I don’t know about you, but air travel always dries out my skin and leaves me prone to breaking out upon arrival at my destination (it’s the worst!). But, if I’m proactive throughout the flight, I can arrive at my destination with much more cooperative skin.
#DYK: Cabin air is often less than 20% humidity, whereas at home, humidity is 30-50% or more.
Over the last few years, establishing a skincare routine whilst flying has become a mission and I’ve settled on a lineup of products to help. So, after years of international travel, I think I’ve finally perfected my long-haul skincare routine.
Btw: Everything in this routine can be done from the comfort of your seat — no need for back and forth to the lavatory.
To start…
While I don’t travel wearing makeup, I like to start with a clean slate before I begin my skincare regimen. I love Cetaphil’s Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes because they contain aloe vera, green tea, and chamomile. My skin always feels smooth and fresh. It’s good practice to clean your skin once onboard, as well as before landing because cabin air isn’t hygienic.
Right after the first meal is served, my regime kicks into high gear ✔️
Face Masks
I always travel with face masks (including for when I arrive and am fighting dry, puffy-faced jet-lag). I prefer jelly masks focused on hydration vs. paper masks (they dry too quickly in the recycled cabin air). Most masks indicate a 10-15 minute window to let them set, but I try to go for about 45 minutes. If you feel uncomfortable applying a face mask, fear not — opt for Glow Recipe’s Watermelon + AHA Glow Sleeping Mask. Gently pat the mask into skin until absorbed. Once you’ve hit the 45 minute mark, wipe it off with the Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes.
Serum
Once the mask has begun harden and lose moisture, remove it and tap the mask’s serum into skin. Now apply Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum. Pause and enjoy the citrus scent.
Eye Cream
Next, I whip out my skyn ICELAND Icelandic Relief Eye Pen and dab the cream gently on under my eye area. I absolutely swear by their Relief Eye Cream in a jar for dark circles, so this on-the-go pen is a necessity.
Moisturizer
Now it’s time to lock in the serum and eye cream with an ultra-rich moisturizing cream. It’s a must-have for applying multiple times throughout the duration of the flight. La Mer’s Crème de la Mer is my obsession, but if the price tag is too high, grab Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream.
Sleep
At this point, I’ve arrived at another critical moment in this routine: sleep. Once the eye cream and moisturizer have had time to sink into my skin and I’ve made myself comfortable (as comfortable as one can be), I turn off my overhead light, recline, and put on my Slip Silk Eye Mask. Slip’s eye mask is crafted from the highest grade mulberry silk with the perfect amount of shine, thickness, softness, and durability.
Quick side note: Right before you slip on your eye mask, add a thick layer of Carmex Classic Lip Balm to your lips.
Good morning!
About an hour before touch down, I start to prep my skin for arrival. I use Cetaphil Gentle Makeup Removing Wipes to remove excess product and any dirt from the recycled air.
Prepare for arrival…
Face Mist
Even with my routine, I’ll wake up to dry skin. I’ll mist Tata Harper’s Hydrating Floral Essence on my cleaned skin. If you’re sat next to a rando, this may be a good moment to head to the lavatory to spritz your skin and brush your teeth.
Eye Masks
Next, I apply skyn ICELAND’s Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels and leave on whilst I eat breakfast and hydrate with still water. These eye masks help my face mimic a good night’s sleep, even if I didn’t have one.
Lip Treatment
My final step is swiping on Tata Harper’s Be True lip treatment. It helps lips look fuller and feel softer.
Ps: I live and die by Glossier’s Zit Stick. This portable pen is 5% Benzoyl Peroxide with Tea Tree Oil and Capryloyl Salicylic Acid.
This may seem like a lot of products and steps, but feel free to pick and choose what works best for you. Do you have a fave I missed? Share it with me in the comments or slide into my DMs on IG or Twitter.
Exploring Bobby's World 