UrbanUpdate

The red-eye flight is practical and efficient, but it makes you look like shit. After 4-5 hours of mediocre mid-air sleep (if you're lucky), it’s damn near impossible to walk off the plane looking presentable. And that's the problem. You often need to look presentable right away, whether you're meeting with a client, your in-laws, or, you know, a teeming hoard of paparazzi.

So when you land, make a beeline for the men’s room, and freshen up with these five techniques. They’re as practical and efficient as the red-eye itself: Giving a reviving boost to your face, hair, and teeth in as little time as possible. Consider this a shot of espresso for your face.

1.Bring limp hair to life with a dry shampoo + styler hybrid: Hanz de Fuko Quicksand, $19.50

Somehow, during that upright slumber, your hair inevitably gets greasy and limp. It’s a mystery yet to be solved, but until then, there’s a post-flight fix: Hanz de Fuko’s Quicksand restores volume and style-ability to your hair by absorbing the excess oil and giving it a matte base. Spread a dime-size amount in your palms, then distribute evenly to the hair, targeting the roots. You’ll feel a foreign, dense kind of texture; that’s the Quicksand doing its job. It’ll spare you from rinsing or washing your hair that morning, or from wearing a hat to your business meeting. Hallelujah!

2.Minimize shine with oil-clearing face wipes: Cetaphil Men Daily Face Cloths, $6.99

Hair isn’t the only thing that gets greasy on the go. Substitute your usual cleanser with Cetaphil’s face wipes: They unclog pores by washing away oil, dirt, and grime, all without over-drying the skin. You’ll look fresher, but you’ll actually feel fresher, too.

3.Avoid hack jobs with a 4-in-1 shave oil + moisturizer: Blackbird Transparent Shave, $8

If your 5 a.m. shadow is showing, you may need to shave at the airport, or, if you’re badass, on the plane itself. (Turbulence be damned!) As shaving agents, oils are grossly underrated. With just a few drops, you will condition the skin for a razor-sharp shave and simultaneously have a transparent, mess-free, and smooth shave. After, splash on some water, then apply a few extra drops of oil as a post-shave recovery. And, even if you aren’t shaving, Blackbird’s universal product works as a moisturizer substitute; the skin absorbs it without any excess shine. Score one—nay, score four—for economic packing.

4.Mind your grill with a toothbrush travel kit: Quip Electric Set, $40 to start, $10 every three months

Red-eyes force us to abandon our at-home bedtime routines; your oral hygiene is often sacrificed for the cause. There’s a good chance you had a glass of wine at the airport, or a midnight pretzel snack in-flight. Whatever the case, you’re past due for a brushing. For this, Quip is a good travel companion: They send you a fresh supply of toothpaste and a new brush head every three months; the travel-size toothpaste lasts as long as two weeks, and the electronic brush comes with a germ-blocking storage tube. It’s a double win: You get a clean smile, aesthetically and microscopically.

5.Go from red-eye to bright-eyed with a de-puffing treatment: Royal Apothic D. Bag De-Puffing Eye Gel, $28

Lost baggage is a good thing, at least when it comes to those bags under the eyes. Grab a de-puffer, like this pun-y one from Royal Apothic. “D. Bag” uses caffeine extracts and a vitamin-rich formula to minimize puffy under-eyes and neutralize dark circles. Pro-tip: Keep it on hand for hangovers, should you need to mask last night’s poor decisions.

Watch Next: How to Get a Perfect Shave

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQSkincareGrooming