Of all the airlines, I find Etihad’s cabin crew among the most elegant. It’s not just the uniform, the makeup always perfectly complements the overall look. But of course, that’s no coincidence. To maintain this polished appearance, Etihad has set clear guidelines. In this article, titled “Makeup Requirements for Etihad Flight Attendants: A Full Breakdown”, I’ll walk you through the official rules regarding cosmetics. I’ll also show you what this makeup would look like when applied to my own face.
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As you can see in the photo above, the base color of the Etihad uniform is dark brown. The main accent color is purple, combined with orange, off-white, green, and ochre details. So it’s no surprise that the makeup guidelines align with these colors.
Makeup requirements for Etihad flight attendants: a full breakdown
Let’s start with the basics: female crew members must wear foundation. This rule is quite common in the airline industry. In most cases, when makeup is required, foundation is expected as well. That’s because it helps even out the skin tone and creates a polished, professional appearance.
In addition, wearing blush on the cheeks is mandatory. While you’re allowed to combine it with contouring products or a highlighter, the latter is optional. That said, highlighter is rarely used in aviation. Many airlines discourage it because it tends to stand out too much under cabin lighting.
Moving on, concealer is optional, but powder is not, you must use it. Whether you prefer loose or pressed powder is up to you, as long as it gives a matte finish.
When it comes to eye makeup, only neutral tones are allowed. Eyeshadow must be in beige or brown shades, and it should never be too bold. The same applies to eyeliner: it’s optional, but if you wear it, it must be subtle, no thick or dramatic lines. Mascara, however, is a must unless you have eyelash extensions. Coloring the eyebrows remains optional.
Lastly, let’s talk about lipstick. Etihad allows pink and purple shades to match the purple accents in the uniform. Crew members can decide how light, dark, or bold their lipstick appears. Lipliner is optional, but it can help define the lips and prevent smudging.
My Etihad makeup look
Based on the rules above, I recently created a video where I apply the full look myself. You can watch it below.
If you’re curious about the products I used, I’ve listed them below.
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Primer – Where it all starts cream (Nimya)
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Foundation 1 – Skin Long Wear Weightless SPF15 (Bobbi Brown)
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Foundation 2 – Fit Me (Maybelline NY)
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Concealer – Intensive Serum Concealer (Bobbi Brown)
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Blush stick – shade Pink Dahlia (Anastasia Beverly Hills)
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Eyebrow powder duo – shade Auburn (Anastasia Beverly Hills)
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Eyebrow mascara – shade Auburn (Anastasia Beverly Hills)
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Face powders – Easy Bake Loose Powder in Pound Cake and Easy Bake And Snatch in Cupcake (Huda Beauty)
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Blush powder – shade Orgasm (NARS)
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Eyeshadow primer – Studio Finish Concealer (MAC Cosmetics)
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Eyeshadow – 5 in a Box Palette (Catrice Cosmetics)
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Mascaras – Lash Princess Sculpted Volume (purple) and Lash Princess Curl & Volume (pink) (Essence Cosmetics)
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Eyeliner – Liquid Ink Waterproof Black (Essence Cosmetics)
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Setting spray (Essence Cosmetics)
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Lipstick – no longer available (NYX)
Want to see more videos where I recreate airline makeup looks?
Curious about what international airline uniforms and grooming standards look like? Since early 2024, I’ve been sharing weekly videos on this topic across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook en YouTube (shorts).
Warm regards,
Aileen