Your In-Flight Skincare Information—Easy methods to Prep and Shield Earlier than, Throughout, and After You Journey

Years in the past, Elizabeth Chambers without end altered my mind chemistry when she took to Instagram and benevolently chronicled her in depth in a single day journey skincare routine. Till then, I hadn’t given a lot thought to my pores and skin within the confines of an airplane cabin. However Chambers’ eight-step routine, that includes vitamin C, a progress issue serum, and a lemongrass renewal peel, burrowed into my thoughts alongside this very enjoyable video of Tracee Ellis Ross’ pre-flight facial therapeutic massage ritual. These girls and their dedication to mile-high hydration led to an off-the-cuff obsession with in-flight face routines. As Chambers wrote all these years in the past, “Should hold the moisture in.”
To learn to tailor my very own excellent journey skincare routine, I tapped three sought-after consultants—board-certified dermatologists Dr. Dendy Engelman and Dr. Heather D. Rogers, in addition to SkinSpirit aesthetic nurse practitioner Shannon Augustine—for steerage on the right way to deal with and shield pores and skin earlier than, throughout, and after a flight.
Featured picture by Michelle Nash.
How Flying Impacts Our Pores and skin
Elizabeth Chambers and Tracee Ellis Ross had been proper to hype hydration—aircraft air is dry, with low humidity that finally ends up pulling moisture from and dehydrating the pores and skin.
“The humidity degree is barely about 20%, a lot decrease than the optimum humidity for our pores and skin, which is 40% to 60%,” explains Dr. Engelman. “Moreover, the pressurization in airplane cabins causes our blood to soak up much less oxygen, which may make our pores and skin seem duller.”
So as to add insult to damage, flying additionally means elevated publicity to free radicals from UV rays and VOCs from recirculated air. Fortunately, our magnificence consultants have helped devise a radical plan to maintain you and your pores and skin protected.
The Greatest Substances to Shield Pores and skin Whereas Flying
Hydrating and barrier-fortifying components:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Glycerin
- Squalene
- Ceramides
- Peptides
Free radical fighters:
- Vitamin C
- Any and All Antioxidants
- SPF

Easy methods to Prep Your Pores and skin for Journey
Earlier than you board, adhere to this easy routine, comprised of expert-approved suggestions.
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A delicate cleanser or (should you’re on the go) face wipes to prep the pores and skin.
Comply with up cleansed pores and skin with an antioxidant therapy that includes vitamin C. Dr. Rogers recommends this cult-loved Skinbetter serum.
Prime off your serum therapy with a heavy moisturizer, like Dr. Rogers’ personal award-winning face cream.
Lock all of it in with a moisturizing barrier. Dr. Engelman recommends these common ceramide capsules, that are straightforward to make use of on the aircraft as properly.
End the job with a strong sunscreen. Dr. Engelman loves Glo Pores and skin Magnificence as a result of it provides broad-spectrum SPF along with antioxidants, hydrating components, and a dewy tint. For Dr. Rogers, Dermaquest, ISDIN, and Supergoop are behind a few of her favourite sunscreens.

PHOTO: Cabinets of skincare merchandise, books, and candles – Winnie Au
Your In-Flight Journey Skincare Routine
In-flight skincare is as a lot about what you set in your physique as what you slather on. “Restrict alcohol and caffeine on the aircraft as they contribute to dehydration and exacerbate the results of free radicals,” Dr. Rogers recommends. “As a substitute, concentrate on consuming loads of water.” There are additionally loads of merchandise you possibly can make the most of throughout each brief and long-haul flights to maintain your pores and skin pleased.
Moisturizers Over Mists
As enjoyable as they’re, the advantages of facial mists are likely to evaporate rapidly in cabin air.
“I like to recommend making use of one other layer of moisturizer as an alternative of misting your face, which simply will get rapidly absorbed into the dry cabin air,” Dr. Engelman notes. “Re-applying your moisturizer creates a further layer of moisture that can assist your barrier keep extra hydrated.”
Face Masks
For long-haul flights, a deeply hydrating masks with shea butter and botanicals will help lock in moisture and soothe the pores and skin. Dr. Engelman loves Derm Institute’s Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (which is available in straightforward, particular person packets) and Sisley Paris’ soothing, plant-based masks for each lengthy and brief flights.
Eye Patches
“Peter Thomas Roth Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches are extremely hydrating and are nice for the under-eye space, which is already susceptible to dryness as a result of the pores and skin is so delicate,” Augustine notes.
Take a Toner
For long-haul or in a single day flights, firming pads assist hold issues recent. Augustine recommends ZO Complexion Renewal Pads. “They assist combat micro organism and breakouts without having to cleanse within the airplane toilet,” she notes.
For a extra budget-friendly choice, Dr. Engelman is a fan of Humphreys Witch Hazel Toner.
In-Flight Facial Therapeutic massage?
Per Tracee Ellis Ross, in-flight facial therapeutic massage actually appears to be like cool. And whereas our consultants don’t advocate touching your face, Augustine suggests utilizing a gua sha instrument on the under-eye and jawline space to maintain the blood shifting and to de-bloat any puffiness within the face.
“Smiling, elevating the eyebrows, and opening and shutting the jaw are straightforward methods to get the blood circulating round your face,” Dr. Engelman provides.

Easy methods to Deal with Your Pores and skin Publish-Flight
Cleanse and gently exfoliate the pores and skin as quickly as you possibly can after a flight.
“After a flight, your pores and skin will take at the least so long as the flight to recuperate,” says Dr. Rogers. “When attainable, wash your face with a mild cleanser and repeat the antioxidant and heavy moisturizer steps to proceed to help your pores and skin by means of its restoration course of.”