7 Strangers Complimented Me at Airports Last Month—30 Style and Beauty Items I Hold Responsible

I've been really into all three products in Dua Lipa's new skincare collection, which is an ingenious, slightly more budget-friendly collab with Augustinus Bader. This glow-enhancing serum is my favorite out of the trio and basically tackles every skin ill you can think of. It contains AB's signature TFC5 technology, marine bio-retinol, vitamin B7, niacinamide, ectoin, and glyceryl glucoside. I mix it with about six drops of self-tanning face oil and massage it into clean, freshly cleansed skin.

I've waxed poetic about these drops from +Lux Unfiltered for years, but I have yet to find a better formula. It's the only self-tanning oil that doesn't cause my sensitive, acne-prone skin to break out. It smells significantly less funky than most facial self-tanners (IYKYK), and the color is so natural and sun-kissed looking. I build it into my daily skincare routine to maintain a nice glow all year long, and that slight boost of color negates the need for foundation and concealer most days.

This doesn't replace filler or Botox, but it most definitely tightens, brightens, and hydrates my eye area. I concentrate the application anywhere I have baby fine lines and wrinkles, like my crow's-feet. I treat it like a primer for a second eye formula I use directly afterward.

I love this stuff, and a little goes a long way. I've been working from the same bottle for about a year, which makes it a worthwhile investment IMO. Once the Dr. Dennis Gross formula dries down, I top it with a few dabs of this cream. The formula is pearlized and peachy, which lightly color-corrects and lightens my dark circles. It's also packed with three different types of vitamin C, caffeine, peptides, and tranexamic acid.

Sunnee BaeSkin is the brain child of Isabel Alysa, a renowned celebrity tanning artist and the creator of the luxurious, significantly more expensive self-tanning line Dolce Glow. This hydrating mist is incredible, gives the skin a soft boost of color, and is the last step in my morning routine to seal in glow and an extra layer of nongreasy moisture.

You can almost always catch me using a nighttime lip mask all day, every day. Why use a balm or gloss when you can get shine, loads of long-lasting hydration, and some extra plumping power? This OG formula from Lip Lab smells divine and will make your lips look and feel spectacular—trust.

Everyone from Hailey Bieber to Dua Lipa has been seen using this freckle pen, which is a constantly-sold-out collab between Beaubble and beauty content creator Rudi Berry. So many freckle products dry out or look unnatural on the skin, but this one is seriously elite, and once you try it, you'll understand why all of the celebs love it. I naturally have a sprinkling of freckles on the tip and bridge of my nose and along the high points of my cheekbones, so I go in light-handedly with this pen to subtly enhance them.

Applying this viral stain has officially become a staple part of my morning routine, whether I'm going barefaced or planning to apply a full face of makeup. It gives your lips the prettiest wash of color that stays put all day but looks completely natural. I simply apply it all over my lips (overlining just slightly along the center of both my upper and bottom lip), let it marinate for about five minutes, and then lightly wipe off with a damp washcloth. I'm obsessed with the shade Lipotle, which is now sadly unavailable, but other favorites include Demure, Whimsical, and Charming.

Whenever I go in to get my color done, my colorist typically tints my brows using the same shade she uses for my strands. But when I want a tad more definition or if I'm going through a sparse phase (does anyone else just randomly lose a clump of brow hairs for no reason?), I'll fill them in with Glossier's brow pencil in Auburn.

I freaking love this stuff. I could never tolerate clear brow gels until I tried this one. It's never clumpy or flaky and truly gives you the look of a budge-proof laminated brow.

I naturally have long, straight lashes that I supplement with Latisse, so getting them to stay lifted and perfectly curled is no small feat. I've tried almost every single model of eyelash curler at this point, even the so-called best ones, and this is the only one that seriously works magic. I've used it for years and pray to the beauty gods that it's never discontinued. One note from the brand: This model is especially great for people with round-shaped eyes!

I always like to have some big silk scrunchies on hand. Not only are they soft and comfy on the plane, but they're also easy on a blowout and maintain curls and waves without adding any unwanted crimps or bends like a claw clip can.

I'm impressively untalented when it comes to styling my own hair, so I've never effed around with irons that have a clamp. Why bother when a wand like this model from GHD is impossible to mess up and delivers unfussy waves that actually last?

There's nothing worse than having greasy hair while traveling. This oil is surprisingly lightweight but packs a major punch in the gloss department. It lends the look of utter wealth and health to my dullness-prone strands, and I swear it's the reason people randomly compliment my hair while making their way through security.

I don't go anywhere without clamping a chic little claw clip to the strap of my bag.

For months, whenever my colorist styled my hair, it looked so much better for days compared to my own at-home blowouts. I finally realized this spray was the one thing she was using that I wasn't, so this purchase was the cure.

Don't get me wrong. I have a strong love for this fragrance as a solo number, but after accidentally layering it with Mood Ring a couple of years ago, I've been wearing the magical combo that stops literally everyone in their tracks. Most recently, the lovely man who helped check my luggage sent me off to my gate with a kind "By the way, you truly smell impeccable." Sure, I was slightly taken aback, but I was also rather pleased with myself. After all, it feels like an uphill battle to smell fresh and pleasant at a sweaty, human-clogged airport!

Again, this pretty baby is dynamite on its own, but it's downright dangerous layered with Father Figure.

I own the full size of both perfumes, but I sure as heck have a travel size of both Father Figure and Mood Ring in my carry-on at all times.

Trust me—you will not regret this purchase!

I've tried so many times to be a natural-deodorant person, but I'm just not. If I was, you can bet your bottom dollar that this stick would be on my vanity.

I really can't be bothered with underwire, well, ever, especially not while traveling. Free People has the best assortment of ultra-comfy yet pretty bralettes that make a white tank top feel a little sexier. I almost always go with black, but you do you!

I go through white tanks like water, and these Hanes ones are a classic for a reason. I get them in the Boys size for a close fit that's not too cropped.

These inky black jeans from Grlfrnd are the next best thing to a soft set of sweats. They're the only jeans I'll wear while traveling. The denim is just that soft, and they obviously look good with everything.

I'm in the Midwest and currently dealing with a solid two inches of slush no matter where I go. At the airport, I need something waterproof, comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and chic. These Proenza Schouler x Sorel mules are my go-to and are Bella Hadid approved. Snap them up while you can because there aren't too many pairs floating around the internet.

I'm absolutely never comfortable while traveling. I'm either too hot or too cold, so an oversize hoodie is a necessity for my "on and then off" game of back-and-forth.

I was gifted a huge chocolate-colored Brandon Blackwood tote a few years ago while on a press trip, and I've been a fan of the brand ever since. These bags are compliment magnets and incredibly roomy, which makes them perfect for easy travel. This Sylvia Bag in Cracked Black Leather is in constant rotation.

I'm an editor, so of course, I have a notebook on hand at all times for random ideas, doodles, lists, story ideas, to-dos, and anything else that pops into my brain mid-flight. You can't beat Louise Carmen's handcrafted French leather notebooks, and I'm currently infatuated with this saffron yellow. They're highly customizable and rather easy to collect, so I'm telling you now… You've been warned! (Take a look at Claudia Sulewski's notebook tour if you're looking for more inspo.)

These under-$20 Y2K-inspired blue light glasses are one of the only TikTok Shop purchases I've ever made, and they're hands-down one of my favorite purchases of all time. I have them in black but am tempted to buy a few more colors.

A raisin-hued nail polish is my favorite nail polish. The "Is it chocolate, or is it burgundy?" hybrid is chic and less basic than your average black, brown, maroon, or nude.