Travel is notoriously tough on our bodies, sleep-cycle, and skin. Recycled air, a drop in oxygen levels and dry surrounds mean that aeroplane cabin pressure can wreak havoc on complexions.
To better explain, plane air is extremely dry. Like any office building, aeroplanes need to bring in outside air to dilute the carbon dioxide and contaminants from our breathing; and off gasses from our clothing, the seats, etc. The problem is that the air at 30,000 feet is very cold and cannot hold much moisture - this means that while the air may feel fresh, it is extremely arid.
While hydration is considered key to maintaining happy skin during flights, there’s an abundance of advice on how to ensure you look and feel just as good landing as you did taking off. In order to keep you travel-smart all year round, BD has rounded up the top tips from flight attendants and frequent flyers on how to avoid saying bon voyage to a great complexion when travelling.
Use oils
Oil helps penetrate the top two layers of the dermis, and provides a barrier to prevent evaporation of moisture from the face. BEAUTYDIRECTORY’s managing editor Janet Hayward attests to this, advising that she “always smooth[s] a thick layer of facial oil all over my face as soon as I board the plane and then tissue off any remaining residue and splash my face with water just before landing. Not only does this help with hydration but also protects skin from the recycled cabin air.”
Even if your skin tends to be on the oily side it’s best to not skip this step, as people with oily skin will produce even more oil to overcompensate for the moisturiser.
Don’t forget to moisturise
When so much moisture is being removed from the skin, it’s important to use rich moisturisers to put it back in.
“I take off all of my makeup as soon as we're in the air and then I apply an overnight moisture mask and an eye cream and leave it on for the duration of the flight. If I can, I like to take eye masks with me and apply that under my eyes for 10 minutes too.” advised beautyheaven’s makeup editor Sophie Howe.
However, don’t forget to hydrate lips, too! “Lip balm is a MUST,” says BEAUTYDIRECTORY account manager Vanessa Rossini, “I have to soothe and hydrate my lips, preferably using a natural balm with shea butter during flights.”
Pack on serums before take-off
“Using a serum under your moisturiser helps lock in extra moisture that you will need on a long-haul flight,” international flight attendant Samantha Sweeney told PEOPLE.
Don’t forget SPF
“Even though we’re in the plane and not outside, you still need SPF on your skin,” says flight attendant Marsha McCray. “These LED lights have the same damaging effects. Plus, keeping your window open during daytime flights can cause skin damage, too. Most aircrafts don’t have tinted windows, so if you want to gaze out, you have that sun literally beaming on you.”
Carry-on a hydrating facial spray
The humidity level in the cabins of most commercial airlines is just 10-per cent to 20-per cent (some are even as low as 1 per cent), according to travel expert Robert Haru Fisher. Compared to this, the Sahara Desert has 25 per cent humidity, and the average humidity for a room in your house is anywhere from 30 to 65 per cent.
To combat this, we suggest a facial spray to keep moisture application quick and easy. “I always carry a mist with me on long-haul flights. It's perfect for keeping my skin hydrated and it's a great way to refresh before disembarking. Most products come in a 50ml bottle so it meets carry on regulations!” spills BEAUTYDIRECTORY account manager Samantha Trudgett.
Keep it simple
“Keep it simple! Don't stress about fitting all those liquids in your luggage because you just don't need them. A serum and different day/night moisturiser keeps does the trick for me, and my skin is less likely to be stressed by the culmination of travel and a million different products.” says BD campaign coordinator Natasha Sviderskas.
Drink water
"I drink loads of water before I get on the plane so that my body and skin is already hydrated,” advises beautyheaven’s Kristy Bradley. It’s important to hydrate your body from the inside out, and it’s always true that hydrated skin is happy skin.
Further, In the Coveteur's survey of Korean flight attendants—probably the most skin-vigilant country in the world—100 per cent of respondents said they drank liters of water and constantly applied moisturiser.
Our picks (L-R):
Goodness travel every morning moisturiser, Dermalogica skin resurfacing cleanser, Embryolisse Crème Exfoliante, Oral-B GENIUS rose gold toothbrush, Palmer’s ultra-hydrating serum, Nutrimetics Ultra Care aqua supply booster, KOSMEA clarifying facial wash, Batiste dry shampoo, Goodness certified organic chia seed oil, Trilogy Rosapene Radiance Serum, Embryolisse Lotion Micellaire, Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery with SPF 50, KOSMEA purifying cream cleanser, Goodness be cool mist toner.
(L-R)
Medik8 hydr8 travel kit (gentle cleanse cleanser, day cream, hydr8 B5 skin rehydration serum, retinol 3 TR serum), clémence organics travel kit (ultimate sos balm, ultimate lips, tone + hydrate spritz), La Prairie line interogation duo day & night cream, Olay regenerist travel minis (skin renewal cleanser, miracle boost, micro sculpting cream, total effects day cream), MAVALA Switzerland travel mini polishes, MAVALA Switzerland eye makeup remover, MAVALA Switzerland cuticle care pen.