Learn how to keep your skin hydrated and glowing during long flights with these essential steps as you travel this summer and all year long!
1. Remove all your makeup.
First thing’s first: Remove all of your makeup as soon as you board the plane, ideally with a cream cleanser. Remove thoroughly.
2. Mist for moisture.
Spritz your face with a refreshing mist spray to prepare your skin for your serums and masks, and to maintain hydration and awaken your skin. I do this constantly throughout the flight to keep my skin super moist and dewy. Two of my favourites linked here.
3. Apply serum. I always apply an antioxidant serum to protect my skin from nasty free radical damage. Recycled cabin air has very little oxygen and dehydrates, depletes and devitalises our skin. hydrate with hyaluronic serum – you could apply a face mask to hydrate your skin. Nothing compares to these.
Skinceuticals Phloretin CF or CE Ferulic – nothing compares to these.
4. Nourish with a moisturiser
Try: Triple Lipid Restore by Skinceuticals or Hyal Ceutic Intense Hydrating Cream by Dermaceutic.
5. Apply a mask.
My favourite thing to do on a long haul flight is to apply a face mask and watch reruns of Sex and the City on my iPad — heaven!! If you prefer to be discreet try a sleeping mask that rubs in like a moisturiser and doesn’t require any rinsing. Skinceuticals Phytocorrective mask or Hydrating B5 GEL Mask are great and are both invisible.
6. Apply a rich cream or balm before sleeping.
For those longer flights, before sleeping apply a rich night cream or balm to lock in moisture and protect your skin from the dry, air conditioned cabin air. I always apply rescue balm straight over the top of my sleeping mask.
7. Drink herbal tea and still water.
Swop alcohol and coffee for herbal tea and still water, and avoid the salty airplane food as this only encourages water retention and puffiness. If you’re prone to swelling and fluid retention apply a body oil that stimulates circulation
8. Get some sleep.
Sleep is super important to maintaining a great complexion, so take a good quality block out mask with silk or felt lining, try a silk Sleep Mask - earplugs and a personal humidifying breathing mask. It traps and recycles your own moisture in your breath and prevents dehydration and airborne viruses.
9. Decant your product.
Decant your product into small travel bottles and jars so you don’t need to carry as much or have products confiscated by airport security. Don’t forget to take wet wipes to clean your hands.
10. Adjust your skincare accordingly.
Adjust your skincare depending on your destination’s climate.
If you’re travelling to a cold climate swap your gel cleanser for an cream cleanser and apply a nourishing antioxidant serum. Apply an eye serum to the eye area as well as your nose and lips, then add a broad spectrum SPF moisturiser for day — sunscreen is still essential even in Winter!
For a warmer, more humid climate use an AHA or gel cleanser with a light weight antioxidant gel or serum under your SPF moisturiser. I love a water-based spray-on sunscreen in hot weather with a hydrating spritzer to keep the skin fresh and dewy.
Layer your body oil underneath a rich body cream as soon as you get out of the shower and try not to leave the aircon on in your hotel room while sleeping — this causes serious dehydration and flaky, devitalised skin. If you can’t turn off the aircon place a large bowl of water in the room to humidify the air, and change hotels in the morning (I’ve done this a few times)!
For the evening swap your retinol or AHA serum for a hydrating or restorative formula (like SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E, as active products can cause dryness and irritation to a dehydrated or sensitised skin. Layer your serum underneath a rich occlusive night cream or balm. Don’t forget to also use a nourishing eye cream to protect the delicate eye area and keep your lips and nose super moist with a balm .
