Travel Skin Care For Long Haul Flights
Having boarded my first 16-hour long haul flight at a couple of weeks old, I suppose am pretty well versed on the ins and outs of long distance flights. And if there is one thing that stands out to me when it comes to long haul flights, it is their capacity to sabotage your skin care efforts. After my 36-hour journey to the Far East last week, I am still recovering from the effects of the journey on my skin. Let’s face it: travel skin care can sometimes be an afterthought.
In the midst of the rush to pack, stress to meet deadlines before your trip, and the anticipation of the journey, it is easy to overlook your skin care regimen. I know that after years of consistent and extensive travel I still fall prey to neglecting my skin. Amongst all other tasks, it can be difficult to make skin health a priority. But there’s no way to get around the way travelling into 12, 15, 18-hour territory on a plane can be ruthless on your entire system. So, how do we keep our skin in good condition while travelling?
10 Essential Travel Skin Care Tips
This blog post is a complete travel skin care guide to maintaining healthy, happy skin on your travels so that you can enjoy your trip to its fullest. I have compiled a list of the 10 essential travel skin care steps you should be making to achieve healthy skin for your next holiday. In this article I break down all the things you can implement before, during and after your flight for an optimal complexion. Whether your destination is five hours or fifty hours away, you can make sure you are looking after your skin every step of the way.
Before your flight
You are preparing for your upcoming trip and checking off your to-do list before you leave.
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Skip the exfoliants and other strong treatments.
Chemical exfoliants, peels, retinols and other potent anti-ageing treatments speed up the rate of skill cell turnover. These ingredients also have the propensity to impair skin’s barrier function. The skin’s barrier aids in retaining moisture, antimicrobial activity, regulates inflammation and protects against environmental aggressors and free radical damage. This means that having a depleted skin barrier is less than optimal when it comes to travelling. A key part of travel skin care is keeping your protective barrier in tact to shield from outside offenders.
Just as travel and flying can wreak havoc on your immune system and make you susceptible to catching an illness, the same applies to your skin. Your skin is in a weakened state during travel and flying, and an already weakened skin barrier only adds fuel to the fire. When we are flying, we are exposing ourselves to all sorts of foreign microbes, free radical damage and things that have the potential to harm our skin. Keep your skin in an optimized state by avoiding any sort of vigorous treatments before exposing it to travel. Read my article for more about why you must protect your skin from free radicals.
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Moisturise generously.
Humidity on a plane is virtually nonexistent. If you have ever been on an aircraft, I am sure you are familiar with that parched, shrivelled up feeling your skin has when you are in the thick of air travel. Your skin is being leached of moisture by the dry, recycled air. Before your flight, you want to make sure you are moisturising generously to prevent your skin drying out drastically. You want to make sure your travel skin care routine includes a good moisturiser that seals in hydration to prevent it leaching out.
Maintain your skin’s hydration levels with adequate emollients and occlusive agents to ensure moisture is not rapidly escaping your skin. If you typically use a humectant like hyaluronic acid, you might want to switch that in favour of an oil or rich cream. This is because hyaluronic acid draws moisture from the environment in order to keep skin hydrated. Due to the fact that there is extremely low moisture levels on an aircraft, a product only containing hyaluronic acid will do little to ensure sufficient hydration.
The Moisturising VIPs (Very Important Products)
Instead, try a rich moisturiser like Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream. It is packed with ceramides which are important for enforcing your skin’s protective barrier. This product will seal in moisture and prevent drying out of skin. It also contains licorice root which I love for its anti-redness and skin brightening properties. The Ceramidin Gel Cream is a wonderful lightweight alternative and you can get it in the UK from Selfridges online.
Another classic favourite of mine for travel is First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration. It uses soothing ingredients like allantoin and colloidal oatmeal to calm stressed skin, as well as providing intense moisture. If this texture is too thick for you, Ultra Repair Moisturiser is an equally great option.
For my oily ladies, a simple non comedogenic face oil may be all you need. I like this variety because it contains 3.4 times more oil than other brands that only offer 30ml. So while it may look like more money up front, it is actually more worthwhile. If you cannot get your hands on that one, Peter Thomas Roth and Indie Lee make extremely high quality ones too. If you would like to go the affordable route, this one works great too, although I will say I’m not the greatest fan of the packaging. I have knocked it over and had it shatter and had to repurchase it a number of times before even being remotely able to finish the bottle.
