If you are one of those people who take their skincare seriously, then you wouldn’t want anything to ruin the skin you have put so much hard work in to make it perfect or almost perfect – not even a few hours’ flight!

So if you are going on a trip and you are traveling by air, you want your skin to remain perfect and glow when you reach your destination.

Here, we have tips on how to care your skin before, during, and after a flight.

Caring For Your Skin before a Flight

The air on an airplane is dry and recirculated and it can affect your skin by causing disruption of the skin’s outer layer, which can cause inflammation. The skin is also exposed to UV radiation in the air because being above 10,000 feet increases risk for sun burn as UV radiation can penetrate through the airplane window.

The humidity level in airplanes are also significantly lower that what our skin is used to; 20% compared with 30-60%. This may leave your skin feeling dry or even very oily, as the skin will start to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness.

The lower air pressure and higher altitude causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen your blood carries, and the reduced low of oxygen ill make your skin appear dull and lackluster. You may also experience water retention after sitting for longer periods of time, making you appear puffier, especially under the eyes.

Also, because the same air circulates in an airplane, a lot of germs and build-up can occur on the skin and these can be worse that the ones your skin is used to dealing with.

So what should you do to care for your skin before a flight?

The first thing to do is to drink water before your flight. Hydration is important and the more hydrated you are from within, the more hydrated your skin will be. You should also try to avoid caffeine because it is diuretic – this means it causes you to urinate more often and will possibly lead to dehydration.

To keep your skin in good condition before flying, you should prepare before you get on board. This includes taking a cold or warm shower and going through your normal skin routine of masking, exfoliating, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Make sure your face is freshly washed, then moisturize and wear sunscreen.

You should also have your face wipes and a good serum like a hyaluronic acid serum that you can reapply when you are feeling dry. You can also go with a moisturizing face mask.

You can wear an overnight hydrating and cleansing face mask the night before you embark on your journey. This will help deal with the lack of humidity during the flight.

How To Care For Your Skin During A Flight

As soon as you get on the plane, remove all the makeup you have on with an oil cleanser, this would nourish your skin while it cleanses it. If you want to do this in your sit, you can opt for cleaning your make up with micellar water on a cotton pad.

Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen, even in winter! As stated earlier, UV radiation can penetrate through the airplane window. You don’t want to deal with sunburn.

Your face wipes and lip balm should be with you. Clean your face with a cleansing face wipe when you feel it is oil and dirty. You will feel fresh faced. You can apply your moisturizer after cleaning with the wipes. Also rub your lip balm to keep your lips moisturized.

Apply a sleeping mask if you are going to sleep on an airplane. You can rub a moisturizing sleeping mask that doesn’t require any rinsing. You can rub skin nourishing oils like argan and jojoba oil, or hydrating cream or serum that contains hyaluronic acid to keep your skin nourished overnight.

How To Take Care of Your After a Flight

You have reached your destination, and are probably exhausted from the flight, but before you kick of those shoes and jump on your bed, your skin care comes first. You need to refresh your skin and get it ready for your new destination, especially if you need to make an appearance in a few hours.

Wake up your skin by washing it with a gentle facial cleansing foaming scrub to remove dead cells and oil build-up, or wash with your cleanser and exfoliate with a scrub after wards.

Next, use a toner to remove excess dirt and oil and to help prevent acne. You can use a witch hazel or rose water toner.

After toning, moisturize your skin with a good moisturizing cream or serum. You can also use a moisturizing serum that contains brightening ingredients such as Vitamin C, arbutin, and niacinamide. This helps give your skin a complexion boost.

If you have access to natural ingredients, you can make a homemade mask with aloe vera and lemon, lemon and cucumber, turmeric and lemon, milk and honey, or turmeric and honey. This will heal your skin and you will notice an instant glow. This should be done after cleansing and before moisturizing. You can skip toning if you use any of the homemade masks.

Follow this guide and you won’t be scared of your skin getting bad because of a few hours on airplane.