New mom Meghan Markle makes travelling by plane look easy, and she’s happy to share her secrets for success with everyone.

Former actress Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, travels all around the world to perform her royal duties. And astonishingly, when she steps off a plane in a new country, she always looks relaxed and ready to go. So how on earth does she do it? Well, Meghan has shared tips before about how she maintains her Markle “sparkle” while flying.

Now don’t them kid you, it’s not easy being a royal, and Meghan has a lot on her plate. For example, she’s the patron of several important charities, including The Association of Commonwealth Universities and The National Theater. Then there’s the work she and other royal members do to support the Queen – banquets, receptions and so on.

Of course, this kind of work requires a lot of travel. And don’t be fooled by pictures of the royals posing next to famous landmarks or areas of natural beauty. Yes, because in reality they don’t get to stick around in one place for that long. Simply put, their job is to meet other heads of state and essentially serve as diplomats.

Interestingly, though, there are some pretty unusual – but ultimately sensible – rules surrounding how the royal family travels. For example, at least some of them allegedly travel with bags of their own blood-type and a royal physician. Now this would appear to be in case of emergencies. Unfortunately, though, it’s not known if Meghan does, too, but considering her royalty it might make sense. But that’s not all.

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Indeed, when the royals travel abroad, they should always have a black outfit with them, apparently. Now this is on the off chance that another royal dies while they’re away. If that was the case, they would need to immediately start dressing in black “mourning attire.” And anything else would be seen as inappropriate.

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Yes, and Queen Elizabeth II actually learned this the hard way. Back in 1952, she was overseas in Kenya when her father King George VI passed away. In the midst of her grief, she also had to ensure she was properly dressed. So when she returned to the UK, her staff had to deliver a black outfit to her plane before she disembarked.

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What’s more, it also used to be the case that royals couldn’t fly in the same plane together. As you might guess, this was over fears that if the plane crashed, the entire lineage might be wiped out. However, plane travel has gotten so much safer that this rule has apparently been relaxed. For instance, William and Kate usually fly with their children now.

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But for many, flying is still stressful. And scientists even think there’s a possibility that the very experience can alter the mind. Sure, the royals have every convenience at their fingertips, but they’re still in a plane. Yet whenever Meghan steps off one and smiles at the waiting cameras, she looks completely flawless. The question is: how?

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To start with, Meghan has a lot riding on whether she looks good while stepping off a plane. Like U.S. presidents, it kind of comes with the royal territory. Furthermore, her impact on the world of beauty and fashion is absolutely massive. For instance, if she’s photographed wearing a particular product, demand for it instantly rises. In fact, Meghan has transformed the fortunes of whole clothing companies this way.

As well as snapping up everything she wears, people are also keen to hear how Meghan keeps herself looking so healthy. Luckily, most of her makeup and beauty hacks are actually fairly simple ones. And you can do most of them on an airplane, in fact. Intriguingly, before she was a royal, Meghan had no qualms about sharing her treasured health-info.

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That’s right, and when Meghan was on hit-show Suits, she talked to the Allure website about her beauty regime. In 2014 she explained, “I love Jan Marini skin-care products. I’ve been using their serum lately. It’s a nice glycolic one that makes your skin really glow-y. And I really love the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. It just sort of foams on your face and gives you a really subtle exfoliation.”

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The soon-to-be Duchess went on, at the time, when asked about her must-haves, “We’ve used the same things during the past few seasons on Suits, and it’s been great to have access to these really cool products and see what works. I love Nars blush in Orgasm. I use it on and off camera because it gives you a nice glow from within.”

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As Meghan continued to explain, “My favorite mascara is Diorshow Iconic, and then I love the Make Up For Ever HD Powder. It lets your skin look shiny and fresh, but not greasy-shiny.” Regarding her eyes, Meghan apparently uses a product called RevitaLash which conditions the eyelashes and makes them grow longer. But what about her process?