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Apply a sunscreen.
We already know sunscreen is a must for a travel skin care regimen. But it’s not just for when you’re lying on the beach at your destination. If for some reason you think you are safe from sun damage on a plane, think again. You might overlook the sunscreen since you are essentially still “indoors” and not directly exposed to sunlight as you would be at a beach for instance. However, in reality, this is not the case. At higher altitudes, you are closer to the Sun and the effects of sun damage can be exacerbated. To know exactly where sunscreen should go in your routine, read this article about how to layer skincare.
While you may be shielded from much of the UVB radiation that causes sunburns, UVA rays can still penetrate the windows of the aircraft. UVA radiation penetrates more deeply into skin than UVB and damages DNA. Therefore, it would be sensible to make sure you are still protecting your skin from potential sun damage. Make sure you have read this article about everything you need to know about sun damage, the different types of UV radiation and what you should know about SPF.
During the flight
You have boarded the aircraft and already feel the effects of the dry, recycled air.
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Spritz away.
Try to incorporate a hydrating mist into your travel skin care plan. Having a facial mist on hand during a flight can be a Godsend for your skin. Periodically spritzing your skin with a hydrating facial spray will ensure you are topping up your skin’s moisture levels and retaining much needed hydration. Sprays can help to soothe and calm skin and act as a refreshing pick-me-up mid-flight.
It is important to make sure that you are using a hydrating facial mist to help seal in moisture. Some facial sprays, if not selected properly can actually be excessively drying to the skin. Do not mistakenly opt for a facial setting spray which tends to include a high amount of denatured alcohol that will have a marked effect on causing skin to dry out.
The Face Mist VIPs
Sprays that only contain water like an Evian Facial Spray
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Lip balm for the win.
A significant part of travel skin care is caring for the lips too, and not just the face. It is of vital importance to continually reapply a moisturiser to the lips. Lips are extremely susceptible to growing parched and chapped. This will only be aggravated by the enclosed environment on an aircraft. The skin of the lips is very thin and is thus less protected than the rest of your body, so making sure lips are coated at all times will prevent excess damage and dryness.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream will forever be a favourite because it is a fabulous multi tasker. It is great for travel due to its versatility. It can be used anywhere you need some extra moisture such as cuticles, elbows, and lips. For a simple lip balm, I really like this Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF 30 because it acts as a moisture barrier while also adding a little colour and containing additional SPF.
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No naked skin.
This one may be a bit controversial for advocates of makeup removal on flights. However, if you think about it, makeup does provide an extra layer of protection for the skin against the external environment and pollution. Removing everything from your face on a flight has the potential to expose your bare skin to outside bacteria, radiation and free radical damage. Travel skin care doesn’t only mean packing on skincare products, but also keeping out skin aggressors.
Don’t get me wrong here, I am not advocating a full-face beat, complete with false lashes and the works. I know there is concern with sleeping in makeup, but one night of sleeping in a little mineral makeup will not be the demise of your face. While I would not advocate wearing a lot of eye makeup, a non-comedogenic mineral foundation should not do too much harm for a flight. Mineral foundations have the tendency to look better as they are worn in too. They tend not to wear off as noticeably in the way a conventional liquid foundation would. If you indeed have the good fortune to fly first class, and have the luxury of extra leg room to set out your entire travel skin care routine, power to you.
But for the everyday economy-class girl who doesn’t really want to go through the inconvenience of having to constantly get up, pull your luggage out from the overhead lockers, wait in line for the washroom, cause a mess trying to splash your face amidst the airplane turbulence, return to your seat with your elaborate skincare routine, then have to reapply your makeup before landing… you have the option to just keep your face on. And doing so won’t actually harm your face.
The Base VIPs
Something like Bareminerals Foundation SPF 15 will provide coverage without aggravating your skin or causing breakouts. It is on sale now through one of my favourite beauty websites. They have just released a brand new Blemish Clearing Foundation formula with salicylic acid which I have yet to try but is definitely on my list. It is not available yet in the UK but we do have access to this Blemish Remedy Foundation. It has a mesh so is less messy than the loose minerals. If loose minerals are a little too inconvenient for your liking, BarePro Powder Foundation is a good option in a compact. I personally use pressed powders because they are more convienient and easier to travel with.
