In-Flight Skin Care: The Complete In-Flight Guide

Whether you fly on a plane once a year to treat yourself to a much-needed vacation or you’re a travel extraordinaire who essentially lives on a plane, it’s a universal truth that flying (even just once!) can take a major toll on your skin.

And for those of us who don’t have the luxury of flying in our private jets while slathered in a face mask (on a commercial flight, you may frighten your fellow coach passengers), fighting the effects of that dry, recirculated air requires a little pre-trip prep.

So what are the guidelines for proper — and appropriate — in-flight skin care?

Planes have the tendency to make your skin feel incredibly dry and lifeless. Even more, there’s always the fear of a potential post-flying acne breakout. That’s because cabin pressure and a massive reduction in humidity levels can suck everything “nice” out of your skin (natural oils, hydration, etc.). Still, there’s something you can do about it!

In this article, the experts at SiO Beauty break down the complete in-flight skin care guide for gorgeous skin during and after your flight.

The In-Flight Environment

Why does your skin suffer during a plane ride? The cabin air quality is quite different than the day-to-day air we are used to.

In fact, cabin air is often less than 20 percent humidity, whereas, at home, humidity is 30 percent or more. That mostly means that your skin will dry out faster, causing dullness and general irritation, among other nuisances.

But that still doesn't answer the question of why — and how — you can arrive at your departing flight with perfectly clear skin and find yourself mid-breakout by the time you wake up in your hotel the next morning.

The answer here actually lies in your skin care routine after getting off the flight. Oftentimes, you’re too jet-lagged — or just plain tired — to properly remove your makeup and cleanse after a flight.

If you identify with being the tired type, the next best way to avoid breakouts and irritation is to make smarter choices before departing on your journey as well as during and after your flight. After all, the decisions you make mid-flight can have a big impact on your skin throughout your entire trip.

Your Complete In-Flight Skin Care Guide

Prep Your Skin For Takeoff

It’s important to prepare your skin before traveling by air. Cleanse your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser and apply a rich base, like an oil.

One big mistake many travelers make is spraying water on their face. Water attracts water, and spraying your face can actually attract the water below your skin to be sucked out to the surface, hence spraying it will actually dry out your skin even more.

Drink water, but do not apply water to the surface of the skin.

Hydrate Throughout Your Journey

The first step in caring for your skin during a plane flight is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Not only does your body need proper hydration from the inside (take advantage of the free in-flight beverage service by opting for extra water), but your skin also needs an extra dose of external hydration to protect it from “hydration killers” like that pesky, dry cabin air.

Clinically proven products, like the SiO FaceLift, offer a convenient way to keep your skin glowing even after you deplane. The comfortable, potent, medical-grade silicone SiO Beauty patches firm, plump, and hydrate the skin around your neck, forehead, and eyes while you sleep.

Just apply the FaceLift patches before taking a snooze during your red-eye flight, and wake to face your new destination with totally transformed smooth, radiant, and rejuvenated skin!

But your in-flight skin care routine doesn’t end there. There are a number of ways to care for your skin during a long flight so that you won’t suffer the damaging consequences of taking an extended trip.

Pair Moisturizer With Serum

After properly cleansing and preparing your skin for a plane trip, adding a quality hydrating serum into your in-flight skin care regimen is key. Applying a serum underneath your moisturizer helps lock in extra moisture that your skin craves during a long-haul flight.

Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Drinking organic apple cider vinegar before a flight helps to keep bloating down and your skin’s immunity up. Just make sure your apple cider vinegar is diluted — don’t take a straight shot of it! Doing so can be harmful to your esophagus and tooth enamel over time.

The best way to reap the benefits of apple cider vinegar safely is to mix one or two teaspoons of it with eight ounces of water. If the taste is hard for you to stomach, try adding a little honey to the drink.

No apple cider vinegar on hand? No worries! At any coffee shop in the airport’s food court, ask for a cup of warm water with lemon and a tablespoon of raw honey. This mixture, just like the vinegar, helps boost immunity and protects your skin from the inside-out.

Pack On Some SPF

Your next skin care port of call, as always, should be SPF. Ultraviolet exposure increases significantly at 30,000 feet, and that added UV exposure could impact your skin health, especially when it’s already being paired with a disrupted skin care routine and disturbed sleep.

If you like flying with a face full of makeup, opt for a foundation or tinted moisturizer that boasts SPF 30 or higher. The added protection serves as a total win for your skin.

Use A Thick Cream, Then Wipe It Off

Pack a super-rich face lotion and travel wipes into your carry-on. Load up on a heavy moisturizer — or even a night cream or eye cream — when you’re doing a transcontinental flight. Then take a minute before the flight ends to freshen up and remove excess cream with a makeup wipe.

Another amazing way to experience ultra hydration during a flight is to pack your SiO Beauty Super EyeLift patches. These patches will hydrate and smooth crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles while you relax on the plane.

Fly Makeup-Free When Possible

We know it may be challenging, but if you can fly without wearing makeup, you’ll save your skin from a lot of potential havoc. As previously mentioned, the air in the plane is very dry and stresses out your skin. These effects are sometimes multiplied when you throw makeup into the mix.

Instead of flying with a full face of makeup, which can contribute to skin irritation during a flight, stick to strictly moisturizing or applying a thicker moisturizing clear mask whenever possible. Trust us, your skin will thank you once you deplane!

...And Look Glam Without The Makeup!

Sure, celebrities may be able to completely change their outfits for the paparazzi before they deplane, but they’ve got a much easier secret to steal as well – and it’s one that flight attendants also endorse.

Throw on some oversized shades and lip balm for instant glam. A clear gloss or tinted lip balm paired with a hydrating serum brings life to your face in seconds. You’ll look all put together and perfect coming off a long flight – even without makeup!

If You Are Going To Stick With Makeup…

Pack a few key cream-based makeup products (think: concealer, blush, and eyeshadow) in your carry-on to easily apply from your seat, without needing a bunch of tools on-hand.

The concept behind this routine is that everything can be easily applied using your fingers or a blending sponge (no brushes needed!), which saves space and makes it easy to re-apply before landing.

TSA-approved sizes of cream bronzer, blush, a pore stick, and cooling water (to hydrate and refresh tired eyes) are the perfect assets to include in your carry-on.

Skin Care After The Flight

There's one thing all experts agree on: to counteract post-flight acne, dullness, and dehydration, you need to nail your skin care routine once you land.

Applying a luxurious facial cleansing balm will purify your skin without any uncomfortable tightness. Follow that up with a gentle exfoliator that will help cut through oil, improve skin texture, and act as a moisture magnet for dehydrated skin.

Once your skin is exfoliated and clean, don’t forget to hydrate! Counteract that jet lag with some much-needed beauty sleep, and enlist the hydrating power of SiO Beauty’s FaceLift to treat your skin to the ultimate post-flight refresh.

Smooth away tell-tale fine lines and wrinkles that become even more prominent during a long flight! SiO’s comfy, medical-grade beauty patches plump, lift, and reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and expression creases around your eyes and smile while you sleep.

Apply your beauty patches before catching your post-flight snooze to start your vacation all bright-eyed and smiling wide!

And remember, your skin doesn’t have to suffer every time you board a plane. Follow this complete in-flight skin care guide to keep your skin looking young, healthy, hydrated, and beautiful while traveling!