I travel A LOT, so I’ve got my in-flight essentials down to a fine art. There's nothing like a few spare hours to focus on your face, and trust me, you need to — airplane cabins can be brutal when it comes to TEWL (transepidermal water loss) as they typically have humidity levels of just 10-20%, compared with the 40-60% range generally considered comfortable.
This difference can massively impact skin, as moisture is drawn away from the skin faster, making it harder for the skin barrier to maintain its normal hydration levels and leaving skin feeling dry, tight and dull. And remember, dehydration can affect any skin type even oily — your skin can be simultaneously producing excess sebum and losing water at an accelerated rate.
The following products are what I like to travel with, especially on long-haul flights:
Hand sanitiser.
A no brainer. If you’re applying product to your face, your hands need to be clean and it’s much easier than walking to the plane toilet. For anywhere with minimal access to clean water, hand sanitisers are an essential. They are excellent for killing germs (including bacteria and viruses), easy to chuck in your hand luggage/pocket, and many include moisturising ingredients to help prevent skin drying out.
Try to avoid ones that are over 70% alcohol (ethanol or isopropanol) as although they are effective germ-killers they can be very drying and irritating. Look for formulas with hydrating/nourishing ingredients such as glycerine and vitamin E, plant oils and esters that soften and soothe skin.
Tissues, cleansing wipes, or both.
I always carry a small packet of tissues or biodegradable wipes to clean my hands, prep the area/my tray table before I start. It’s key that your environment is as hygienic as possible.
Hand cream or medicated / anti-bacterial cream.
Putting some hand cream just inside your nostrils when you’re flying is a travel tip that has changed my life. I always used to get sick after travelling before I heard this tip. The theory being that when your nasal hair is dried out (airplane air is very dehydrating) it offers no protection against airborne germs. Any hand cream, moisturiser or lip balm will work.
Facial mist.
To combat the drying effects of airplane air, I like to put a hydrating mist into a refillable spray bottle to keep my skin hydrated. It’s also particularly refreshing on a long-haul flight. For a hydration boost, choose an in-flight mist containing ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides or hyaluronic acid, which can help replenish moisture and support the skin barrier. Alternatively, a hypochlorous acid mist can offer gentle antimicrobial and soothing benefits, which may be useful for skin prone to breakouts or irritation.
Eye drops.
Brilliant for itchy or dry eyes, eye drops can be particularly useful on flights because the dry cabin air and reduced humidity means tears evaporate more quickly. This can leave eyes feeling gritty and dry, plus if you’ve been glued to a movie (or more) during the flight, this reduces your blink rate which makes dryness even worse. Lubricating eye drops are great to calm the irritation down and add some moisture. Blink’s Intensive Tears eye drops are soothing and safe for use with contact lenses.
Nourishing face mask
Now you’ve got time on your hands, it’s definitely worth slathering on a nourishing mask once you’ve cleansed. This will help prevent water loss, keep your barrier replenished, and give your actives a good few hours to work their magic on your face. Rather than use the plane bathroom to rinse off (who wants to do that?) I’d suggest leaving it on until you reach your destination. The Support Mask is fantastic for intense nourishment and I call it the 'cashmere comfort blanket' for your barrier. Keep it on as long as you want and if there’s visible product left on your skin, just blot off any excess with a tissue. You’ll arrive with soft, supple skin, ready to rinse off at your hotel/continue with the rest of your routine/holiday plans.
Cleanse
You’ll want to have a fresh canvas for The Support Mask to do its work. If you’re not cleansed/makeup-free pre-flight then a ‘flash cleanse’ with a micellar water (Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micellar Water is excellent) is fine for flying, or even better a cream cleanser removed with a damp flannel (bathroom cleansing is not much fun in the air, so if you can travel with a clean, damp flannel then great, I always have a couple with me).
Eye cream.
I tend to get dry eyes when I travel, and I like to reapply throughout the flight. I am never more than 3 feet from an eye cream anyway, especially in a dried-out vacuum circulating everyone else’s germs.
My go-to (obviously) is the Skin Rocks Eye Cream
Facial oil.
I usually opt for a squalane-based oil to help calm and hydrate my skin. Squalane also works well with any other products, so is a safe go-to. My Support Oil is lush, and a flight is a great time to take advantage of massaging some lovely lipids into your face. Who wouldn’t want to land with plump, dewy and comfortable skin?
Moisturiser.
Your moisturiser will depend on your skin type, but you might want to opt for a slightly more nourishing formula when flying. A rich cream such as The Rich Moisturiser with its ceramides, phytosterols, squalane and plant oils will do a great job if you’re dry and dehydrated.
Sunscreen
An essential every day, but particularly if you have a daytime flight and are sitting near a window. UV rays can be more intense on a plane due to the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes and closeness to the ozone layer, so it’s a step you shouldn’t forget. If you did not pack/wear sunscreen, shut the blind. There is so much choice with sunscreens now, you can pick based on skin type and the texture you want. Lots of brands do glowing formulations that leave skin looking fresh and luminous, so you can stay foundation-free and have a great skin finish.
Lip balm.
I carry lip balm everywhere anyway, but lips are the first thing to dry out, especially when flying. Because lips don’t have the same protective barrier as the rest of your skin, they’re more prone to losing moisture, so a good lip balm helps lock that moisture in and keep them comfortable. Reapply throughout your flight.
Mini routines
I always take an AM and PM Skin Rocks travel kit with me so that I have minis to use in-flight (plus portable versions of my other routine staples for the duration of my trip). Your set will last at least two weeks with correct usage, with some non-daily-use products lasting even longer, so they’re brilliant for travelling light with everything you need.
https://skinrocks.com/products/the-pm-routine
Words by Caroline Hirons, Skin Rocks Founder and Skincare Expert