Mineral makeup will never appear as flawless as liquid foundations although I’d argue you don’t need a full face on a flight. There are certain lightweight skincare/makeup hybrids that do offer more coverage than a powder however, if you do prefer a little something extra. For an all-in-one option that hydrates, offers broad spectrum SPF 30 and can be built up to a solid medium coverage, I used the Bareminerals Tinted Moisturiser on my last long haul journey back home a couple of days ago. I was in a pinch and did not have any of my skincare, sunscreen or usual foundations with me, so I applied the tinted moisturiser alone to bare skin and it worked beautifully, even in the absence of a primer. The coverage can be built up without looking cakey and it leaves a glowing finish to skin.
If you do prefer makeup removal
Especially when flying economy class, engaging in the entire makeup removal process can be rather laborious and troublesome. Not to mention, trying to wash off a full-face in the cabin bathroom sounds less than appealing and pretty gross. I would rather wear a simple light dusting of powder and skip the rest of the makeup application while travelling than doing a full-face and wanting to remove it mid-flight.
If you feel you absolutely must remove your makeup, opt for a gentle makeup wipe. MAC makeup wipes are able to remove even the most long wearing makeup and work excellently. I also really love these affordable Simple Water Boost makeup wipes because they are non drying and affordable. If you’re dedicated enough to bring cotton pads and a bottle of micellar water, this mini Bioderma works like a charm.
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Top up your H2O levels.
Air flight is dehydrating on your entire system, let alone your skin. Stay hydrated from within by monitoring your water intake. Consuming some fresh fruit during your flight will also ensure you are remaining deeply hydrated and not simply peeing out all the water. Water contained in food sources like fruit and vegetables assimilates into cells and builds moisture more effectively.
On arrival
You have arrived at your destination and you are ready to wash off the journey, unwind and relax.
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Cleanse and mask.
You are finally able to seize the opportunity for a substantial facial cleanse. Begin with a cleansing balm or oil to melt away the remnants of your travels. My cleansing balm of choice at the moment is Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. It is fragrance free, contains shea butter, and removes everything from waterproof mascara to last Friday night’s sins. Follow your makeup removal with a facial cleanser. 
The Masking VIPs
As I have been visiting Asia, I have been introduced to this Water Sleeping Mask by Korean brand Laneige. Essentially a sleeping mask works like a night cream on steroids. It originated in Asia, where they are huge proponents of dewy, plump skin and its youth promoting appearance. You simply apply it like you would a night cream, leave it on as an overnight treatment while you sleep, and wake up to soft bouncy skin. It works to intensely hydrate and can be used a few nights a week. I am really excited to do a whole write up on more must have Asian beauty and skincare products. Keep an eye out for that post coming soon!
I recently used up a mini size of this Rodial Dragon’s Blood Mask and it was great at plumping up my skin. Although it doesn’t have the highest concentration of active anti ageing ingredients to work long term, it does deliver quick results and diminishes fine lines. The Moisture Surge Overnight Mask is fabulous at providing intense moisture and is just a classic line I have been using for years. The Avene Moisture Mask works really well for sensitive skin and helps calm redness when I am dealing with flare ups. I am also dying to try this Jet Lag Mask by Summer Fridays. If you have tried it yourself, please let me know how it worked for you!
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Get your glow back.
Now is the time to finally satisfy your craving for a good face treatment or exfoliant. The high-pressurised environment on board a flight can impede blood flow and encourage dullness. Combat a dull complexion with an AHA or BHA product to shed the dead skin cells and restore skin radiance. The exfoliating action of these ingredients will also work to clear your pores. This prevents breakouts and the build-up of bacteria that may have accumulated during your journey. Take a look at this must-read guide to BHAs.
The Travel Treatment VIPs
Make sure you add an exfoliating product to your travel skin care list. I am a huge fan of these Dr Dennis Gross Peel Pads because they come in convenient individual packets which are great for travel. If your skin is more sensitive, this Ultra Gentle Daily Peel for Sensitive Skin will be your best friend. These are a little pricey, but I use an easy trick to stretch them twice as far. Simply cut the individual pads in half to make sure you are getting more for your money. I also like these Facial Radiance Pads for travel because they are a gentle treatment of glycolic and lactic acids that really help improve skin tone and texture. The great thing about pre soaked pads for travel is you don’t have to worry about carrying liquids or cotton.
