How To Care For Your Skin When Flying

There’s nothing quite like that feeling when you board your plane, sit down in your allocated seat and fasten your seatbelt. It’s an exciting moment – whether you’re planning a quick city break or a luxurious trip to a far-flung location, adventure beckons.

So, how can you ensure your skin is looking its best when you arrive at your destination? We asked the Skin + Me medical team for their expert in-flight advice, so you can begin your holiday with your best face forward. 

When you board

Whether you’re a nervous flyer or a verified jetsetter, your skin will still get stressed from air travel. So, it’s worth taking some extra care with your routine to minimise the effects of flying high. 

First thing’s first – you’re going to want to remove your makeup. With so many people packed into a small space, planes can become a little grimey, so keeping your skin clean is a good place to start. Once you’ve uploaded that airport lounge selfie, it’s time to break out the micellar water for a deep cleanse. Bonus points if you didn’t apply makeup at all before you left home.

Once you’ve cleansed and then moisturised, you’re also going to want to apply plenty of sunscreen. UV radiation is twice as strong at 30,000 feet and research shows that pilots flying for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet receive the same amount of UVA carcinogenic-effective radiation as they would in a 20-minute tanning bed session. Not only can UVA rays play a part in the development of skin cancer, but they’re also responsible for 80% of skin ageing. So, you need to be well protected. 

“I recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which means it protects against UVA and UVB rays) with at least SPF 30,” says Dr Jason Thomson, Head of Medical at Skin + Me. “UVA is present consistently throughout the year and can penetrate windows so if you want to stop premature skin-ageing I’d advise applying sunscreen.”

We’d recommend using the Skin + Me Daily Defence Oil-free SPF 50 Sunscreen, which was designed by dermatologists to provide all skin types with excellent protection against harmful UV rays. It dries down clear and won’t clog your pores.

Dr Jason continues: “Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen to get anywhere near the SPF advertised on the bottle, with studies showing that most of us apply less than a half of the required amount.”

To make sure you’re wearing enough sunscreen, simply cover two of your fingers in sunscreen – this should be the right amount to protect your face and neck. Don’t forget to reapply every couple of hours. 

During your flight

While you’re snoozing, watching an in-flight movie and navigating the pitfalls of airline cuisine, the air around you is constantly being recycled. According to WHO, the air is changed 20 to 30 times an hour, with much of the air being drawn in from outside the plane. However, at a high altitude the air is very dry – so inside an aircraft, you’re likely only experiencing 20-30% humidity. 

“Low humidity causes more water loss from the skin leading to damage to the skin barrier,” explains Dr Jason. “A compromised skin barrier drives inflammation leading to redness, dryness and irritation.”

So, replacing this lost moisture is really important. Take a nourishing moisturiser on board with you and reapply it regularly, to boost your thirsty skin. “Moisturisers containing barrier-friendly ingredients such as glycerin, shea butter, niacinamide and ceramides or urea are great at repairing our barrier and protecting it,” says Dr Malvina Cunningham, Consultant Dermatologist at Skin + Me. Our Soothe + Smooth Rich Moisturiser is packed with nourishing shea butter and plenty of humectants to draw in moisture.

Although that in-flight G&T can be tempting, it might be worth saying no to the bar cart if you’re going straight to an important event when you touch down. “Unfortunately alcohol has a negative impact on our skin,” says Dr Jason. “This is mainly through dehydration which occurs as alcohol is a diuretic which means it increases water loss from our blood via the kidneys. This has a knock-on effect within our skin which can also become dehydrated resulting in loss of moisture in the upper layers leading to dry and rough skin, regardless of your skin type.”

And don’t forget to keep sipping from your water bottle and get some shut-eye if you can. “Keeping well hydrated and getting enough sleep are key,” Dr Malvina adds. 

Before you land 

As you approach your destination, you might be feeling a little puffier than usual – it’s a temporary but annoying side-effect of dehydration. Keep drinking plenty of water and applying moisturiser as you descend, then for at least a few hours after landing. You should also give your skin a good cleanse to remove buildup, and you might like to spritz over a facial mist for some refreshment before passport control. 

“Lymphatic drainage massage of the face and neck area can also help shift the excess fluid in your face,” says Jason. You don’t need any fancy tools like a gua sha or roller – simply apply some face oil and gently press your fingers along the middle of your face, drawing them out towards the ears, chin and down the neck. 

Then it’s time to pick up your luggage and head onwards with a smile on your (hopefully well-hydrated) face. Happy holidays!