Travel — or rather, stale, recycled airplane air — is notorious for doing a number on your skin. It sucks all the good things out of your face, leaving it tight, dry and annoyingly breakout-prone. Still, dreaded plane air is a necessary evil one must face in order to cross great distances — for pleasure, business, familial obligation, etc. — in a timely manner.
On the bright side, these days, the general population is pretty obsessed with skin care. You’ll often see people performing entire hydration-minded skin care routines in-flight without attracting so much as a side-glance from their neighbor. In short, there’s no need to suffer through dryness and dullness for the sake of social decorum, or anything else.
With that in mind, check out the slideshow above for some genius travel beauty tips, plus 11 TSA-approved (aka under-3.4 ounce) skin care products that, when used correctly, will prevent you from touching down looking like a shriveled-up prune. Throw them in a plastic baggie, throw that in your carry-on, arrive looking impossibly dewy and fresh.
And if you’re more of an audio-visual learner, check out beauty blogger Tamira Jarrel’s simple(-ish) in-flight travel routine in the video below.
Bon voyage.
[ Next: 7 Travel Beauty Hacks That Will Change Your Life ]
Skincare for the Plane
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A Mini Micellar Water
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water, $6.90 at Amazon
First things first. Micellar water, if you're not familiar, is a French-girl beauty staple gone mainstream. It's great for removing makeup or cleansing in a pinch, making it perfect for air travel. Right after boarding, squeeze a few drops onto a cotton pad and wipe away at your face and neck and you've got a clean, hydrated, airport-grime-free canvas to work with.
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A Nutrient-Rich Face Oil
Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil Mini, $40 at Sephora
Not to belabor the point, but skin gets very easily dehydrated from the lack of moisture in recycled air. To avoid tight, generally uncomfortable airplane face, massage a thin layer of a gentle, non-irritating, nutrient-packed oil into your freshly cleansed skin. This'll create an extra barrier, lock in moisture and help prevent skin from getting stressed. Again, do this as soon after boarding as possible and re-apply every three hours or so (as needed).
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Apple Cider Vinegar
Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (Raw and Unfiltered), $4.29 at Amazon
Skin health is a reflection of gut health. Drinking lots of plain old water during your flight will help your skin stay hydrated (duh), but to stave off inflammation and bloating and keep your immunity up, do a shot of organic apple cider vinegar just before takeoff. The taste isn't the most pleasant, but trust us, the ends justify the means. (Needless to say, a whole bottle of Bragg's won't make it through TSA — but these refillable leakproof bottles will.)
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An Overnight Mask
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask, $16 at Kiehl's
A common mistake people make is to use sheet masks on planes. Sure, they're compact and relatively mess-free, but the cloth usually contains moisture-attracting ingredients (to hold in serum) and can actually make your skin more dehydrated, thus totally defeating the purpose. If you're going to shamelessly mask in public, do it right — opt for a creamy overnight mask with a heavier consistency. For instance, this squalane and glycerin-infused cult favorite from Kiehl's. Here's how to do it: apply a generous layer to your face, chill for 10 minutes, then gently wipe off most of the treatment, leaving a thin layer behind. Next, take a nap. The excess goo will keep your skin hydrated and protected while you snooze. (If you're feeling a bit self-conscious, here's a transparent alternative.)
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A Hydrating Lip Mask
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $20 at Sephora
Unlike other parts of your body, your lips don’t have any sebaceous glands, which means they suffer even more on long-haul flights. An all-star lip mask is non-negotiable. This beauty editor favorite is infused with vitamin C, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid (a known hydration hero). Slather it over your lips using the included spatula, wipe it off just before de-planing. Also, it smells like berries, which is nice.
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A Heavyweight Moisturizer
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration, $12 at Sephora
If your flight's on the shorter side/you're not quite ready to show the world your face mask face, follow up your serum with a heavy-duty, not-greasy moisturizer that'll invisibly work to prevent water evaporation.
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A VERY Gentle Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, $4.68 at Amazon
About an hour before landing, use an extremely gentle cleanser to delicately wash away all the masking, oil and plane air residue. This drugstore favorite is approved by the National Eczema Association, to give you an idea of how soothing and non-stripping it is.
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De-Puffing Eye Patches
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, $15 for 4 at Dermstore
After cleansing — but before you begin your initial descent and perhaps apply some makeup, depending on the hour — perk up your eyes with these celeb-approved patches from Skyn Iceland. These hydrate and de-puff your travel-bleary eyes and help you feel (and look) more awake and alert. Needless to say, they come in especially handy on red-eyes.
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A Re-Balancing Essence
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, $22 at Amazon
With the flight nearly over, a lighter (but equally effective) moisturizer's in order. Pat in a few drops of this snail slime-infused essence after your post-journey cleanse, arrive looking glowy and impossibly fresh.
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A Mega-Creamy Lip Butter
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Kiss Cupuacu Lip Butter, $18 at Sephora
Hydrating, healing and amazing for parched lips, this coconutty balm will give your post-flight pout a dewy sheen and, should you be on a beach getaway, whet your appetite for piña coladas.
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A Refreshing Spray
AmorePacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System, $35 at Sephora
Again, contrary to popular belief, dermatologists do not recommend you spray water on your face throughout flights. (Water attracts water, so this will dry out your skin.) However, just before de-planing, it's perfectly OK to breathe some life back into your skin by way of a refreshing, botanical-infused mist. Use this before or after you apply your makeup (to set it) and be sure not to spritz your fellow travelers in the process.
