I sit here, approximately 30 thousand feet in the air. Being crushed behind a woman who has decided to FULLY recline her seat back, the turbulence has me actively crapping my pants, and for the cherry on top, I can feel this evil plane air sucking the moisture out of my skin, drying me out like a beautiful, gorgeous, sexy piece of bread. I’m absolutely fuming because what can I do in this situation? Well, as I sit here feeling just a bit sorry for myself, I realise that out of all these tragedies, I can control one aspect, protect my skin at all costs. I’m not going to lie, it feels a little bit like a secret mission, grabbing my lil toiletries bag and shakily trying to get into the bathroom so I can actually do any of this.
Endless TikTok doom scrolling and article reading has led to this very moment, trying to attempt skincare on a flight so instead of landing like a crusty rat, I hope to land at least semi-presentable and, at best, a glowy little lady. Please follow along with me as I embarrass myself in the name of beauty and for the greater good.
The recommendations I’ve generally seen have been in line with keeping hydration HIGH while avoiding breakouts and overdoing it. While air quality in the air is high, it is EXTREMELY dry, kept below 10–20% humidity. So before getting into skincare, I have a few recommendations for aiding internal discomfort and preventing further issues when getting off the plane.
While on my flight, I drank plenty of water, at least two litres, with assistance from electrolytes such as Hydrolyte or Liquid IV. You may be going to the bathroom more frequently, but you’ll be thanking yourself later. Other handy tools I packed in my flight bag were lubricating eye drops and nasal spray to lessen the effect of feeling like I was drying up like a sponge on a hot day.
I can’t stress enough, it is best to avoid plane water as much as possible, so PLEASE cleanse before boarding. Plane water stored on flights is filled at different airports and REUSED across flights. It can be sitting in the pipes for a while, which is why it’s unsuitable for drinking in the first place. Your skin barrier is already stressed and more prone to irritation.
Either use a non-drying cleanser, such as the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser, or waterless cleansers such as micellar water and a cotton pad to clean your skin initially, the preferred option.
Also, let’s be honest, cleansing your skin in the small plane lavatories seems nightmarish to begin with.
Continuing with a simple hydrating serum, a lightweight hydrating serum can help counter the extremely dry cabin air that pulls moisture from the skin during long flights.
Look for formulas with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, centella, or propolis to replenish hydration and support the skin barrier without feeling heavy. I personally use and rate the Torriden Dive-In Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Serum, as it glides nicely over the skin while sinking in sufficiently.
Now onto a highly debated aspect of plane skincare, the face mask. Does it work? Is it just for show? I personally love a good face mask. The Biodance Collagen Real Deep Mask is PERFECT for a long-haul flight skincare routine. It works similarly to slugging, using a hydrating serum first, then layering over the face mask will help lock in moisture, allowing the serum’s active ingredients like hyaluronic acid or propolis to penetrate deeper while the mask provides an immediate plump, refreshed effect. Just make sure the cabin dims a bit, as it is a little scary-looking.
Finally, before you land, or after the mask, you need to lock it in, finish with a rich, barrier-supporting moisturiser to seal the hydration you worked so hard to add back into your system. I’ve seen others recommend moisturiser sprays to avoid touching your face any more than necessary, and I’ve heard amazing things about the Curel Deep Moisture Spray. Otherwise, normal moisturisers like the Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream are my GOAT, and I again swear by it.
Flying can really dry out your skin, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Just keep it simple, cleanse gently, slap on a hydrating serum, follow with a moisturiser or cream, and if you want, a quick mist or mask for an extra boost. Honestly, it’s not about going overboard, it’s just giving your skin a little TLC so you land feeling fresh instead of tight and dehydrated. You got this, bestie, now go through security, it’s nearly time for your flight ;)
Written by Bella Mavridis
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