The Flight Kit: Claire Distenfeld

Distenfeld in Tuscany

Claire Distenfeld is the owner of Fivestory, a boutique in a townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side deemed by fashion editors as New York City's Colette equivalent. When she’s not jetting between showrooms or taking one of multiple trips a year to Paris, Distenfeld—a self-proclaimed Aman hotel junkie—unwinds in the Dominican Republic and St. Bart’s. Here, the fashionable entrepreneur shares the beauty products that have a permanent place in her suitcase.

“I keep my beauty routine pretty simple when I'm on the road. I care a lot more about skincare than I do about makeup, so I always have a great cleanser and serum in tow. I'm obsessed with anti-aging products. I never want to grow old. I recently hosted a wellness day at my store and Dr. Pratima Raichur, who has a wellness spa in Manhattan, gave a lecture about ayurvedic skincare. I’ve been devoted to her products ever since. I like that her ingredient lists contain good-for-you sounding things like milk thistle. Her cleansers are actually powders that get activated by water, so they’re perfect for traveling. The Vata Herbal Cleanser is made for dry, dehydrated skin and it is the best thing to use on airplanes. On top of that, I use her Age Delay Serum: It’s the lightest serum I’ve ever used and not oily at all. Plus it comes in a tiny, TSA-friendy pump bottle. My other travel must-haves are Crest Whitestrips. They work like magic at erasing red wine and espresso stains on your teeth. I pop them on before meetings.

When I want to look refreshed after a long flight, I use the Sisely Paris Eye Countour Mask. I put it on for ten minutes, then wipe it off with a tissue. It’s like putting cucumbers on your eyes for a half an hour.

After I get to my hotel, I take a bath with Pursoma Digital Detox salts. A word of warning: This concoction of minerals pulls all of the toxins out of your body, and you'll be sweating profusely after three minutes. Try to soak for a solid 15, though. When you’re done, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of a sauna. I use these whenever I need to recharge.

Everyone makes fun of me, but I love my ConAir 1875 blow dryer—it’s the one that has a built-in brush. This thing literally looks like something from 90210 but since I don't know how to blow out my hair with a dryer and round brush, it's all I use. These do not exist in Europe for some reason, so I take mine with me wherever I go.

I only travel with two makeup products: The Sisely Paris Tinted Moisturizer #2 and Sun Glow Pressed Powder. When combined, they give me this easy, beachy glow. I can’t get enough. I’ll use Laura Mercier’s Mineral Illuminating Powder if I’m going out.

This isn't a beauty product, but because I never travel anywhere without it, I need to mention the Bling Brush Jewelry Cleaner. It’s the cutest little handheld jewelry cleaner disguised as a concealer brush. I use it to clean my earrings, necklaces, and rings.

My favorite toiletries are at the The Peninsula Paris, which carry the Biologique Recherché line. Everyone wants a facial at the Peninsula because the hotel has the very best products. It’s a fact.

I try to stay as active as possible when I travel, so I always pack running shoes. During my last trip to Paris, I was able to wake up early on two mornings—which is pretty good for me—and jog around the first arrondissement. And, whenever I'm in Paris I make it a point to have ginger tea in the lobby of the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. It's the most rejuvenating thing in the world.”