I’m sure I’m not alone when admitting that sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to fit in time for personal grooming – but is pre-flight pampering possible when you’ve got hours to kill at the airport?

When I think of airport indulgences, I think of the long overdue and much needed airport wine. However, a couple of glasses will dehydrate your skin and make you feel not so beautiful – so, a spa is the way go to.

Or is it?

Airports are vying to be our go-to beauty destinations and besides beauty vending machines airport spas are the place to go to get a little pampering.

Here is a list of time-starved services that are springing up at airports nationwide. Let’s explore which options are truly viable.

Manicures and Pedicures (YES)

This could be the safest and best – as long as you have enough time to let your polish dry! To make this bet even safer, skip the manicure part and just go for a polish change. That way you don’t have to worry about when the tools were last cleaned, etc.

Facials (NO)

Facials at the airport could easily be a hit or miss. Having oily skin I look for pros that can empty out my pores like no one else. Great aestheticians have years of experience and training, plus a set of expert tools to make your skin glow. I don’t think airports can provide this experience, although Anne Bauso, contributor for Allure, had a facial at the airport and shared her amazing experience.

Blowouts (YES)

I am talking about a basic blowout – no cut, colour or up-do. This service would be best done when you get off the plane – nothing is worse than disheveled airplane hair! I recently wrote a handy list of airports that have blowout services for VANE Airport. It’s definitely safe to try a blowout at the airport at least once.

Waxing (NO)

Best to say no to avoid getting burned or a rash. Can you imagine sitting on a plane for 6 hours with a wax rash?! Plane seats are uncomfortable enough as it is… Bustle recommends “…go(ing) to a professional technician that only waxes.” You want someone who specializes in waxing and knows what they’re doing!

Massage (YES)

Massages are the best option if you’re looking for a little relaxation at the airport. Before and after your flight – this pampering option works anytime. There are also a few varieties of massage available at the airport:

• Chair Massage: We are familiar with this service already offered at almost every nail salon in New York City. However, airport chair massages are usually done in the front of the store, are very public and not as relaxing because of all the airport distractions.
• Table Massage:  I have done it before and didn’t regret it but I can’t be sure that others will experience the same treatment. Table massages and facials at the airport are slightly more expensive compared to spas outside the terminals but hey, so is everything else at the airport.
• Coin-operated Massage Chairs: Although lacking in human touch, many airports offer chairs around their airports. If you have time to kill and are not wild about making more of a commitment, why not?

I am all about personalized services and prefer to go to my regular beauty teams who know my skin, hair and preferences but when you really need something done at the airport, there’s not much you can do. Having said that, a manicure, blowout and massage are low risk beauty services that I have experienced with success.

The pros of pre-flight pampering

These beauty services accept walk-ins (though reservations are welcome) and most places do have a separate treatment area in back for table massages and pedicures.

The cons

We may never know what we are going to get and most places are a little too noisy to be relaxing – which can be expected at an airport.

Maybe one glass of wine paired with a 20 minute chair massage is all I need to take off into bliss mode!

Cristina Alcivar is the Founder of Vane Airport, Twitter: @CrisAlcivar

Big New Year’s Plans? *Now* is the time to prep so you look your absolute best as you ring in 2016. Here’s how Travel Beauty’s Claire McCormack gets ready for a big event.

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As a working mom, I spend very little time on my personal upkeep, so when I have an event that I’d like to look good for, I am forced to confront, en masse, all of the beauty appointments I’ve been putting off. As I feared, my pre-event beauty to-do list was soon longer than my waaaay overgrown bangs. To bring some levity to the situation, I decided to document all the beauty appointments I made to ensure I’d look presentable on the big day (and when I say presentable, I mean as Vogue cover-ready as I possibly can look).

Two Weeks Out

• Highlights & Bang Trim: In theory I could have done this a week before the event, but then I would have had to go about my life for another week with my hair as is, and it was in such a state that waiting even another seven days was not an option. Besides, my bangs always look their best when they’ve had some time to settle and grow a bit post-trim.
• Research Manicure Designs: I had this idea to do a negative space French manicure, so I took several screenshots of cool ideas. Thanks, Instagram, for the endless inspo!

One Week Out

• Body Scrub: Though I am always well-exfoliated, I take special care before an event. I did the first scrub one week out, then another a day before my spray tan (see below). This scrubbing includes using my Diamancel Foot File on heels almost every day.
• Face Scrub: Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads every day on face for the week leading up to the event. They are the best when you can’t get a pro peel!

