All liquids and sprays must be three ounces or under (yes, toothpaste is considered a liquid), but in addition, McAlpin stresses the importance of storing them in a single quart-sized plastic bag -- otherwise an airport security check might leave you without your precious resources.
Fake It
Now that you've taken care of your smell and your outfit, it's time to focus on the top -- your face. Oil of Olay's
total effects eye transforming cream ($15) has helped give me that bright-eyed, office-ready look no matter how sleep deprived I am. It lightens the skin around the eye, and minimizes the puffiness that so often plagues frequent travelers.
To give your brain a jump, a colleague swears by aromatherapy solutions like
Earth Solutions' stay alert scent inhalers ($4). Even if it doesn't jolt you awake, the bracing peppermint and rosemary fragrance will sure serve as a nice reprise from stale airplane air.
What you eat while traveling can affect you as well. McAlpin cautions to stay away from airport pizza or hotdogs and stick to low-fat foods that are good calorie sources. Pack a few snacks like energy bars or mozzarella sticks beforehand, because you never know when you'll have time to grab a bite. Also,
Emergen-C elixir is always good for a quick hit of energy, says McAlpin, and the small packets are easy to slip into your carry-on.
Once you arrive at your destination (even if you're early), avoid naps no matter how tired you are, advises Robert Bestor, president of
Travel Essentials. Otherwise your internal clock will take longer to adjust to local time. "Keep walking, keep eating," he says. This will keep your energy level up for that meeting.
Remember, it's all about appearances. Even though you might still feel up in the clouds as you saunter into your meeting, nobody will guess you've even been on a plane.
Annika Mengisen
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