Jetting off on holiday and stepping off the plane at your destination is one of the most exciting things life has to offer. Unfortunately, your skin isn’t so enthusiastic, feeling the dehydrating effects of the recycled air in the cabin. Throw fatigue, a cheeky glass of wine from the trolly, and sugary and salty snacks into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for a compromised skin barrier, or the dreaded, ‘airplane skin’.
But ‘airplane skin’ doesn’t have to be a certainty this summer. Read our tips on how to make sure your skin stays fully hydrated and holiday-ready if you’re heading up 30,000 into the air this summer.
Seal in moisture with a serum
Protect your skin barrier to make sure breakouts irritation doesn’t cause tightness and breakouts by giving your skin a dose of antioxidants in the form of a serum. A vitamin C serum such as Obagi Professional C 10% will deliver help to protect your skin from higher levels of UV radiation whilst you’re in the air. Vitamin C will also help to illuminate your skin and battle skin dullness, a common problem skin can experience in an environment with recycled air.
If you’re particularly prone to skin dryness and tightness, a hyaluronic acid serum such as Medik8 Hydr8 B5 will provide an instant burst of hydration. As a lightweight and oil-free serum, it’s super comfortable to wear if you’ve got a long day of traveling ahead of you.
Obagi Professional C 10%
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Medik8 Hydr8 B5
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Give your skin in-flight TLC
Don’t be afraid to pamper your skin on the plane journey, particularly if it’s a lengthy flight. A hydrating spritzer such as La Roche Posay Thermal Water can be used intermittently every couple of hours to top up your skin hydration and accentuate the power of your serum. Thermal water has been used since the 17th century to treat medical conditions. In 2023, it’s still used to treat inflammatory skin conditions and refresh and tone the skin.
Spray directly on a dry tissue or hold the spray 20cm from the body or face and close your eyes while spraying. Leave to penetrate for 2-3 minutes. Gently pat off any excess with a tissue.
La Roche Posay Thermal Water
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Lay off the salt
All the tastiest plane snacks are high in salt – think nuts, crisps, croque monsieur and tapas boxes. There’s a ‘but’ though… High-salt snacks cause water retention within the skin, increasing skin puffiness. If you can, choose high-protein and low-salt snacks and meal and make sure you drink plenty of water during the flight. If you’re having a little tipple, you will water to hit the water even more to minimise the hydration alcohol has on your skin.
Touchdown skincare
When you land, make sure you’ve got your SPF 50 at the ready, as the biggest threat to your skin whilst you’re in countries with a strong UV index is sun damage. Make sure you reapply between those dips in the pool or the sea, and enjoy plenty of water to help counteract skin dehydration.