Effortless Ways To Look After Your Skin While Flying
Let’s take a look at how to nail in-flight skincare, shall we? Because who wants to turn up to their destination with dry, dull skin? Answer: nobody.
Raise your hands if you dread that post-flight mirror check when, even though you’ve had a decent nap and drank your body weight in water, your skin looks dry, dull and as if you’ve not slept in 10 days?
We hear you.
Airplane skin is very real. How so? One of the reasons is that, while regular air has all manner of pros and cons of its own, airplane cabins use pressurized, recycled air. This recycled air is not only filled with who-knows-what, but it also has a very low humidity and, as you know, skin loves moistures which low humidity seriously lacks. This means that flying can cause all sorts of problems for the skin – even to the most resilient complexions. As skin saboteurs go, it’s right up there.
How best can you get ahead of this skincare nightmare? By arming yourself with our ultimate in-flight skincare survival guide. Let’s do this…
4 Reasons Why Flying Messes With Your Skin
1. Humidity Levels Don’t Quite Cut It
Airplane cabins are expertly pressurized to protect you from the low air pressure at high altitude. Pressurized cabins are crucial for maintaining balanced oxygen levels, allowing you to a) breathe and b) not get altitude sickness. It’s important stuff and, in the grand scheme of things, being alive is far more important than having to deal with slightly cruddy skin. But still, the frustrating part is that pressurized air only contains around 10-20 percent humidity which is lower than most deserts. Your skin is not down with that, preferring a more moist 50-60 percent to keep it soft, radiant and hydrated.
2. Where Did All The Nutrients Go?
Low air pressure also slows down lymphatic drainage and reduces the levels of oxygen in your blood. This temporarily ‘starves’ it of all the essential nutrients it loves in order to remain glowing and healthy-looking.
3. UV Radiation Reaches New Heights
High altitudes = increased levels of UV radiation. We’ll just leave that one there.
4. Did Someone Say Circadian Rhythm?
As you’re probably aware, your body has a smart, 24-hour internal clock that helps to regulate its various functions and processes. This is primarily controlled by light and darkness and it allows you to operate on a daily basis, sending your body to sleep at night and keeping you functioning optimally during the day.
You can imagine what happens to this circadian rhythm when you throw a red-eye, long-haul flight or cross into a different time zone into the mix? It gets thrown right out of whack, making it harder for you to fall asleep at bedtime. And never underestimate what inadequate sleep can do to the state of your skin. Cue dryness, irritation, dehydration, even breakouts.
Your Pre-Flight Game Plan
1. Hydrate Yourself From The Inside Out
Set yourself up for skin success by skipping alcohol and caffeine a good 24 hours before take-off. These are super dehydrating and your skin has enough dehydrating triggers to come when the humidity levels hit rock bottom during your flight. Instead, drink plenty of water and herbal teas, and boost your diet with water-rich food like cucumber and watermelon.
2. Protect & Hydrate From The Outside In
On the day of your fight, make sure to cleanse thoroughly and layer on the hydration. We like to apply serum straight after cleansing to start the ball rolling, and our new SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum is the perfect product for the job. Not only does it contain prickly pear and sunflower extracts to help the skin retain water and protect it from free radical damage, but SPF 30 is vital for shielding your skin from the intense UV radiation you'll experience closer to the ozone layer. Trust us, if you’re going to be sat next to the window, sunscreen is non-negotiable.
3. Go Heavy On Moisture, Light On Makeup
Lock in all that hydration with a rich, but non pore-clogging moisturizer that can be reapplied as needed. Reapplication is highly recommended for long-haul flights so, if you can bear it, skip makeup completely to allow you to reapply without worrying about annoying foundation getting in your way.
PRO-TIP: Avoid trying new skincare for a week or so before flying. This will help avoid irritation which can be exacerbated by dry airplane cabins.
Your In-Flight Skincare Strategy
1. Don’t Cleanse During Your Flight
This is messy and too tricky in those cramped bathrooms which, tbh, are probably not the cleanest after being used by numerous other people. If you do feel the need to freshen up, apply some travel-sized micellar water over your face and neck.
2. Pop A Sheet Mask In Your Carry-On
Hydrating sheet masks are flight skincare gold. Sure, you might get a little side-eye from other passengers as you sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes looking like something from a horror movie, but the benefits will be so worth it in the end.
3. Reapply Moisture
After your sheet mask has done its job, it’s wise to lock moisture back into your skin. Make sure to clean your hands first with a gentle sanitizer, then reapply your favorite, non-comedogenic lotion and follow with sunscreen. This time, SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is going to be your BFF. It’s loaded with antioxidants, works immediately and is the perfect size for your carry-on.
PRO-TIP: Long-haul flights call really screw up your circadian rhythm, so take an eye mask and ear plugs to help you sleep at weird times.
Your Post-Flight Recovery Program
1. Resist The Urge To Cleanse Like Mad
It’s tempting to want to do away with all that in-flight grime after landing, but harsh cleansers that are overloaded with drying ingredients like strong surfactants and unnecessary preservatives will compromise skin that’s already feeling a little delicate. Of course, feel free to cleanse your skin once you arrive at your destination but go gently with a plant-based, kind-to-skin formula like Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser.
2. Exfoliate While You’re At It
A little gentle exfoliation is great for clearing out post-flight pores, improving circulation and waking up sluggish skin. Plus, the simple act of physical exfoliation is enough to make you feel immediately better. We’re all about Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub which hits that sweet spot of being just grainy enough to feel like it’s doing a good job, without feeling like it’s removing an entire layer of your skin! Smooth it over damp, clean skin on arrival, gently working it all over your face and neck, then rinsing well with lukewarm water.
