Traveling can be such an exhilarating and enjoyable experience, especially when you’re jetting off to a new and exciting destination. However, as anyone who flies frequently will tell you, the journey can be tough on your skin. Between the changing temperatures and the notoriously low humidity levels inside airplane cabins, skin dryness and dehydration are common issues. These dry air conditions can lead to breakouts, discomfort, dullness, etc. As someone who travels often, including international, long-haul flights, Erin has experienced this firsthand. Living in Colorado, where the altitude already challenges skin hydration, she’s become quite the pro at combating dehydrated skin. Protecting your skin during a flight is crucial not just for hydration but for maintaining your overall comfort and arriving with a radiant, healthy glow. Today, we’re sharing some simple tips on how to keep your skin hydrated on a plane, so you can step off the plane looking and feeling your best.
If you’re looking for chic airport outfits, check out this post next!
How To Keep Skin Hydrated On Plane
#1) Apply Hydrating Toner and Serum Before Flight
Avoiding dry skin on a plane actually starts well before you actually catch your flight! It’s important to take skincare steps before your flight to ensure maximum hydration. Your pre-flight skincare routine should include a gentle exfoliating cleanser followed by a hydrating toner and serum. A cleanser with some exfoliation before flying helps remove dead skin and keep your pores clear. The hydrating toner will help lock in hydration. And a serum with hyaluronic acid helps keep your skin moisturized and plumped. We linked a few options below in case you don’t already have these products in your skincare collection.
#2) Wear Sunscreen
After you’ve cleansed and prepped your skin, you should apply moisturizer with SPF (we recommend at least SPF 30). If you don’t have a moisturizer with SPF, apply your most hydrating moisturizer followed by your daily sunscreen instead. Why is it so important to wear sunscreen on a plane?? Being at such a high altitude, the sun exposure is much stronger and therefore more harmful. Tip: If you have a window seat, you get control over the airplane window, which means you can keep yours down and avoid those harmful UV rays!
#3) Minimize Your Makeup
This might not be something you’re comfortable with if you’re used to wearing a full face of makeup every day. But not wearing makeup on your flight will allow your skin to breathe and help avoid clogged, irritated pores while flying. If you feel more comfortable wearing makeup, try to keep your makeup routine barebones and put as little on as possible. For example, instead of a full-coverage foundation, you could go with a lightweight tinted moisturizer (we linked a few below).
#4) Use a Hydrating Lip Product
Anyone else get super dry lips during flights?? To help combat cracked lips, remember to reapply hydrating lip products throughout your flight. Keep a lip balm in your pocket or the seatback pocket in front of you for easy access. We linked a few hydrating lip products we love below.
#5) Drink Water
This may seem like a no-brainer but it’s actually something that many of us either neglect, forget, or don’t think will really make a difference. Believe us…it really helps! Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. Some other pieces of the puzzle that are no-brainers but are important reminders so you don’t forget…try to get plenty of sleep and eat hydrating snacks before and during your trip (think cucumber, celery, tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, etc.).
#6) Apply Face Oil Frequently
This is a next-level hydration step, but it makes a huge difference if you want radiant, glowing skin at your final destination. This tip is more for those of your headed on a long international flight, but if you want to try this on your shorter flights, that’s totally fine too! Frequently applying face oil throughout your flight will keep your skin super hydrated. Some sources say to apply it once every hour, some say every two hours, but really it just depends on your skin type and what you feel like doing. We’re sharing a few of our favorite face oils below.
#7) Avoid Using a Face Mist
A few years ago, using a face mist on your flight was a big tip and really blew up in popularity. While it may seem luxurious to spritz yourself with a face mist mid-flight, it’s actually not very effective. Since the air in an airplane cabin is SO dry, misting your face (without putting on another product to lock in that moisturizer) means the air is basically drawn to your face mist and ends up drying you out even more! If you love a face mist, use it…but apply a moisture-locking cream or oil on top of it too.
#8) Don’t Skip Post-Flight Skincare
After being at 30,000 feet+ altitude, you’re going to need to rebuild your skin’s natural moisture barrier. The tips we’ve covered will definitely help, but your skin will still need a bit of a refresh. The best way to do that is to get back to your regular skincare routine (and be consistent) as quickly as possible. You should also consider using a gentle scrub right after your flight to remove any dead skin cells. Follow that up with a hydrating face mask and your skin should be feeling amazing and completely normal in no time!
Do you have any tips for keeping your skin hydrated during travel? Please share in the comments below!
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