To get to your travel destination, taking a plane is a necessity most of the times. But who loves being cramped in a plane – even if you’re in first or business class? I know I don’t. My favorite part is actually getting off the plane!

And with the recirculated dry cabin air throughout the flight and germ-laden surfaces, it doesn’t do your skin any good. That’s why you may see people wearing face masks for hydration or spray a hydrating face mist as a skin pick-me-up. Personally, I’ve never seen anyone use a face mask on the plane, but I’ve seen someone use it an airport (which has much higher foot traffic – props to the “I don’t care” attitude!). But is an in-flight skincare routine really necessary and is it really effective?

A lot of us would say that it is not practical or convenient, especially when flying economy. And is isn’t doing that a little extra?

The answer is, that although an in-flight skincare routine sounds like a good concept, the best thing to do is a hydrating skincare routine before and after your flight. You don’t need to do anything while you’re in-flight in terms of a skincare routine, but what you can do is drink water (from a bottle only – here are 22 Travel Hacks To Survive A Long Haul Flight). And sometimes, depending on the product you use, it can actually do opposite of what you intend it to do while on a plane. Why?

Types of Moisturizing Agents

3 types of moisturizing agents can be found in moisturizing skincare and haircare products:

1 – Humectant Ingredients

Humectant ingredients moisturize by absorbing moisture or water from the air and retaining it in the top layer of your skin which also help plump up your skin – think hyaluronic acid. This means that if you use skincare products with a humectant in it – such as a hydrating mist or a face mask – it will try to take moisture from the air to hydrate your skin. But since it is dry air caused by low humidity levels on a plane, there’s nothing to take from the air. The humectants will actually draw the moisture from your skin and pull it to the surface and dry you out once you remove your sheet mask or when the hydrating mist dries up. What you need to do if you use humectants, is immediately use a skincare product with 1 of the 2 ingredients below to seal it in. Water-based skincare products usually won’t be able to keep you as hydrated. Examples are aloe vera, honey, and glycerin.

2 – Occlusive Ingredients

Occlusive ingredients work by forming a protective layer or barrier on the surface of your skin to prevent moisture loss. It basically seals in moisture for your skin and doesn’t allow water to evaporate. This is probably the best type of moisturizer to use when you’re on an airplane. These types of moisturizers would be thicker – such as balms. The most popular is probably petroleum jelly or better known as Vaseline. This can also be silicone or other oils like jojoba or Argan oil.  They usually have a thicker consistency too.

3 – Emollient Ingredients

Emollient ingredients are oil-based and fills in the cracks of the skin and helps with smoothening out the skin. It basically helps with skin barrier restoration and also helps with water loss. This is also another good skincare option to use while you’re in-flight as it’s formulations are usually for very dry skin. Examples of emollient ingredients are shea butter and cocoa butter.

A lot of skincare products will tell you if the item is water or oil-based. But to make things a little easier to remember, humectants can be serums like acids. Skincare with occlusive ingredients are thicker creams. And products with emollients can be gels and lotions. Of course, keep in mind that every beauty brand can have a mixture of these or have their own unique formulations. If you’re unsure, the best thing to do is check the ingredient list or even contact customer service to confirm.

Knowing this, using quick hydration methods like a hydrating face mist or a face mask in a normal environment would work perfectly, but not in somewhere as dry as a plane. You’ll definitely have to quickly follow up with a moisturizer that can actually seal in the moisture that you just added to your skin. And another question is, can your face really be clean especially when the air on the a plane is recycled? Does it feel like you would be sealing in whatever is in the dry air from possibly over a hundred people on the plane with their coughing or sneezing? Personally, I rather not take that chance. I also apply makeup before leaving the house, even when I’m flying, so this isn’t really a factor for me.

What You Should Do Outside Of An In-Flight Skincare Routine

Like I mentioned above, aside from drinking water on the plane to stay hydrated – which also helps your skin, a before-and-after your flight skincare routine is best.

Before Your Flight

Do your skincare routine as usual before you leave your home, but instead of your regular moisturizer, opt for a richer one. To add extra hydration, you can use a hyaluronic acid before your moisturizer and a face oil after. Sometimes we avoid richer moisturizers as they can break us out, trust me I’ve been through it too, but once you’re on that plane for many hours, you’ll slowly start to dehydrate and a heavier moisturizer will be a lifesaver. You can also use a hydrating lip mask on top of that.

During Your Flight

Drink water! Here are 8 Ways To Stay Hydrated For Great Skin While Traveling. You can use some of these tips in-flight and all can be used once you land.

After Your Flight

If you have time to wind down before exploring your destination, do your skincare routine as soon as you get to your accommodations. Using a detoxifying cleanser like Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser or Boscia Detoxifying Black Charcoal Cleanser helps purify dirt-filled skin.  If you really have extra time, use a clay mask to further draw out impurities. I like using the Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Treatment Bar and because it is literally clay, there’s no travel restrictions on this as opposed to liquids.

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