A good time for skincare? During a flight

Skin has different needs depending on our biological characteristics and external factors. Diet, age, climate, season, whether we are at the seaside or in the city are all elements we should consider when establishing our skincare routine. Even taking a plane - especially on long flights - could create specific conditions that need to be addressed with the help of skincare products. Reduced humidity, temperature fluctuations, changes in barometric pressure, increased exposure to ionizing radiation, and altered microbial environment can indeed cause dehydration and other damages. How to tackle the problem? Now that summer holidays are approaching, the hashtag #planeskincare is trending on TikTok with over 84.5 million views of GRWM videos showing how people prepare their skin before and during flights. Let's delve deeper into it.

What Happens to the Skin During a Flight

Ideally, our skin thrives with humidity levels between 40% and 70%. However, during flights, cabin humidity generally drops to 10-20%, causing an imbalance that compromises the function of the skin barrier. This decrease in humidity and the dry, oxygen-deficient air can leave the skin thirsty, irritated, and dull. Sometimes, in an attempt to retain water and compensate for dry conditions, the skin can start producing more oil, potentially leading to clogged pores and breakouts, especially for individuals with oily or combination skin types.

What to Do Before the Flight

If we know we're going to take a flight, the best thing to do is to prepare the skin before departure. The first step? Drink the right amount of water. It's also recommended to exfoliate for a few consecutive days so that the removal of superficial dead cells allows moisturizers to work even better, but without overdoing it. For extra hydration, we can use sheet masks for the face overnight. Before heading to the airport, take a shower and follow a thorough body and face care routine. It's better to opt for a makeup-free look, preferring clean skin, perhaps resorting to double cleansing. Finally, apply a hydrating serum containing humectants that bind water like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, followed by a rich and nourishing facial cream. Lastly, don't forget a good SPF, because several studies have shown that radiation levels are twice as high during flights as they are at ground level.

What to Do During the Flight

Hydrating is the key word for handling airplane travels well. The pressurized air in the airplane cabin tends to dry out the skin, so we need to replenish our water reserves by drinking and applying a slightly richer cream than what we would use on the beach or in the city, followed by a serum. Ideally, find a multitasking product containing ceramides, vitamin C, retinol, and emollients like shea butter and squalane. If the flight is long, we can take some additional steps, such as gently cleansing the skin with wipes containing emollient ingredients like chamomile and aloe vera, applying a moisturizing sheet mask perhaps with shea butter or vitamin E, or some eye patches with instant nourishing action. A good idea is to spray thermal water to soothe and refresh the skin. If we want, we can include in our travel kit a rose quartz or jade roller to massage the skin and increase blood circulation. A couple of tips: use an excellent balm for the lips and a hand cream, and thoroughly disinfect them with antibacterial products before proceeding.

What Can You Bring on the Plane?

All very well, but beware. Full-size products cannot be carried in the cabin and cannot be put in hand luggage. If you don 't want to have any unpleasant surprises and don't want to see your beloved serums, creams, and balms discarded at security checks, equip yourself with mini sizes or small containers to transfer everything, and make sure you find out beforehand what the baggage policy of the airline you've chosen is.

After the Flight

Thanks to mini-sized beauty products, we haven't skipped the skincare routine during the flight, but what do we do now that we've landed? If possible, proceed with a shower or a hot bath, followed by a moisturizing body cream. Then, focus on cleansing the face, using gentle exfoliators and cleansers. Apply the most suitable serum for our needs, for example, if the skin looks dull and lackluster, go for vitamin C. Finally, it's time for facial cream. What else can we add if we have time? A mask, for a hydration boost.