Four Days Out

• Waxing: No, I wasn’t planning on wearing a bikini on the big day; this was really in preparation for my spray tan later in the week. Going in naked is your best bet. If you think tan lines are bad, spray tan lines from the disposable panties they will give you to wear are just pitiful! So do what you need to to feel comfortable (as possible) being nekkid for your spray tan.
• Purchase Outfit: I know, I know…this is down to the wire. I don’t usually procrastinate, though. As much as I love having new clothes, I HATE shopping. I try to buy as much of my wardrobe as possible online. However, a party dress/outfit was something I needed to try – and get feedback – on. Luckily, my bestie John owns International Playground and played stylist for me. We’ve done this many times before for other events and it’s always been a success. I highly recommend International Playground for your special event shopping.

Three Days Out

• Hair Mask: Doing at least one at-home Philip Kingsley Elasticizer hair treatment is a must, especially if the weather forecast is FRIZZ.
• Microcurrent Facial at SB Skin: Perfect for dewy, firm, smooth skin. Accentuates my bone structure in a way no blush, bronzer or contouring ever could.

Two Days Out

• Colonic: Nothing makes my skin glow like colonics and kickboxing. Also, I planned on eating a LOT of delicious red meat at the party, so a pre-party detox was a good idea.

Day Before

• Another at-home body scrub, in preparation for…
• Spray Tan: Perhaps this is not a pre-event necessity for everyone. My legs, however, are so pale, however, that people would have called Ghost Hunters on me without it. It is also the healthiest and easiest way to “lose” five pounds in 15 minutes.
• Nails: A pre-event given, right? What gal doesn’t get a mani/pedi before a party? My daughter and I went together, the night before, for a little girl time.
• Blowout: Since my whirlwind day started EARLY in the morning, I had to do my and my daughter’s blowouts the night before. Though I kept it simple and straight, I wanted that extra polish that comes from a professional blow dry/flat iron. And as I’ve said before, I don’t even own a hair dryer!
• Mini Touch Up Facial with SB Skin: The results when you cluster two treatments close together are remarkable! The second facial was half the time – just going over my facial contours.

And…that’s it!

What do you think? Too much? Too little? What is your prep routine for hosting a major party or event?

By: Claire McCormack Twitter & Instagram

By the end of summer, your skin may be tanned, but the rest of you could probably use a total beauty overhaul. Now that the kids are back in school, you may just have enough time to yourself for a spa day…the next best thing to a beach day. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got some suggestions (of course).

Hair and Scalp Care

During summer, we all want to suck the marrow out of the sunlight hours. Kids’ bedtime might have become a bit lax in favor of franks and fireworks. If you’ve been sleeping less and not eating as healthfully as you usually do, your hair and scalp may pay the price. If sunburned skin isn’t the only thing you’re shedding, you may want to plan a visit to Philip Kingsley’s NYC Clinic. Whether you need a deep moisturizing treatment or a complete hair and scalp overhaul, book an appointment with Elizabeth and team to get your scalp and strands back in shape.

Also, pick up an Elasticizer and Scalp Toner. Used 1-2 times per week, this award-winning hair and scalp mask is akin to an at-home hair moisturizing treatment. Explore Kingsley’s other award winning hair care products.

Facials & Skin Care

If you have let your skin care routine slide over the summer, now is the perfect time to repent for your summer skin sins. Make an appointment at Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté on the Upper East Side ASAP. If you live anywhere in the Tri-state area, it is absolutely worth the trip. If you can’t get in to see Yasmine, we recommend Lily or Karen. A remodeling facial or power peel are the perfect treatments to restore your complexion and slough off the layers of skin that have had their share of elemental damage from a summer outdoors. Also, recommit to a regular routine of cleansing, moisturizing and applying an undereye cream and/or serum morning and night. It’s never too late to turn back the hands of time.

Brows And ‘Stache

While you are at Yasmine Djerradine Spa, make sure to maximize your time by minimizing your facial hair. Your eyebrows really do frame your face; well-shaped brows allow you to wear minimal makeup to provide an overall polished look. We mustache you a question: Are you worried waxing your lip will strip the elasticity from the skin around it? Don’t worry, it won’t! Sorry to break the news, but you are not fooling anyone by dying your mustache blond. The hair is still there and visible…it’s just blonde,

Makeup Lesson

Once a year, it’s worth it to have your makeup done professionally. Even if you have your routine down pat, you can learn a new trick or two that can kick your look up a notch! For those of us in the Tri-state area who can’t get to LA or Scottsdale to see M.B. York, stop in to see Karou at Salon Ishi. She will not only do a flawless application for you, but also show you how to create the look yourself and make a list of exactly what she used so that you can recreate the look at home.

