UrbanUpdate

Full of food and family, thematically wrapped gifts, and copious amounts of warm, boozy beverages, the holidays are pretty exciting time for everyone. But before you get to enjoy the good stuff, there’s still one hurdle you’re going to have to overcome: getting there, and the skin-related mayhem that comes with that.

No matter how you make the journey—car or plane, bus or train—holiday travel is invariably going to take a lot out of you. From late-night transfers to dry, pressurized cabins, it’s almost as if the world wants you to look your worst by the time you finally greet your loved ones. To combat that, we’ve compiled a few of our best long-haul grooming suggestions here. So that you can still manage to appear fresh, even after the trip’s left you lacking.

Recipe for Men Under Eye Gel, $48, themotley.com

Wake Up Your Eyes

The first place that anyone is going to notice that you’ve been on the road for more hours than you care to recall is your eyes. That’s because the skin around them is thinner, and more prone to showing stress, than anywhere else on your body. So before you see anyone, make sure to apply some sort of eye cream, restoring moisture to the skin and leaving you looking refreshed. Recipe for Men makes theirs with caffeine, for an extra kick.

Maintain Proper Moisture...

Winter’s already hard enough on your skin, without the added dryness of recycled airplane air. Likewise, you need to do a few extra things to keep it nice and hydrated. First off, make sure to keep a hardworking moisturizer on hand, and use it multiple times throughout the flight. Also, lip balm. Finally, remember to drink a lot of water. You might not want to, for bladder-related reasons, but by doing so, you’ve got a better shot at making it out of this looking refreshed, rather than repulsive.

Juniper Ridge Big Sur Resin Cologne, $35, juniperridge.com

...But Minimize Your Liquids

The easiest way to avoid having to deal with TSA guidelines: replacing liquid grooming supplies with solid ones wherever possible. This means using things like bar soap instead of body wash, for one, but also choosing solid colognes while traveling, over their traditional liquid counterparts. Juniper Ridge makes a range of great options that apply with only a swipe, so when smell starts to become a problem, rub them on your wrists and throat to handle it.

Downsize, or Go For Disposable

When you’re headed across the country, every square inch of suitcase counts. Why waste them on full-size bottles when you’re only going to use a few ounces while you’re away? Instead, invest in a good set of travel-sized products. Or better yet, if you can find them, disposables, like Ursa Major Face Wipes, are the holiday traveler’s best friend. Stash a few in your carry on and whenever you start to feel gross, wipe away.

Imperial Gel Pomade, $24, imperialbarberproducts.com

Use Water-Soluble Hair Stuff

Regardless of how good your hair looks before you get going, there’s no way it’s going to stay put all the way to your destination. So what you’re going to need is hair stuff that you can refresh post-trip. Go for something water-soluble, like Imperial Gel Pomade—splash it with a little agua at the last minute, restyle and no one will guess that you were fast asleep in the window seat only moments ago.

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