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Well, as Meghan went on to explain to Allure, “My routine is very simple — I call it the five-minute face. It’s just Touche Éclat, curled lashes, mascara, Chap Stick, and a little bit of blush. That is my favorite kind of look. If I’m going to amp it up for night, then I use M.A.C. Teddy eyeliner, which is a really beautiful brown that has some gold in it.”

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Then Allure asked Meghan, “Given your love of travel and how often you travel for work, what’s your best travel tip? What do you always bring with you?” Meghan replied, “I can tell you the most honest answer because I literally got off of a plane yesterday after a five-hour flight and I leave tomorrow to go to Toronto.”

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Indeed, and Meghan’s answer was, “The one thing that I cannot live without when I’m traveling is a small container of tea tree oil. It’s not the most glamorous thing, but if you get a cut, a mosquito bite, a small breakout, no matter what it is, it’s my little cure-all. It’s inexpensive, it’s small enough to carry on, and I bring it with me all the time.”

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Now a couple of years later, the Duchess decided to publish a post on her blog, The Tig. And it concerned the most important things she carried with her while flying. Interestingly, the article was written in 2016 but has since been taken down. However, an archived version of it still exists, and it contains some very handy tips.

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Somewhat humorously, Meghan began her article, “If you’ve been tracking my social media of late, you’ll notice that not a week goes by without me finding my derrière on a plane. Yes, it’s fun, and yes, it’s purpose-driven, and yes, it can sometimes feel quite glamorous; but, jet-setting (for work or pleasure) comes with its own set of complications.”

As Meghan went on to explain, “The foremost issue is self-care. It’s easy to run yourself ragged, hopping from one locale to another, sometimes feeling homesick, and other times just feeling plain-old sick (tummy, head cold, you name it). Here are some surefire tips I have picked up along the way that keep me feeling A+ when I’m traveling.” Now the first tip might leave some a little red-faced.

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For Meghan’s first travel tip was to wipe down her own seating area on the plane. She explained, “I’m no germaphobe, but when I get on a plane I always use some quick hand wipes or a travel sanitizer spray to wipe it all down: that includes the little TV, the service tray, and all the buttons around your seat.”

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The Suits actress added, “Sure, the person next to you may give you a side eye, but at the end of the flight, you’ll be the one whistling dixie with nary a sniffle.” But does cleaning everything around you really work to avoid getting plane-borne illnesses? Well, it at least comes recommended.

For example, website The Thrillist noted, “Airplanes are notorious for being giant flying petri dishes. The rush to turn flights around in mere moments, day in and day out, makes them akin to a bath towel you always air-dry but never wash. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has nothing to say about how often and how thoroughly planes are cleaned, so the airlines are in charge.”

And The Thrillist appeared to back up Meghan’s point about wiping, explaining, “Flying is a dirty business, and though it might stand to reason that airplanes should be deep cleaned more often than your car, the economic reality dictates otherwise. So pack along some sani-wipes, wipe down the IFE remote, then plug in your own headphones as you try not to think too hard about where else your armrest has been.”

Now the Duchess isn’t the only celebrity who wipes down her seating area before travelling – supermodel Naomi Campbell does too. For in 2019 she posted a video of herself donning latex gloves and wiping her surroundings on the plane with Dettol. Also, she covered her chair with her own thoroughly washed seat cover. A step too far perhaps or just being sensible? That’s one for you to decide.

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But what other tips did Meghan herself share back in 2016? Well she had another one, and she couldn’t resist name-dropping while giving it out. “A dear friend of mine once told me that Leonardo DiCaprio gave her an excellent travel tip,” she wrote. And on that note, she revealed a bit more.

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Unsurprisingly perhaps, A-list actor DiCaprio is a frequent flyer himself. And this hearsay advice might well help you out. So according to Meghan, “He said that to avoid getting sick on planes, he puts a little Neosporin on a cotton swab and coats the inside of his nostrils. Not only does it create a barrier for germs, it also lubricates the skin in the nose.”

Meghan went on, “That’s important because when the skin cracks, germs can come running in, so the coating of the Neosporin doubly protects you. Now before you start calling TMZ, I cannot say 100% that Leo said this, but my friend is a good source, and regardless, it’s a great tip. Try it!” But it’s a great story if he did.

