In-flight skincare has become increasingly popular. On TikTok, the hashtag #travelskincare has amassed over 12k videos of people sharing their skincare routines in the sky.
And it seems travellers are looking for tips, with Absolute Collagen spotting an 80% uplift in searches for ‘in flight skincare’ compared to this last year.
Well, now that summer holiday season is upon us, the experts have shared what actually happens to your skin on a plane, and which products you should prioritise using.
Dr Dave Reilly, Head Scientist at Absolute Collagen, explains what happens to your skin on a flight:
“Travelling on an airplane can really impact the appearance of your skin, even if just for a short flight. This is because humidity levels on aircrafts drop significantly, while its aircon is also often at full blast. These factors, paired with the recycled air that circulates a plane, can be incredibly dehydrating for your skin.
“As a result, your skin’s appearance can become dull and puffy during a flight. If you suffer with sensitive skin, then your skin may become dry and irritated on an airplane. While those with oilier skin types may experience excess oil and even breakouts.
“What’s more, if you are a nervous flyer, then high levels of stress can also contribute to skin breakouts or flare-ups.”
Fortunately, there are steps you can take before and during your flight to avoid your skin looking a little worse for wear when you land. To help, Dr Dave Reilly shares three easy skincare hacks for your next flight:
1. Embrace the eye cream
The skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on our whole body. So, when faced with unfriendly conditions such as low humidity and recycled air, it can be your under eyes that experience drying and dehydration most significantly.
That’s why it’s a great idea to apply a nourishing eye cream to your under-eye prior to your flight, which is specifically formulated with the sensitivity of the under-eye area in mind. Keep the eye cream in your hand luggage so that you can either re-apply during the journey or once you land, depending on how long your flight is.
2. Regular rehydration
Prior to the flight, apply a hydrating face cream that will lock in moisture. The type of moisturiser you prefer will depend largely on your skin type. As a rule of thumb, those with oily or clog-prone skin should look for lighter, water-based moisturisers, while thicker more intensive creams are ideal for more mature or dry skin types.
However, to combat the impact that flying can have on your skin, you also need to be rehydrating it throughout the journey. Mini hydrating mists are perfect to keep in your hand luggage to give your skin a quick boost – and they have cooling properties which are ideal for hotter climates too. For more intensive nourishment, opt for a sheet mask packed full of hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or niacinamide, that you can apply during your flight. Also, remember to drink plenty of water throughout the flight to help keep you and your skin quenched.
3. Don’t skip the SPF
If you’re going somewhere sunny on holiday, then there’s a high likelihood you’ll be packing sun cream for your stay. However, you should be reaching for SPF ahead of your flight too.
In general, SPF is an essential skincare step to protect your skin from sun exposure and harmful ultraviolet light (UVB), which can cause premature signs of ageing and discolouration. And when flying, this is more important than ever: not only are there high chances of exposure to the sun, even if not directly, studies have found that UV radiation increases with altitude.
To shop the ultimate holiday skincare essentials, check out Absolute Collagen’s travel sets:
The Absolute Minis Collection – £55 RRP £111
A luxury travel set of award-winning, clinically proven skincare essentials for plumped, smoother skin on the go. Inside the elegant travel bag, you’ll find the complete Deep Lift collection – featuring the Day Cream (15ml), Night Cream (15ml), Eye Cream (5ml), the sell-out Neck & Dec Cream (15ml), and the best-selling collagen-boosting Serum (10ml).
Glow On-The-Go – £70 RRP £134
The ultimate travel set of clinically proven skincare and haircare products. Inside the luxury travel bag, you will find the complete Deep Lift collection – featuring the Day Cream (15ml), Night Cream (15ml), Eye Cream (5ml), the sell-out Neck & Dec Cream (15ml), and the best-selling collagen-boosting serum (10ml). You will also find the Absolute Collagen complex haircare duo in handy mini sizes (15ml) and a free satin eye mask that’s perfect for the plane.
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