Some airlines take your comfort in the air (and your appearance once you land) very seriously. And they offer amenity kits with some of the best beauty products out there. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has rounded up the most luxurious airline amenity kits in the sky right now.
which airlines offer amenity kits with the best beauty products?
Air travel can do a serious number on your skin. Of course you can pack your own arsenal of moisturizers and beauty tools in your carry-on. But why should you have to do that if you’ve sprung for a business class or first class ticket on a good airline?
lots of new luxurious offerings in the air
No matter how old we get, we are never too old for a goodie bag. Happily for road warriors, this year, many airlines have refreshed their amenity kits with a slew of designer collaborations and luxury skincare products.
And while no one chooses their flight for fancy lip balms and lotions, premium travelers surely appreciate these perks and attention to details that bring back a bit of glamour to flying. And for the travel-weary, they bring some practical comfort and pampering to those long journeys.
It’s also a great way to discover and sample new beauty brands. We found Aesop via the amenities kit on a flight to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific several years ago. The best of them offer “homme” and “femme” versions, so that you can ask for the one that’s most likely to meet all of your needs while you’re up in the air.
Sometimes the pouches are so good that you can re-use them for years to come (we have from United that is better than anything we’ve ever bought on our own).
Although we’re still waiting for an amenity kit chock full of La Mer, we’d be delighted to receive any of the elevated offerings on our list.
you can acquire one even if you don’t fly
If you find yourself lusting after one or all of these pouches, but are not flying the specific airline anytime soon, here’s a tip. Many fliers unload them on the secondary market on sites like The Real Real, Ebay and Poshmark at reasonable prices. So you can try some new brands or stock up on travel size toiletries for your next journey without the first class price tag!
Without further ado, here are the airline amenity kits with best beauty products out there right now.
the most luxurious airline amenity kits in the sky right now
1. United Polaris Business Class: Sunday Riley
Award-winning Sunday Riley, a pioneer in clinical, high-performance skincare that is balanced with botanicals, has a well-deserved cult following. Personally, her Good Genes serum solved all of my pesky skin problems. And I will happily continue to shell out $105 every 2.5 months for that miracle elixir! The Houston-born and raised founder is a natural match for United, which is headquartered in Houston. Together, the team addressed how travel and the aircraft environment affects customers and formulated an in-flight remedy that includes:
- Lip balm with pomegranate seed oil and shea butter to boost hydration
- Face cream with a blend of botanicals to hydrate and soothe skin
- Hand cream containing a nourishing blend of shea butter, cocoa butter and rose hip seed oil
- Facial cleansing cloth containing peppermint extract to balance oil and invigorate skin.
The products are contained in a handsome navy square pouch that is infinitely reusable for fliers of any age or gender.
United Airlines first and business class amenity kit
2. Finnair Business Class: Marimekko featuring L:A Bruket products
Certainly one of the most attractive amenity kits, Finnair will be featuring heritage motifs from Marimekko designed by Maija Isola from the 1960’s. The four collectible designs – Rautasänky, Joonas, Jenkka, and Pieni melooni – are available two at a time and are changed every six months. True to the heart of Nordic style, the contents of the kit meet the standard for the best sustainable and organic products.
The organic Swedish skincare line L:A Bruket was tapped to provide an Almond-Coconut Lip Cream and Chamomile-Lavender Facial Hydrator. In addition, the sustainable essentials include a toothbrush made from bio-plastic cornstarch and slippers fabricated from recycled plastic PET bottles.
Finnair First and Business Class Amenity Kits
3. Asiana Airlines First Class: Salvatore Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul
Asiana Airlines gets bonus points for their generous and well stocked products from Salvatore Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul Bianco di Carrara line. It is a light and fresh unisex fragrance with top notes of Neroli and White Pepper. The sturdy pouch is made from canvas and leather with a handheld loop. It features an ample supply of cologne, lip balm, hand cream, aftershave lotion, body lotion, cleansing towel and facial mist.
Asiana Airlines First Class Amenity Kit
4. Qatar Airways First and Business Class: BRIC’s pouch featuring Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio products
Italian luxury travel bag company BRIC’s pouch comes with a strap so that it can be turned into a crossbody bag for the ladies. For men, a double-zip pouch doubles as a wash bag. Each kit contains products from Italian olive oil and skincare brand Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio that uses pure and regenerating formulas developed from their olive trees. A lip balm, hydrating facial mist, anti-ageing cream and night recovery cream are among the loot you will unwrap in either first or business class.
Qatar Airlines First and Business Class Amenity Kits
5. Air France First Class: Carita
Air France is legendary for its luxurious airline amenity kits. They often contain products not available in wide distribution in the United States. We discovered Givenchy skin care products once on a flight from JFK to Charles de Gaulle.
Currently, if you’re traveling first class on Air France, you will be presented with a veritable cadeau. This is not a nondescript soft pouch but a beautifully finished faux-leather box in either Iced Mocha or French Grey. Inside the velour interior are French brand Carita face and body treatments. Carita was established in 1951 and inspired by the enterprising and artistic spirit of the Carita sisters, who helped pave the way for modern beauty. The kit contains: a moisturizing and regenerating cream, “Baume de nuit,” eye serum, “Combleur Fondamental,” lip and eye cream, “Soin Sublimateur,” and a hand serum, “Progressif Lift Fermeté.”
The Air France First Class Amenities Kit
6. American Airlines International First and Business Class: This is Ground pouch featuring Allies of Skin products
In February, American Airlines introduced a new wave of amenity kits for passengers, teaming up with leading up-and-coming lifestyle and skincare brands that feel fresh, modern, and even…hip.
For international travelers, kits are designed by LA based leather accessory company, This is Ground and come in a variety of bag styles and neutral colors like navy, cognac and white. Inside, among the usual essentials, are a body lotion, face cream and lip balm from Allies of Skin. This trending brand is a Singapore-based skincare line that believes in only using ingredients at optimal pH levels that support the skin’s ability to heal itself.
American Airlines first and business class amenities kit
7. China Airlines Business and Premium Economy Class: The North Face pouch featuring Laneige and Morrocanoil
A new entry in the ranks of amenity kits with the best beauty products is from China Airlines. The Taiwanese carrier is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. To celebrate, the brand is partnering with outdoor apparel brand The North Face. The goal is to inject elements of youth, sports and fashion to its cabin.
Business Class amenity kits are made from water-resistant material and have a carabiner metal clip. Those in Premium Economy are made out of lightweight, water-resistant Tyvek material. The products feature face cream and lotion from South Korean beauty brand, Laneige. As the only amenity kit to thoughtfully feature hair products, they deserve a special mention for their inclusion of hair oil from Morrocanoil, which uses argan oil to smooth and soothe your locks from all the midair static.
China Airlines North Face Amenity Kit
That’s it! Our picks for the most luxurious airline amenity kits right now. There’s lots to look forward to on those flights this summer! May you arrive at your destination safely and well-moisturized.
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