3. Hit The Moisture Reset Button
Post-flight is the time to repair and restore your skin so continue to layer on hydrating serums and moisturizer, morning and night. A rich night cream is going to be particularly beneficial for your first night back on solid ground as your skin does its best repair work while you’re asleep. Try Vitamin C Deep Hydration Night Cream.
PRO-TIP: Try a two-minute massage as you cleanse to wake up post-flight, sluggish skin. Simply work your hands over your face in circular motions to boost blood flow and restore your glow.
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![DYK You’re Likely Applying Your Skincare All Wrong?]()
Correct skincare application is a great way to amp up your routine with little effort and zero cost. That makes it a no brainer in our eyes, agreed?
Applying your skincare products correctly might not seem as important as the ingredients they contain, but your technique can actually make them work harder and more efficiently. Of course, if you slap your moisturizer on like you’ve not a care in the world, it’s not going to harm your skin, per se, but wouldn’t you rather know how to get the best from each and every product in your regime? Getting more bang for your buck in the process and helping your skin be the best version of itself?
We know where we stand on that one.
So on that note, here’s a quick guide on how to correctly apply the most important products in your skincare routine.
How Best To Apply: Cleanser
Washing your face feels like a pretty elementary step in your routine but, trust us, a few tweaks to your cleansing technique are guaranteed to make a huge difference. Of course this depends on the formulation, but the general rule is that gels and foams are best applied to damp skin because water helps them emulsify so they’re able to cut through oils and surface debris. Cleansing oils, creams, lotions and milks, on the other hand, work more efficiently when they’re undiluted, so you’re better off applying these to dry skin.
Whatever formulation you choose, try to spend two or three minutes massaging the cleanser into your skin to get the best results. Use circular motions all over your face and neck, and concentrate on areas like the side of your nose where sebum can become trapped.
Once you’ve massaged it all over for a few minutes, a great trick is to leave the cleanser on your skin for an extra minute before rinsing. This helps to really soak up any extra debris that might be lurking around. Then rinse thoroughly with warm – NEVER HOT – water and pat dry with a clean, cotton face towel.
How Best To Apply: Toner
After cleansing, comes toner which is great step for topping off your cleansing routine and treating the skin while gently preparing it for the rest of your skincare regime.
Again, depending on the formula, most toners are applied using a cotton pad but try to stick with reusable options which can be thrown in the laundry after each use. Regular cotton wool pads may seem ‘natural’ but they’re not compostable and require tons of water and energy to produce.
As your application technique goes, this one is pretty straightforward. Simply soak your cotton pad then lightly sweep it over your skin without using too much force – you don’t want to drag the skin as this can cause surface damage.
We like to start at the center of the face, swiping upward and out to help lift the skin. And remember to use both sides of the pad to ensure a thorough tone.
How Best To Apply: Face Serums
Hard-working and extremely beneficial to your skin, facial serums should always come after toning (or cleansing if toning isn’t your jam) and before moisturizing. This is because they’re thinner, more lightweight and have a smaller molecular structure than moisturizers, enabling them to penetrate the skin deeper and more efficiently. If you apply moisturizer first this will leave a barrier on the surface of your skin, stopping your serum from getting its job done.
Because of their concentrated nature, only a small amount of serum is ever needed – one or two drops is often the sweet spot. Use your dropper to apply your serum to the palm of your hand, then work it between your hands to help you distribute it more evenly. To apply, gently press and tap it into all areas of the face and neck, using upward movements but with very little massaging motion. Instead, allow the serum to absorb naturally into the skin.
How Best To Apply: Eye Treatments
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face so when it comes to applying eye creams and gels it’s imperative you go gently. Like, super gently.
Go for a small amount of product (a pea-sized amount is usually enough for both eyes) and use your ring fingers rather than your forefingers to apply it. This ensures you apply less pressure to this fragile area – smart huh? Some people like to smooth their eye treatment around the eyes but we prefer to tap the product around the entire orbital bone area as this not only helps to stimulate circulation but also reduces drag and potential damage.
Important note to remember: always allow your eye treatment a minute or two to sink in and settle before moving on to moisturizer and/or makeup.
How Best To Apply: Moisturizer
You might be tempted to rub in your moisturizer with a strong, firm hand but, as with most of your skincare regime, a lighter touch is always best. Saying that, however, giving your skin a little workout while your moisturize is never a bad idea!
How much moisturizer do you need? Roughly a quarter-sized amount should be more than enough for your entire face and neck, but always read the label on your product – it’s not just there to look pretty, you know.
Warm your product for a few seconds between your hands (as long as they’re clean, of course!), then use your hands and pads of your fingers to work it all over the face in circular motions, working up and out towards your hairline. This light, massage approach will improve blood flow and encourage lymphatic drainage to pep up dull, tired skin and really get your glow on.
How Best To Apply: Sunscreen
Finally, one of the most important steps: sunscreen. Unless you’re doubling up with a super-smart SPF serum (which we can help you out with, right here!), sunscreen should always be the last step in your skincare routine. Also, unlike the rest of your formulations, it’s the one you can slather on to your heart’s content. In fact, on this occasion, more is definitely more.
Most experts agree that about ½ teaspoon or a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen lotion ensures adequate protection for your face and neck. Squeeze it into your hand then smooth a good layer all over your skin. Oh and if you’re going to be spending lots of time outside, reapply frequently. No arguments.
DYK You’re Likely Applying Your Skincare All Wrong?
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