Skincare for jet-setters

Dry recirculated air, fluctuating cabin pressure and long hours of travel can leave your skin feeling dehydrated, dull, stressed and even prone to breaking out. Here are some skincare tips for before, during and after your flight to keep your skin radiant.

Pre-flight radiance prep - Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Start hydrating your skin and body well before you board the plane. Drink plenty of water the day before and on the day of your flight. Hydrated skin is more resilient and less prone to drying out. Also, avoid salty snacks like peanuts onboard, as they can lead to water retention and puffiness. The skin can also appear more oily and you can suffer some minor breakouts.

Sheet masks that are packed with hydrating serums will give your skin that drink of water it needs. Apply a sheet mask the night before and even the few days before the flight to ensure your skin is well hydrated and plumped before boarding. For an extra boost, use a hydrating sheet mask during the flight. Humidity drops significantly while we are flying so the skin becomes very thirsty, apply a sheet mask to stop the water evaporating from your skin.

Consider going makeup-free or remove your makeup with a double cleanse immediately before you board. If you’re on a long-haul flight do another cleanse during the flight and in any event, before you leave the plane.

Follow with a rich, hydrating moisturiser to lock in moisture. Look for products with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerine, which help retain moisture and strengthen the skin barrier. Ultimate Hydration works beautifully for most skin types except for acne.

Sun protection at 30,000 feet! - Did you know radiation levels are twice as high at 30,000 feet than on the ground? Even inside a plane, UV rays can penetrate the windows.

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 (ideally higher) is really a non-negotiable to protect your skin from UV damage and reapply if its a long haul flight. This is super important if you have a window seat. SPF50+ Moisturising Defence is a broad spectrum SPF that will protect you from those powerful UV rays. Taking an antioxidant supplement has been also suggested just before your flight to fight all that free radical damage.

In-flight skincare essentials

Sip, sip, hooray!

Keep hydrated throughout your flight by drinking plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as they dehydrate you and mess with your circadian rhythm which is your sleep. We loose about a cup of water every hour so drinking lots of water before a flight and to continue drinking water during your flight to replace what you are loosing is essential.

Carry a hydrating facial mist in your carry-on. Spritzing your face with a mist every few hours will keep your skin hydrated and refreshed. Look for a spritz with anti-bacterial properties.

Moving around regularly helps healthy blood circulation and staves off puffiness, especially on long flights. Stretch those legs and keep that blood flowing.

Moisturise/ Hydrate mid-flight

Reapply your moisturiser mid-flight, especially on long-haul flights.

Don’t forget your lips – apply a nourishing lip balm with a SPF to prevent chapping and dryness. Cabin air can also dry out your hands, so pop a travel-sized hand cream in your bag to keep your hands soft and moisturised. Hydrating Lip Balm with SPF 15+ is always in my bag, it contains a broad spectrum SPF, antioxidants and Alpine Rose which helps reduce cold sore occurrence.

Serums are an ideal choice before you apply your moisturiser to aid your skin at cellular level. Ingredients in serums to look out for are Hyaluronic Acid (holds up to 1,000 times its own weight in water) and Niacinamide. Niacinamide is a must go to for its multiple benefits from hydrating, anti-inflammatory, calming, regulation of oil production, brightening, minimises pores and strengthens your skins barrier. Super B Serum and N20 Peptide Complex are great options and can be applied AM & PM.

Don't forget about the eyes, bring your serums up around the eyes and you can also apply an eye cream. Firming Eye Lift protects from collagen degradation, anti-pollution protection while also reducing dark circles and puffiness.

Hands off - Airplanes can harbour germs, so try to avoid touching your face with your hands to prevent transferring bacteria to your skin.

Post-flight glow up

Your priority here is to prevent breakouts and re-hydrate your skin. Cleanse your face and hands just before you arrive or immediately after you land to remove any dirt, oil and recirculated microbes that may have built up on your skin during the flight. Again, follow with your usual serums & moisturiser to lock in hydration (SPF if its daytime).

As soon as you can, treat your skin to a hydrating or soothing face mask to help restore its natural glow. Clinicare are cosmeceutical grade sheet masks that are an great to instantly boost skin hydration and bring your skin back to life. There are 3 to chooses from.

Some other tips...

Turn the shower to lukewarm as hot water can dry out skin. Then slather yourself from top to toe with a rich body lotion. Travelling can be tough on your skin, but with these simple skincare tips, you can keep your complexion looking its best from take-off to touchdown. Safe travels and happy glowing ✈️

If you have any questions, drop us a DM. Alternatively email us at hello@illuminatedskin.ie or WhatsApp 0877820662