Travel Wellness: The Ultimate Carry-On Guide for Airplane Wellness Essentials
Planning your next getaway? Whether you're a seasoned traveler or packing for your first big trip in years, this carry-on wellness guide has you covered. From natural remedies to skincare and comfort layers—we’re sharing everything we never fly without so you can feel good in the sky and when you land.
In-Flight Wellness Kit: What We Never Travel Without
When you're crossing time zones, fighting off airport germs, and trying to avoid the dreaded mid-flight bloat, it pays to pack like a pro. Over the years (and many flights), we’ve curated a wellness kit that keeps us grounded, hydrated, and mostly sane in the sky.
Here’s what we’re loving in our carry-on:
Everyday Immune Support
Propolis Throat Spray + Lozenges
We never fly without Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Spray or Manuka honey lozenges. Cabin air is dry, the germ exposure is real, and this combo helps keep our throats soothed and immune systems supported. It’s basically the wellness equivalent of buckling your seatbelt.
Hand Cleaners That Smell Good
We mainly use Dr. Bronner’s lavender or peppermint hand sanitizer to freshen up airplane bathrooms (trust us) and wipe down tray tables. Lesson learned after sitting in a seat that must have been previously occupied by a very enthusiastic toddler. The gentle scents also offer a little aromatherapy without offending your row mates.
Branch Basics Travel Foaming Soap
TSA-friendly and skin-safe, this is our go-to for washing up in airplane lavs or anywhere on the go. Much better than those mystery gels in airport restrooms—and way less drying.
Waterless Toothpaste Tablets
Travel toothpaste that doesn’t leak in your bag? Yes, please. We love a quick refresh once we land, and nothing resets you like brushing your teeth. Thrive Market has a great option and again, we use a contact lens case to keep them from disintegrating all over our toiletry bag.
Natural Remedies for Travel Woes
Genexa Leg Cramp Remedy
This one’s essential for restless legs, especially when you’re stuck in a cramped seat or after long layovers. Homeopathic and effective—this stays in our travel pouch at all times.
Hyland’s Calm Forte
A must-have for sleep support and easing travel anxiety. It helps take the edge off without making you groggy. We’ve used it before boarding, mid-flight, and even on layovers when we’re just trying to chill.
Digize Essential Oil Blend (Young Living)
One little roll around the belly button and bloating or nausea disappears like magic. We don’t travel without this blend—especially helpful after airplane meals or motion-heavy landings.
Sleepy Rain (Delta Brainwave Audio)
We download this delta wavelength song ahead of time so it plays without Wi-Fi. It’s helpful in-flight for zoning out, but we especially love it in hotel rooms or Airbnbs to drown out unfamiliar noises and reset our nervous systems. We’ll be sharing more evening wind-down rituals in a future post.
Insight Timer App
We can’t recommend this app enough—especially the Yoga Nidra meditations by Jennifer Piercy and The Still Point. Whether it’s a jet lagged morning or you just need a nap that feels like eight hours, this is your go-to for deep rest and nervous system regulation.
Lume Box
This handy little red light therapy device comes in our carry-on to help ease cramped muscles and give our bodies a quick health boost mid-travel. It’s compact, lightweight, and feels like a spa break at 35,000 feet. Plus, red light therapy may help mitigate oxidative stress caused by frequent flying and low-level radiation exposure from airport scanners and high altitudes. While more research is needed, some studies suggest photobiomodulation (PBM) can support mitochondrial health, reduce inflammation, and assist in cellular repair—making this a savvy addition to your in-flight routine.
Circulation & Stretching
Leg Elevation & In-Flight Movement
We’re big fans of propping our legs up at night to reduce swelling and stiffness—especially after long-haul flights. On the plane, we’re the ones doing lunges and calf raises down the aisle. Don’t worry about who looks at you funny—your body will thank you.
Compression socks? Use them if you need them! We always pack our coziest socks so we can kick off our shoes, curl up, and wiggle our warm toes in peace.
Bonus Tip: Opt Out of the Body Scanner
We always plan a few extra minutes and choose the TSA pat down instead of the radiation scanner. We call it our “airport massage”—it’s gentler on your body and gives you a moment to pause and reset.
From Parched to Polished: Our Travel-friendly clean beauty + No Jet Lag look
Let’s be honest—airplane cabins are basically desert-level dry. Between the recycled air and low humidity, it’s no wonder our skin arrives at our destination feeling tight, dull, or straight-up cranky. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few multipurpose, TSA-friendly products (and maybe a mid-flight mist sesh), you can step off the plane looking dewy, rested, and ready to roll.
Laurel Hydrating Elixir
A few spritzes of this California-crafted mist mid-flight is like a glass of water for your face. Packed with whole plant extracts and hydrosols, it hydrates, soothes, and helps reset your skin’s pH—without disrupting your makeup. We love using this before balm or eye patches, and again right before landing to refresh the skin.
Extra? Absolutely. But let’s be honest—when you’re rolling off a red-eye and heading straight to a meeting or dinner with friends, eye patches might be the only thing standing between you and that dreaded “you look tired” comment.
