7 In-Flight Travel Skin Care Tips for Globetrotters
No matter how beautiful you are from the inside, people are always going to see you from the outside first, and ‘yes’ first impressions do make a difference. And since our skin plays a big part in our outward appearance, it is imperative that we ensure proper care. With travel being a part and parcel of our lives, it is getting more and more difficult to figure out how to travel and take proper care of our skin at the same time. If you are a globe trotter and spend most of your time on aeroplanes; whether it’s the hassle of standing in line for ticket issuance, dealing with passport control, or just spending hours sitting in a very dry aeroplane ~ flying definitely takes its toll on your skin. Here are 7 in-flight travel skin care tips for globetrotters that will have you looking fresher than ever as you reach your destination!
1. Carry Double-Duty Wet Wipes
That makeup has to come off! After settling in once you have entered the aircraft, ensure that you clean your face using refreshing towels provided by the flight attendant or carry your own cleansing double-duty wet wipes to use in lieu of a makeup remover. Make sure that you carry the ones which are effective for deep cleansing. Today’s face wipe formulas are strong enough to remove every last trace, even water-proof mascara, provided you are not afraid to use a little elbow grease. I prefer Neutrogena’s All-in-One Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes, which are available in full and travel sizes.
Sephora Express Cleansing Wipes are also excellent. Gentle and unscented, you can use them both to clean your hands after an onboard snack, as well as to wipe your face.
2. Prep Your Skin with Layering
The process is very simple; use a humectant skin serum {rich in glycerine and hyaluronic acid}, and then layer it with a good moisturiser. This ensures that your skin stays hydrated for a longer duration especially in a dehydrated environment like that of an aircraft, where the same air is being recycled for a long duration. Make sure that you do your due research on the kind of serum to be used, and the kind of moisturiser that will suit you. In case you are going with a Serum + Moisturiser approach, you could pick up a moisturiser that has an SPF component to protect you from radiation as well.
Don’t forget to pay attention to your lips. Your best bet ~ avoid lipsticks; use a lip balm that has UV protection instead. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturiser SPF 15 and Avene High Pro SPF 30 Lip Balm are good options.
3. Mist throughout the Flight
As inclusive as your pre-flight skincare routine may be, it’s still essential to carry an in-flight hydrating product suitable to your skin type, as your skin has a tendency to become dry especially during long-duration flights. I am a big fan of face misting. I like rose water, which provides additional hydration, and acts as a barrier between my face and all of that nasty recycled air.
While I would advise against wearing foundation on flights, even if you do wear foundation, the mist will not disrupt it. Whether you choose simple Evian water or something more specific like L’Occitane Peony Perfecting Mist, ensure that the bottle you use is under 100 ml, or else air terminal security will take it away from you.
4. Hydrate
Now that your face is feeling hydrated, I encourage you to keep yourself hydrated from within as well. The air inside the aircraft is really dry, so it is important that you sip water continuously for the duration of your flight. It can be very tempting to sip on coffee, soda or drink alcohol during a long flight, but that is the worst choice when it comes to staying hydrated. Opt instead for water, green/herbal tea, and electrolyte-replenishing beverages.
The rule of thumb is one regular-sized bottle of water per hour in flight {yes, really}. Consider this your primary and most fundamental in-flight skin care tip. After all, when you feel good you look good.
5. Sunscreen
You should consider sunscreen a prerequisite for flying. While flying at high altitudes, you are nearer to the sun’s harmful rays particularly if you’re in the seat by the window. In fact, pilots count a higher risk of skin cancer as an occupational hazard. Remember to reapply if your flight is longer than two hours.
My personal favourite is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer dry-touch Sunblock SPF 50+ sunscreen, since it feels good on the skin, and protects from both UVA and UVB rays.
6. Antioxidant-rich snacks
When you are travelling by aeroplane, you are 30,000+ feet above the ground, and the higher you go, the higher the levels of radiation that you are going to be exposed to. You can temper the radiation in the plane by stocking up on antioxidant-rich beverages and snacks. Sip green/white tea during your flight, and opt for dried fruits like berries {raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and cranberries} and fruits like oranges and red grapes. You can alternatively carry your own supply of foods rich in anti-oxidants. You can also find skincare products rich in vitamins A, C, and E. But your best option… Fly at night.
7. Get Your Beauty Rest
If you often take longer duration flights, I would advise you to stay organised and sleep as per your sleep-time. In-flight entertainment can be a distraction, so ensure that whenever it is your time to sleep {as per your regular sleep cycle}; you close your eyes, and use a sleep mask to catch up on some beauty sleep {in-flight neck pillows work too}.
Since most long-duration flights have relaxation music available to listen to, put on your headphones and listen away. This will not only get you to relax but will ensure you get some quality zzz in too. Make sure to use the ‘do not disturb’ sticker, so that the flight attendant is aware not to disturb you while you are sleeping.
There you have it ~ 7 in-flight travel skin care tips for globetrotters. These are some of the ways to ensure that your skin undergoes minimum stress and stays radiant while you are onboard the aircraft. Bon voyage!