Nail Care

There is only one place in NYC that Travel Beauty entrusts with our fingers and *especially* our toes: Celina Nails. Located on the Upper West Side, this mani mecca is the cure for the common pedicure. Celina’s team of Eastern European pedi professionals painstakingly care for your feet with surgical precision. A few flicks of their files and these ladies could turn Frodo into foot fetishist fodder. (By the way, if your soles really do look straight out of the Shire after a summer in the sand, you can request the private room on the second floor.)

Visit our RGB Cosmetics collection of non-toxic nail polishes to see the colors that we are loving now, and scrub your soles yourself at home with Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish.

Don’t Let Go of Your Summer Glow

Prolong your sun-kissed look with a sunless tanning session at Euphoria Spa in Tribeca. Consistently awarded in Allure’s Best of Beauty, the tans here are always impeccably done. In a few minutes flat you’ll have a natural bronzy glow that we promise will have you add an extra sway to your step. Can’t get to the spa? Try our self-tanning products.

“Bach” To School

We know back to school time isn’t all makeup and manicures. Stress is inevitable in September. The multiple runs to Staples alone are enough to make anyone consider homeschooling! When it all seems too much, be sure to have some Bach’s Rescue Remedy on hand…and/or in purse! Just a few sprays will help you stay cool calm and collected, no matter how many backpacks your daughter says she hates until she deems one “tolerable”. There is also a kids’ formula to help quell kids’ first day jitters.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Travel Beauty’s #GirlBoss Series continues with mother of four Julia Samersova Garfinkel - fellow Brooklyn girl and founder of cast inc. cast, inc. is a full service casting agency based in New York City that specializes in advertising campaigns, editorials, fashion shows and commercials. With an impressive worldwide network of modeling and talent agencies, art directors, producers, photographers and designers, cast inc. works with some of the most prominent names in the industry.

TB: What Was Your Path To Becoming An Entrepreneur? Was It Always A Goal Of Yours?

JSG: No, it was never a goal. I had been working as a model manager for close to 12 years. I had worked at four agencies (Elite, Ford, Company Management and Next). In 2004, I decided to make the jump to the client side and become a freelance casting director. My best friend John Pfeiffer, Casting Director legend, took me to J&R Music World and bought me my first laptop. John and my mom encouraged me to do my own thing. I jumped into the shallow pool with my eyes closed and wished for the best! I had nothing to lose. I was not operating from a place of fear, so it all fell into place! The first year was tough financially and I had to borrow money just to survive. Gradually, through networking, word of mouth and sheer perseverance I started to flourish! The better I did, the more driven I became.

TB: It’s Your Job To Find Beautiful People. How Has Being A Casting Agent Changed The Way You Relate To Beauty…Inner And Outer?

JSG: Constantly working around beautiful men, women and children has taught me that inner beauty trumps outer any day. A gorgeous person becomes ugly very quickly with a bad attitude, and vice versa. I have also learned that personality goes a long way. You can’t just be pretty or handsome with nothing inside. Then you are just a pretty, empty shell. Also, genetics are a motherf#@ker, period.

TB: What Constitutes The “It” Factor? What Makes Someone Truly Stand Out?

JSG: A sense of humor and sense of self.

TB: What Beauty Hacks Have You Established Over The Years As A Casting Agent, Mom and Entrepreneur?

JSG: Massage, massage, massage! I am a huge massage freak! We found an incredible masseuse that comes to our home once a week. He is a Tibetan Buddhist from Mongolia; a true healer. I also have been massaging my kids daily (sometimes twice daily) since they were born. I believe that touch is so essential to intimacy, both with my husband and with my children.

I am also a huge sunscreen fanatic. Always on the hunt for a fabulous easy to apply, yummy smelling, natural sunscreen.

I love anything vanilla scented…but not cheap vanilla. I also love musk, patchouli, tobacco, citrus, sandalwood and bergamot. Scent is very important to me – it establishes the strongest memories. Also, manicures and pedicure, family style, on the regular!

TB: How Has Your Work Shaped The Way You Talk To Your Daughters About Beauty?

JSG: It’s never too early to start the dialogue about beauty, weight, societal expectations, self love, nutrition and sex in my house. We talk about everything in an extremely open, liberal way. We answer questions very honestly and name body parts by their real names. Sex is not some secretive, sinful thing.

My oldest daughter has seen my weight fluctuate several times. From very overweight to “medium” (as she calls it) to too thin! As a family, we stress the importance of fitness and activity. We try to eat super healthy but are not perfect, so of course there are plenty of lazy days and pizza parties! I tell each of my kids a million times a day how absolutely gorgeous they are. I hope it just sinks in!

