If you’re flying long-haul (or for four hours or more) and want to avoid arriving looking like a dehydrated prune, try my tried-and-tested method for keeping your skin plump, hydrated and comfortable throughout the flight.
While flying long-haul, you are exposed to an environment that is notoriously harsh on your skin – cabin air humidity can drop below 20 per cent, which is drier than the Sahara desert. This quickly strips moisture from your skin, leaving it dry, tight and dull by the time you land.
This in-flight routine is one I’ve perfected over years of flying long-haul. My goal has always been to carry as few products as possible on to the plane while still achieving maximum results, so I land looking like a juicy, hydrated peach.
Here’s my step-by-step method, complete with product recommendations, to keep your skin hydrated and glowing throughout the flight.
- If possible, get on the plane with clean, make-up free skin. If you can’t, this is the only time I condone the use of face wipes. Use ones that are gentle as possible, like Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes (€5.99 from Boots).
- After this, apply an eye cream to hydrate the delicate skin under your eyes. Try something lightweight and travel-friendly like CeraVe Eye Repair Cream (€15.50 from Boots). Then dampen your skin (a generous misting) with a gentle, hydrating mist. My go-to is Avène Hydrating Mist (€10.50 for 150ml from Meaghers Pharmacy), but I also love Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream Mist (€28.50 from Brown Thomas).
- Next, apply a hydrating serum. My preference is nearly always for Polyglutamic Serum from The Inkey List (€17.49 from millies.ie) – it holds more moisture than hyaluronic acid, and the packaging is practically weightless. Another serum I really rate for travel is Byoma Hydrating Serum (€15 from Space NK).
- Immediately after the serum, apply a thick layer of a barrier repairing cream to lock all that moisture in. My favourite is Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream (€25.50 from Boots). Skip the light, water-based creams for this step – we need moisture and lots of it. I also love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Advanced Barrier Cream (€45 from Arnotts).
- Repeat this process every four hours, or more often if needed. Do not remove what’s already on the skin. You want to hold on to the moisture you worked hard to build up.
Other dos and don’ts
If you like, you can use a sheet mask after the face wipes (or directly on to clean skin) and before the other products to get things going. I always recommend Dr Jart Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Mask (€11 from Brown Thomas) for this step. It’s one of the best out there for instant soothing and hydration. Just be sure to leave it on no longer than 15-20 minutes as it can inadvertently further dehydrate your skin.
And speaking of dehydration, never – I repeat, never – mist your skin and then do nothing else. In a dry environment like a plane, water molecules that are not immediately locked in with moisturiser will evaporate, taking any existing moisture on the skin’s surface with it. So, mist, hydrate, moisturise, and repeat.
Of course, skincare isn’t the only piece of the puzzle. Hydrated skin starts from within. Keep a water bottle handy to sip from throughout the flight, and avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine, which can exacerbate dehydration.
Once you land, give your skin some extra TLC. Use a gentle, non-stripping cleanser when you get to your destination, apply a barrier-repairing, nourishing serum, and moisturise generously.
If you’re feeling really parc
hed, use a hydrating facial mist, then a sheet mask, and if you really want to go to town (which is often necessary after very long flights) use an overnight mask after the sheet mask. Some of my favourites include Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (€32 from Space NK) and Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask (€48.95).
This week I’m trying ... The Ordinary Sulphur 10% Powder-To-Cream Concentrate
If there’s one thing we can always count on from The Ordinary, it’s their knack for innovative products. With the launch of their new targeted blemish treatment, Sulphur 10% Powder-To-Cream Concentrate, they’ve done it again.
Cleverly, this product provides an immediate solution for blemishes. The unique powder-to-cream texture can be applied directly to spots. When you press it on to the skin, the powder transforms into a light emulsion that absorbs excess oil, reduces redness and delivers visible results in just one hour. It comes in a palm-sized 5g tube that’s easy to carry around, and at €10.50, it’s affordable too.