We say: patch up and power on.
Goop vs. Sturm: Which Eye Patch to choose?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Patches These are a splurge—but if you’re trying to look alive after a red-eye or international flight, nothing beats them.
Triple Hyaluronic Acid: delivers deep hydration + plumping effect to smooth fine lines
Skin-Identical Ceramides: strengthen the barrier and prevent water loss
Panthenol: binds moisture and softens texture
Why we love them: Pop them on after misting and let them work while you sip your arrival drink. Bonus points if you’re the person in 17A doing skincare mid-flight—we support this energy.
Goop Beauty Eye Patches These are newer on the scene but have quickly earned a buzz. They’re designed to smooth, hydrate, and refresh tired eyes.
Honey Locust Seed Extract: Offers a natural lifting and firming effect to reduce the appearance of fine lines
Olive Leaf Stem Cells: Rich in antioxidants, they help defend the delicate under-eye area from environmental stressors
Niacinamide: Brightens, soothes, and improves texture by supporting the skin barrier
Why we love them: Clean, effective, and luxe—without the heavy price tag of some luxury brands. They're the perfect pre-landing pick-me-up for tired eyes in need of some pep.
Laurel Recovery Balm
One jar, a hundred uses. This balm is ultra-nourishing and deeply healing, whether you’re using it on dry cheeks, cracked lips, or airplane hands that feel like sandpaper.
Pro tip: scoop a bit into a contact lens case and pack it in your skincare pouch—no need to bring the full jar in your carry on.
Landing Looks: The 2-Minute Face
You're almost there. The captain just announced your descent. You’ve hydrated, patched, and balmed—now it's time to add a little glow:
Tarte CC Undereye Corrector
Can’t get enough of this concealer. Comes in a tiny compact with a mirror, and blends beautifully with just your ring finger. Brightens up tired eyes in seconds.Ilia Minis for Any Mood Set
This travel-size set has Limitless Lash Mascara (a clean beauty cult favorite) and the Multi-Stick in Whisper—a universally flattering peachy pink that works on cheeks, lips, or even a dab on the eyelids.
Smart Snacks to Outsmart the Snack Cart
There’s nothing worse than boarding the plane with good intentions and ending up with a sad $8 box of crackers and processed cheese. We like to pack snacks that feel like a treat and keep us balanced—no sugar crashes, no bloating, and no regrets.
We grab most of our travel snacks and wellness staples from Thrive Market—it’s our one-stop shop for clean, travel-friendly essentials. They carry everything from sprouted trail mix and healthy treats to immune-boosting supplements like Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Spray, Gaia Herbs Oil of Oregano, and clean hand sanitizers. Shopping online means fewer errands before your trip and more time to focus on packing. Thrive’s curated selection makes it easy to stay healthy while you travel—without bouncing between five stores.
Here’s our best travel snacks for digestion and curbing cravings.
Thrive Market Trail Mix (with sprouted nuts + dark chocolate)
Crunchy, satisfying, and sweet enough to feel indulgent, this mix hits all the marks. Sprouted nuts are easier on digestion, and the dark chocolate keeps your mood (and blood sugar) steady at 35,000 feet.
Sliced apples, carrots, or a few tangerines
Fresh produce is underrated on planes. Having something juicy, crunchy, and naturally sweet keeps us from diving into a bag of chips. Pro tip: pre-slice and pack in compostable snack bags.
Unreal Snacks
Unreal Snacks – These are our go-to sweet treats that feel nostalgic without the artificial ingredients. Their dark chocolate–covered pretzels and almond butter cups hit the spot when you want something indulgent but not inflammatory. Basically, candy for grown-ups who read ingredient labels.
Unreal Dark Chocolate Pretzels
Epic Salmon Bar
We love the protein boost from Epic’s Salmon Bar—a cleaner, travel-friendly alternative to deli meat or mystery protein bars. Bonus: the omega‑3s are great for skin and brain health while flying.
PUR Gum
Planes = pressure changes + ear popping. Gum helps—so why not chew something clean? PUR is naturally sweetened and comes in travel-friendly pouches.
GoodOnYa Electrolyte Packets
Travel often leaves us dehydrated, which can zap energy and trigger cravings. We keep a couple of GoodOnYa electrolyte packs in our personal item to stir into water on long flights. We’ve talked about these magic sticks before. We just love them so much.
Supplements On-the-Go
We stash our must-haves in a compact pill organizer:
Liposomal Vitamin C for immune support
Oil of Oregano capsules helpful if we feel something coming on mid-trip and want to get ahead it
Magnesium Breakthrough (by BiOptimizers) to support muscle relaxation and ease stress
Pro Tip: Pack these in your carry-on and your checked bag to stay covered if your luggage goes missing.
Got a must-have we missed?
We’re always collecting travel wellness rituals, snacks, and glow-up tips from our community. Share yours in the comments or tag us on social—we’d love to see what you’re loving in your carry-on.
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