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Massage away the water retention.
Being stuck on a flight for 16 hours, paired with the abundance of salty snacks on board, can leave you feeling puffy and bloated. A facial massage assists in draining excess facial fluid and helps to get a sluggish lymphatic system flowing more efficiently. Travel skin care can be as much about the tools and techniques as it is about the travel skin care products.
Multitasker Massage and Cleansing Tools
This Foreo Luna Mini 2 is the perfect mini travel companion. It is compact and easy to transport so is perfect for taking on trips with the rest of your travel skin care products. Use it with your cleanser to remove makeup and impurities, while also giving your face a massage. I like that, unlike other facial cleansing devices, you do not need to keep replacing a brush head. It has a silicone surface so there is no need to constantly repurchase expensive brush heads to make sure it is still hygienic. I like this one because it is portable but is also great for use at home.
However, if you would like an even compacter option, there is the option of going even smaller with Luna Go. I personally prefer this to the smallest version Luna Play as that is a little too small for my preferences. If you do like how mini it is, go for Luna Play Plus
The Massage VIPs
This Jade Facial Roller is easy to use and great for relieving facial tension. It helps to smooth and contour the face while promoting lymphatic drainage. Simply glide the roller over the skin after applying a facial oil. Popping this in the fridge before use can also help to provide a refreshed, cooling effect.
Gua Sha is a Chinese Healing technique to improve circulation. This Facial Gua Sha tool helps to lift the face and sculpt by removing excess fluid build up. It improves radiance and promotes a brighter, firmer complexion. If you would like an affordable alternative, try out this Jade Roller and Gua Sha Set so that you can test both jade rolling and gua sha if you are still new to them.
This Nurse Jamie Uplift Massaging Facial Roller is encrusted with stones so that you get the cooling sensation while also achieving the massaging benefits. It is also available internationally through this online retailer if you would like to try it out but do not have access to the Sephora website.
Final Thoughts
It can be very tricky trying to keep your skin in good shape while you travel. Changes in timezones affect our circadian rhythms, the environment and humidity in the air alter our moisture levels, our diet and exercise habits change. There are so many factors that affect our skin’s behaviour when we travel. Especially for people like me, whose skin is highly sensitive to changes in climate and environment, we have to be extra weary of how our skin is behaving. Simply implementing a few of these steps can make a big difference from if you weren’t to do anything at all. I hope that this post has given you an idea of how to tackle your travel skin care routine. And let me know, do you have any additional travel skin care tips? What are your travel skin care best practices?
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Last but not least, wherever you are travelling to, I hope you have an amazing time.
Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limits,
Shannon xo
Shop This Post
I know this post is extensive and you might have missed a few things. For your convenience, I have listed out every travel skin care item mentioned in this post. Simply click on the link and it will take you straight to the exact product I’m referring to. I hope that this makes it more accessible so you do not have to scan the entire article for recommendations. Here is the at-a-glance recap for your reference.
Moisturisers
Dr Jart Ceramidin Gel Cream (UK and international)
Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration (US) FAB Ultra Repair Cream (UK)
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturiser
Facial Sprays
Urban Decay Setting Spray (good for setting makeup, not good for hydrating)
Lip balm
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Foundation
Bareminerals Foundation SPF 15
Makeup Remover
Simple Water Boost makeup wipes
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Face Masks
Summer Fridays Jet Lag (UK) Summer Fridays Jet Lag (US)
Facial Massage
Facial Gua Sha Tool (US)
Luna Mini (international)
Mini 2
Nurse Jamie Uplift Massaging Facial Roller (US) Nurse Jamie Facial Roller (UK)
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and all opinions belong to me. So that my reader can easily and conveniently browse each product recommendation, I have linked a number of products. Because a considerable amount of time is taken to carefully research, try out, search for and list each product, I have chosen to include some affiliate links. I would like to give a whole hearted thank you if you choose to purchase through my links and for trusting my recommendations.
4 Comments
Great tips… Thanks for sharing…
Thank you so much for reading!
On travel now so this is so useful! Great tips. Thank you!
Thank you for reading! Enjoy your travels 🙂