Beauty Editor-Approved: A Pre-Flight (and In-Flight!) Skin Care Routine

We’ve all experienced that moment where we stagger off the gangway after a long-haul flight feeling tired and uneasy—with the skin to match. Arriving fresh-faced after sitting in dry cabin air for hours upon hours is no easy feat, but it surely isn’t impossible. Follow these skin care tips and tricks before takeoff (and while at cruising altitude) to walk off the plane ready to be greeted by a swarm of paparazzi. Hey, you never know…

PRE-FLIGHT SKIN CARE ROUTINE 

Phew, you made it through that seemingly never-ending line at the airport security checkpoint. Have some time to kill before boarding? Get to work on prepping your skin. To start, grab a makeup remover wipe—we love Garnier Clean+ Purifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes—to help remove pore-clogging dirt, oil, and makeup from your face. Next, spray your entire face and neck with a hydrating mist, like Vichy Thermal Spa Water 50g. Enriched with 15 rare minerals and antioxidants, it offers protective benefits to the skin. It also feels really, really refreshing, so keep it handy for your in-flight routine, too. Once it dries, it’s time to moisturize. Dehydrated skin is a big beauty killer on airplanes, so you’ll want a long-lasting, moisture-retaining formula to avoid that parched, crepey skin look. Pick one that also contains SPF—you’re closer to the sun when flying!—even if you’re not sitting in a window seat. And finally, before you step on the plane, buy a bottle of water at a nearby kiosk and drink it throughout the flight to stay hydrated. It’s good for your skin and good for your health. 

IN-FLIGHT SKIN CARE ROUTINE

Once at 30,000 feet, it’s time to whip out the eye cream—especially if you’re going to be running on fewer hours of sleep due to jetlag, time zone changes, etc.—to mask any appearance of tiredness. The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream is a great one to keep in tow because it hydrates the delicate skin around the eye area, and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and puffiness. Skin is left feeling soft and smooth, so we always make sure not to leave home without it! Next, treat your pout with SPF lip balm, like The Body Shop Vitamin E Lip Care Stick SPF 15, and continue to spritz your skin with thermal spa water if it starts to feel parched. The beauty of these two in-flight must-haves (apart from their skin benefits, of course) is that you can use them as much as you want. About an hour or so before landing, cover any imperfections with your favorite foundation or concealer, paying close attention to the under-eye area. Follow up with a quick sweep of blush, a coat of lipstick— Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Rouge Volupté has SPF in it, so why not?—and voila, you’re ready to strut off that plane like it’s nobody’s business.