However, an expert was a little dubious as to whether the tip actually works. For in 2019 Glamour magazine asked doctor Erich Voigt if Neosporin was even useful. And he answered, “The application of an antibiotic ointment into the nostrils to prevent infection on flights is not going to prevent the transmission of viruses, which are the most common airborne infection spread between people.”

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But Neosporin on the nostrils did provide help in other ways, though. As Voigt went on to explain, “The moisturizing effect of a topical antibiotic, or of a saline gel or saline spray may, make the nasal mucosa less prone to a viral particle entering the mucosa.” And that’s pretty much what Meghan said.

Moving on, the Duchess’ next tip was to “Pack a Portable Hug.” As she went on to explain, “I never travel without a scarf or thin cashmere blanket that feels like a hug. Throw it in your purse or backpack, and no matter how far you travel, you will always feel comforted both on and off the plane with something that feels and smells like home.” Indeed, and her actions in this regard have had a commercial impact, too.

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For you see, Meghan never travelling without a scarf has been a massive boon for scarf-makers. For example, when she went to the Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand, she wore an emerald-colored “Mélange Cashmere-Silk Scarf.” And this was from luxury brand, Loro Piana. As you might guess, it quickly sold out. But there’s more.

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That’s right, because Meghan also recommended “Go Pro.” “Nope, not the little video camera that I can’t quite figure out – I mean gooooo pro…biotics!” she wrote on her blog. “Always travel with a high strain probiotic, and hydrate like you’re dying of thirst – because even if you’re not, for your body – the thirst is real.”

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The Duchess continued, “This dynamic duo of probiotics and agua will keep your gut health in check and honestly stave off jet lag if you’re globetrotting on your travails.” And WebMD agrees. For a doctor who spoke to the website, Steven Peikin, recommended “Start taking probiotics for at least one week before your trip, and continue at least one week after your trip.”

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Then, the actress also recommended some other useful tips for making sure a holiday goes as planned. Firstly, she suggested the basics, “Check your flight schedule before you go, make sure you check in online, give yourself enough time to get to the airport.” But Meghan also advised that travelers invest in a travel folio.

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For you see, she said having a good folio, “or the most efficient piece of carry-on luggage” would improve your journey. “Things will speed along so you can avoid less airport hiccups and can focus on the vacate part of the vacation,” she wrote. And the former star also recommended a couple of her favorites.

Yes, and one of these super-suitcases was a creation called “The Quartermaster” by Ebby Rane. According to the Amazon page which Meghan linked to, it was “trimmed in-and-out with vegetable-tanned fine quality leather” and featured a “TSA-approved lock.” In fact, the brand is based in Toronto, Canada, and is well known for its luxury travel accessories. And the suggestions kept coming.

For Meghan’s other fave was a cheaper option she described as “efficient and chic”. This was the “Diane von Furstenberg Adieu Hardside Spinner Luggage” collection. But those who want to emulate Meghan while they travel might be out of luck on these particular items. Unfortunately, both those suitcases appear unavailable to buy now.

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Finally, Meghan’s last life hack was from a woman she called her “gal pal and designer extraordinaire.” Now this is Misha Nonoo, the person reportedly responsible for introducing Meghan and Harry in the first place. If she really did, Meghan owes her a great debt – and she also learned a great travel tip from her.

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According to Meghan, Misha advised, “if you eat on the schedule of wherever you’ve landed, you won’t feel jet lagged.” And the Duchess explained, “It’s your stomach that tells your brain when it’s feeling wonky. By simply eating a meal at the time the locals are when you land, you trick your brain a bit and stay much more on track, and much less cranky.”

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Still, it’s hard to imagine Meghan being cranky, as she always has a massive smile on her face in public. And now, of course, she’s a mother. So baby Archie will almost certainly be flying with her and Harry when they visit Africa in late September 2019. While we all know infants on a plane can be tricky, chances are that Meghan has it all under control.