That's Fit

A few weeks ago I arrived in Sydney after a 25 hour journey -- at least 18 of which was spent sandwiched in a plane -- from Canada and arrived tired, jet-lagged and looking pretty rough apparently (a friend I saw that day later told me I looked "like death"). While I realize that it may not be easy to step off an airplane after a long haul flight looking fresh and lovely, I don't think that it's impossible to at least appear somewhat decent. I know that I hope to never arrive in a new place for a holiday looking deathly again!

I suppose it's tough to completely avoid jet lag and the weary, messy look that often results from a long journey, but there are definitely steps you can take that will help you look great as you step onto the gangway. I've been on my fair share of 10-plus hour airplane trips and have found many of the tips listed here can be a big help:

Drink lots and lots and lots of water. I know it's hard to bring any liquids on to a plane with all of the carry-on restrictions these days, but you can usually buy a bottle after going through security. Also make sure to accept any water offered by your flight attendants. It will help you stay hydrated and keep your skin looking good, and also help prevent you from getting bloated.

In a similar vein, avoid alcohol as it will dehydrate you. I know that for many it's not an enjoyable option, but there will be plenty of time for revelry once you've landed.

Move around as much as possible. Not only does this help prevent deep vein thrombosis, which can be deadly, it also keeps you from getting stiff muscles so you can walk tall as you exit the plane.

Invest in some nice face and hand cream, and bring along eye drops and a tooth brush. Moisturizer, along with water, will ensure your skin looks refreshed and the drops will keep you looking bright-eyed despite all of the dry, recirculated air. I assume that the tooth brush is pretty self-explanatory.

Sleep as much as possible. It's not easy for everyone to do sitting at an angle with strangers wedged in on either side, but being well-rested will obviously help you look well-rested, so do your best to catch a few winks.

Sure you may not get to your destination with the great hair, perfect make-up and clean, ironed clothing that you left with, but if you stick to these 5 rules you should at least arrive looking good enough to be included in a few first day of vacation photos.

Have any of you travel fans out there got any tips for the rest of us that you'd like to share?