In-Flight Skincare Routine – the best tips

As a frequent traveler, I have mastered the art of having an in-flight skincare routine. I have been a solo traveler for over 5 years and in that time I have learned what skincare products work for my combination skin and what doesn’t. Whenever I travel, I always ensure that I have packed the right skincare products with me, products that keep my skin moisturized and hydrated.

Air travel (even though its fun) is quite bad for your skin, the recycled air, low humidity, and cabin pressure is known to reduce blood circulation thereby making your skin look and feel dull. During a flight, your skin works hard to overcompensate for the bad conditions it is experiencing, you will find you either overly oily or your skin breaks out in patches. In order to combat this dullness, I follow a simple but effective in-flight skincare routine.

In-Flight Skincare Routine – the best tips

Air travel is one of the best ways to reach destinations far and wide but it can wreak havoc on your skin. The best way to protect your skin is by staying hydrated and moisturize your skin. One of the few things I try to do when traveling either long or short-haul flights is not to wear makeup and when I do, it’s light makeup so that the pores don’t get clogged up.

The last thing you want to happen to your skin during air travel is for it to clog up, this more often than not leads to breakouts and patches. To prevent this from happening especially as someone with combination skin, I follow a simple in-flight skincare routine religiously. At the end of each flight, my skin feels soft, healthy and most importantly hydrated.

Water wipes or Hot cloth

At the start of each trip, I either use a hot cloth or water wipes to remove any makeup and hydrate my face slightly. Removing makeup or any impurities on my face is the best way to start any skincare routine. For those who don’t wear makeup, its a way to freshen up your face and allow it to breathe by removing any residuals on your face.

Hydrating Mask

Depending on the duration of the flight, I will more often than not wear a mask 20 minutes before I nap or an hour before we land. Masks are great for moisturizing and hydrating your skin as well as prevents your skin from losing too much water. There are many masks out there, look for ones that work well with your type of skin.

Hydrating Moisturiser

The recycled air in the plane is known to suck out moisture from your skin and your face is more susceptible to this. Whatever your skincare routine, you should always include a moisturizing step as the skin needs that added boost of moisture. Both the mask and the moisturizer will work together well to prevent dull-looking skin after the flight.

Hydrating Serum

Though not everyone gives serums the praise they deserve you should ensure you add them to your routine. Not only do they soothe out fine lines and wrinkles, but they are also great at hydrating the skin. It is important to learn that not all serum is hydrating, you, therefore, have to do some research on which serums will work for your skin type.

Mist Spray

I came to the mist spray game a little too late but I highly recommend them if you want to sprit some hydration onto your skin. There are several types of mist sprays on the market, most don’t interfere with your makeup and others work best on bare skin but either can be sprayed sporadically or as needed throughout the day/flight.

Lip Balm

Lips are often missed off on skincare routines but during flight, it’s one area you can not afford to miss and it will remind you of its dryness fast enough. Every skincare routine I practice, lip care is high on the list as the lips can dry up during the flight thanks to the artificial and recycled air. I don’t use any special lip balms but vaseline is my number one lip moisturizer.

Extra Items

• Drink water – it is very important to stay hydrated during the flight, drink as much water as you can to stay hydrated.
• Hand cream – the hands also get pretty dry on flights so I recommend hand cream to keep them moisturized.
• Hand sanitizer – this is more for hygiene purposes than anything else as you will come in contact with lots of people.
• Perfume – now, you want to smell nice during and off the plane but also be cautious when spraying perfume in the plane. I do it in the toilets as you never know who is allergic.
• Eye Mask – I am a great believer in getting the best sleep I can on flights and I can’t sleep without a mask.

I love long haul flights but I love to have an in-flight skincare routine that not only protects my skin but keeps it looking healthy. In the last 5 years of traveling long haul frequently, I have had to create a foolproof routine that I can call upon on a moment’s notice. For those going on a long haul flight for the first time I recommend, drinking lots of water, remove your makeup and wear a mask during the flight, it does wonders for your skin.

What are some of your tips when traveling long haul? How do you look after your skin and how do your combat breakouts?