out soft and glossy without any weight — or worse, grease. If your hair is dry and frizzy like mine, this one’s for you. And if you’re already at the counter, grab the hairspray too. Weightless, buildable, all-day hold. It’s the best I’ve ever used.
No Makeup Makeup Mascara — it conditions while it does its thing
I’m a die-hard fan of NMM’s foundation (the packaging is still not my favorite, but we all carry a small grudge somewhere). The new mascara is just as good, with a twist: it conditions your lashes while it works. After a month of daily use, they look visibly longer and thicker. I’m still using it every morning, and I’m not over it yet.
Make Beauty Brow Gel — for eyebrows that refuse to behave
My brows are unruly and want to fall flat, which leaves me looking a little undone. This gel keeps them lifted all day — almost laminated. It’s my default even on days when I’m not wearing anything else on my face.
One Love Organics Cleansing Oil — the rediscovered one
An old favorite that came back into rotation. It’s a genuinely lovely sensorial experience — vaguely tropical, hydrating, and it takes every last bit of makeup off. The fruit acids gently exfoliate while it cleanses, which is exactly the multi-tasking I want from a product I’m using at 11pm in a hotel bathroom.
Abi Amé Body Mask — 30% AHA, take that seriously
This one’s wild, and the results are wilder. Slather on a layer of the iridescent purple cream and let it sit as long as you can — 10 to 15 minutes. Then hop in the shower for the softest skin you’ve had in months. It has 30% AHA, which is spicy: serious exfoliation without any scrubbing. My suggestion: do this the morning of a flight home, when you want to feel like a person again.
Cyklar Body Cream — the one that made me a lotion person
Full confession: I was terrible with post-shower body lotion. The routine never stuck, so I never invested. This nutrient-rich cream changed that. It’s so soothing I’m practically eager to apply it, especially after a long day. I haven’t tried the other scents yet, but I can say this: the vanilla isn’t too sweet — a win, since my sensitive skin usually tells me to avoid anything scented entirely.
Sidia Hand Serum — one on the nightstand, one in the bag
My heat dries my hands out every single winter, and this serum is the fix I keep re-buying. I keep one bottle on my bedside table and one in my carry-on. It’s the reason my hands don’t look like they’ve been through a red-eye, and I’m convinced it’ll keep them that way for a very long time.
Mr. Smith Luxury Masque — the hairdresser’s secret I’m keeping
A recommendation from my old hairdresser that I will take to the grave. My curly hair runs dry, so I use this masque as my conditioner, and it’s the perfect amount of hydrating — dense enough to actually work, light enough that I could honestly use it daily. The scent leans a bit masculine and refreshing, which is weirdly the best part.
Makeup By Mario Lip Pencil — the sheer-tint upgrade I didn’t expect
I’m not a colorful-lip girl. I’ve always preferred sheer balms that add a sheen rather than a tint. Then these pencils showed up in a birthday gift and I was genuinely undone. They glide on, blend in, and disappear into your lips. I layer them under my everyday balm for a natural look, or over them with the matching gloss when I’m not in a rush.
Sofie Pavitt Micellar Cleansing Pads — the long-flight reset
I’m a Sofie Pavitt fan through and through — her products are built for sensitive skin and aren’t outrageously priced. I bought these pads before an international trip to keep my skin feeling clean and fresh after long travel days, and I’m keeping that exactly as my system. They don’t strip, but they give you that fresh-face feeling — proof you’ve actually wiped away what eight hours on a plane does to your skin.
The 2-Minute Fix
Right now, before the next boarding call: press three drops of hand serum into each palm, rub them in, then massage the leftover warmth up your wrists. Two minutes, no sink required, and your hands look like you landed somewhere better.
FAQ
Is the Abi Amé mask safe for sensitive skin? 30% AHA is a strong concentration — start with the shorter end of the 10–15 minute window and see how you feel before pushing it further.
What’s the most travel-friendly item on this list? The micellar pads and the brow gel. One’s a wipe, one’s a pot — both survive a carry-on and a gate change without drama.
Related reads
The carry-on skincare kit I actually fly with
In-flight skincare: what actually works at 30,000 feet
That’s October. November’s list is already forming in my luggage — and no, the night cream is not coming off the plane without me. Glow doesn’t wait — and neither do you.