It was 2014 and I was fresh out of university. Aged 21 and desperate for a job, I began working as cabin crew, based out of London Heathrow. I was young, energetic and excited to 'look the part' of a glamorous jet-setting flight attendant while getting the chance to visit some incredible places I'd never been before.
The job was only ever meant to be a stopgap for a year or so before moving into journalism, but I quickly fell in love with the lifestyle and, in a cringeworthy flight attendant cliché, ended up dating a pilot, too. Needless to say, what was meant to be a short stint turned into more than four years.
From take-off to landing
Working a mix of long-haul and short-haul flights to destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Vienna, Sydney, Singapore, Kuwait, Toronto, and Bangkok, and clocking up nearly 900 hours of flying time per year, I was permanently exhausted.
Changing shift patterns and hopping time zones wreaked havoc with my sleep, but if there’s one thing I learned from my life as cabin crew, it’s how to look great during a 14-hour flight, even if you feel like crap.
We've all been there, groggily waking up towards the end of a long-haul flight to be served your chicken or beef by a flight attendant who's been working for the last 14 hours but somehow looks fresh as a daisy, with a face of makeup that hasn’t budged an inch since the start of the flight.
Sharing secrets in the skies
It’s not magic, of course. Between services, crew members would chat about makeup and share long-lasting product recommendations. After all, looking polished was part of the job and there were strict grooming guidelines to follow. From the colour of our lipstick (only red or subtle pink were allowed) to covering blemishes with concealer, every detail mattered when representing the company.
"Looking polished was part of the job and there were strict grooming guidelines to follow"
You couldn’t disappear down the galley for touch-ups. Each product had to withstand hours of painfully dry cabin air, broken sleep in the crew bunks and shifts as long as 20 hours. Add to that a busy service on an aircraft carrying 360 passengers, and it’s no surprise that by the time I’d hung up my wings, I had mastered the art of long-lasting, flawless-looking makeup.
Makeup that goes the distance
The stay-all-day foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place LongWear Matte Foundation, £39.50
I’d start with a foundation that gave great coverage and oil control. I loved it then, and I love it now.
Reformulated in February 2026, but still the same long-wearing, demi-matte texture, this oil-free foundation stays looking just-applied for hours. It now contains a Double Balancing Complex, which includes AlgaNiacin™ (a blend of glycerin and hyaluronic acid to deliver hydration) as well as niacinamide and brown algae extract to help control excess oil. It’s thinner in consistency compared with the original, but this just helps it look that little bit more natural while retaining its unbeatable staying power.
The skin perfector: MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Concealer, £27
My skin wasn’t at its best while flying, but concealer fixed everything. I swore by it and still rate this for under eyes, spots and pigmentation. Used sparingly, the sweat-proof and humidity-resistant, full-coverage formula is great for covering imperfections and doesn’t move an inch once set with powder.
The flight-proof powder: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, £51
Speaking of powder, it’s one product no flight attendant ever goes without. I’d keep this in my jacket pocket to dab excess shine from my T-zone. Lightweight and non-cakey, it gives a natural finish rather than anything overly matte, layers nicely and is still one of my all-time favourites.
The no-flake mascara: L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Lengthening Waterproof Mascara, £12.99
For my eyes, I swore by waterproof formulas and still prefer them to this day. This never flakes, wraps each lash in deep black pigment and holds a curl brilliantly. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, £21, was always a repeat buy, too. It never smudges, even on my oily lids.
The lip products that don't budge
My lip product of choice came down to the length of my flight. Under eight hours and I could tolerate a bold red lip. I opted for Rimmel Lasting Finish 8HR Lip Liner in 505 Red Dynamite, £3.99, all over my lips, followed by the cult-favourite MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £22. This statement colour stays put through everything: eating, drinking and chats with customers.
For flights longer than eight hours, I’d wear a lighter, more balmy texture like Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm in Chunky Cherry, £25, which I could easily reapply without a mirror.
It’s been eight years since I left the skies, and while I may not be serving drinks at 35,000 feet anymore, I still want my makeup to last more than a couple of hours. And for that, I’ll continue to reach for my favourite long-lasting products again and again.
