Tips for surviving air travel

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After countless hours spent in the sky, numerous time zones and crossing the international dateline, I have finally arrived on the other side of the world. Upon completing the longest journey of my life to date, I have re-evaluated my checklist of carry-on essentials and what makes the best travel ensemble. Inter-continental travellers, take note.

WHAT TO WEAR:
Last winter, I eagerly swapped icy gusts of winds for warm breezes in the sun-scorched country of Brazil. Being so close to the equator in the height of the southern hemisphere's summer was hot like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Vegas in July has nothing on Natal in January. My suitcase's contents were heavily influenced by the memory of feeling like I was melting into a puddle of sweat and literally having to excuse myself from lunch to dunk myself into the ocean to cool my overheated core temperature. Being hit with that kind of heat was instant even further south (away from the equator) in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. This was a lesson in layering: planes at 35,000 feet equate to an outside temperature of -50 degrees Celsius, while landing in Brazil equates to an outside temperature of plus 50 degrees Celsius. My initial preconception was that landing in Melbourne, although late October and still just spring, would be a similar experience and I layered for the occasion like never before.

I would never advise the sacrifice of style for comfort, as I am a firm believer that the two can harmoniously co-exist; there is no reason to travel in sweats or yoga pants. A good pair of jeans or cotton pants will feel just as easy to wear so long as they have two to three per cent spandex, a bit more stretch and give than the standard one per cent. This allows for maximum comfort as they feel a bit softer than a less forgiving pair when your gams swell up after too many hours in the air. A tank top is preferable over a t-shirt for me as it's typically slimmer, which translates to less bulky layering. I always bring a long-sleeve tee and a hoodie as I usually feel cold and am happier to add an extra layer. The hoodie must always be a zipup and not a pullover as your window- seat neighbour will probably not appreciate your elbows in their face as you try to pull it over your head. Another travel clothing essential is a pair of extra thick wool socks, or even better, some slippers. Flying for an extended period of time practically requires you to kick off your shoes, and changing into clean, warm socks or slippers feels pretty damn good.

WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR CARRY ON:
Since the laws of carry-on items have become more strict, the list of essentials requires some more serious thought put into it. Liquids that must be confined to three 3-oz bottles are non-negotiable for me: face moisturizer, toothpaste and eye drops must come with me on my carry-on. Skin needs serious saving, especially on longer hauls, as the air on a plane is incredibly drying. A night formula or fast absorbing gel works best for skin that's getting the life sucked out of it. Extra tip: Sephora or any beauty counter at a department store will give you a sample of your favourite moisturizer in a travelfriendly mini-tub. A toothbrush and toothpaste can make or break your overall feeling of freshness upon landing and is a must when narrowing down on essentials. As a contact lens wearer, my eyes can get quite dry when I leave my contacts in for too long, and although I could switch to my glasses, I prefer not to as I like to wear sleep masks or sunglasses instead. Visine instantly cools my burning eyes and makes a world of a difference when looking like you survived your trip.

In addition to from limited liquids, there are a few other essentials that always make it into my carry-on. A change of clothes is a must; other than extreme weather changes and necessary outfit changes to accommodate the temperature, it's always refreshing to put on a new shirt after a long day of customs and lugging a heavy bag. A change of clothes is also essential in the event of lost luggage — trust me, it happens. Vaseline is another great thing to toss in your bag as it can be used as a lip balm and you can smear a teeny bit under and around your eyes to de-puff and look a little more bright-eyed. An Australian substitute for Vaseline? Lucas' PawPaw Ointment. This cult favourite is a necessity among Australians and anyone who has travelled here and discovered the multi-purpose papaya salve. Pleasantly scented sanitary wipes can also make a world of a difference when washing your hands isn't a possibility, or a napkin just isn't cutting it.

Apart from lots of moisturizer and something to keep you warm, clean and comfortable, guzzle tons of water and try not to down more than two cocktails, even if they're free. Alcohol dehydrates your already suffering complexion and increases motion sickness. Not fun when unexpected turbulence hits. Caffeine and sodium also cause you to retain water and bloat up in addition to the added bloating flying already causes, so I try to limit these things as well for comfort. As much as flights can sometimes be a pain (the screaming infant two rows over, the lack of entertainment on the movie-selection list, the less than tasty meal) the appeal of the destination always outweighs the unpleasantness of air travel.