TB: What Beauty Products Can’t You Live Without?

• Sunscreen!
• Maybelline New York Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black
• I love Weleda products with all my heart! The citrus body lotion!
• Coconut Oil for everything!
• Chanel Vamp or Iced Roses by Essie for nails
• Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation for Feet peel (OMG!)
• L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
• Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Cream
• Tweezerman tweezers
• Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Hair Conditioner
• Exfoliators! I use different ones all the time
• Ling NY Skincare DUAL MOISTURE EMULSION (Ling for facials too! Ask for Carol!)
• Q-tips and baby wipes!
• Black hair ties!
• Gillette Clinical Antiperspirant
• Atelier Cologne Absolue – Vanille
• Dove Soap (love the smell)

Photo credit: Wildfox Fall 2015 campaign. Cast by cast inc. Photographer: Mark Hunter

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Once we booked the location for my daughter’s communion party, I immediately started making mental and physical to-do lists: menu, dessert table, flowers, balloons, entertainment, favors, etc. Also, as a woman who doesn’t mind getting dolled up every now and then (and whose opportunities to do so are virtually non-existent), I also started making a personal to-do list. As a working mom, I spend very little time on my personal upkeep, so when I have an event that I’d like to look good for, I am forced to confront all of the beauty appointments I’ve put off. As I feared, my pre-event beauty to-do list was soon longer than my waaaay overgrown bangs. To bring some levity to the situation, I decided to document all the beauty appointments I made to ensure I’d look “presentable” on the big day (and when I say “presentable”, I mean as Vogue cover-ready as I possibly can look).

Two Weeks Out

• Highlights & Bang Trim: In theory I could have done this a week before the event, but then I would have had to go about my life until then with my hair “as is”, and it was in such a state that waiting until then was not an option. Besides, my bangs always look their best when they’ve had time to settle a bit post-trim.
• Research Manicure Designs: I had this idea to do a “negative space” french manicure, so I took some screenshots of cool ideas. Thanks, Instagram, for the endless inspo!

One Week Out

• Body Scrub: Though I am always well-exfoliated, I take special care before an event. I did the first scrub one week out, then another a day before my spray tan (see below). This scrubbing includes using my Diamancel Foot File on heels almost every day.
• Face Scrub: Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads every day on face for the week leading up to the event. They are the best when you can’t get a pro peel!

Four Days Out

• Waxing: I wasn’t planning on wearing a bikini on the big day; this was really in preparation for my spray tan later in the week…going in naked is your best bet. If you think tan lines are bad, spray tan lines from the disposable panties they will give you to wear are just pitiful!
• Purchase Ensemble: I know, I know…this is down to the wire. I don’t usually procrastinate, though. As much as I love having new clothes, I HATE shopping. I try to buy as much of my wardrobe as possible on line. However, a party dress/outfit was something I needed to try – and get feedback – on. Luckily, my bestie John owns International Playground and played stylist for me. We’ve done this many times before for other events and it’s always been a success. I highly recommend IP for your special event shopping.

Three Days Out

• Hair Mask: Doing at least one at-home Philip Kingsley Elasticizer hair treatment is a must, especially if the weather forecast is FRIZZ.
• Microcurrent Facial at SB Skin: Perfect for dewy, firm, smooth skin. Accentuates my bone structure in a way no blush, bronzer or contouring ever could.

Two Days Out

• Colonic: Nothing makes my skin glow like colonics and kickboxing. Also, I planned on eating a LOT of delicious red meat at the party, so a pre-party detox was a good idea.

Day Before

• Another at-home body scrub, in preparation for…
• Spray Tan: Perhaps this is not a pre-event necessity for everyone. My legs are so pale, however, that people would have called Ghost Hunters on me without it. It is also the healthiest and easiest way to “lose” five pounds in 15 minutes.
• Nails: A pre-event given, right? What gal doesn’t get a mani/pedi before a party? My daughter and I went together, the night before, for a little girl time.
• Blowout: Since my whirlwind day started EARLY in the morning, I had to do my and my daughter’s blowouts the night before. Though I kept it simple and straight, I wanted that extra polish that comes from a professional blow dry/flat iron. And as I’ve said before, I don’t even own a hair dryer!
• Mini Touchup Facial with SB Skin: The results when you do cluster two treatments close together are remarkable! The second facial was half the time – just going over my facial contours.

And…that’s it!

What do you think? Too much? Too little? What is your prep routine for a hosting a major party or event?

P.S. Alyssa thinks I’m nuts.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack