Traveling may be good for the soul, but airplane air is no good for the skin.
According to Chriselle Lim in a recent Snapchat, the air is five times drier on an airplane. But as holiday season approaches, the likelihood of flying to see family and friends increases - meaning you might be putting your skin under stress while spending hours in flight.
I recently took a bi-coastal trip and brought along some essential skin products to make sure I didn't break out at the wedding I was attending that weekend. Here are my favorite products for an effortless mid-flight skincare routine for airplane travel!
1. Cleanse with a makeup wipe.
It's not easy washing your face with cleanser and water in an airplane bathroom - trust me, I've tried. Once you work up a lather in front of that tiny sink, it's impossible to wash off all the suds while keeping one hand on the pump to keep the water flowing. Instead, opt for an easy-to-use makeup wipe (you also won't have to stuff it into your liquids bag!) Any wipe will do, but I chose a long-time favorite that is gentle on my skin and doesn't feel like it leaves behind any residue: Studio35Beauty Cleansing Towelettes, the generic version of Pond's Original All Day Clean Wet Cleansing Towelettes.
2. Tone.
The dry air on a plane sucks the moisture from your skin and causes your face to freak out and over-produce more oil and moisture to compensate, causing breakouts. Not to mention that recycled air can't be the cleanest for your sensitive face. This is why toning is important - it removes any residual sebum and refreshes the face. I like the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner. It's very mild, moisturizing, but doesn't leave behind a residue. I was given this travel-friendly sized bottle from a friend.
3. Hydrate.
The Pocket Bunny Moist Mist from Tony Moly is easy to apply, which makes it a great tool in your beauty arsenal on the plane (just aim carefully and don't spray your neighbor!). When you travel, you touch a lot of things with germs and I like that you don't have to dip your hands into a jar with this product - you just mist it on your face! Plus, it's less than 3.4 oz so it won't get confiscated by TSA. This product smells nice too, which helps you feel pampered, fresh, and clean during a long flight.
4. Treat Under-Eye Area.
A rich eye cream is great to hide any bags or puffiness under your eyes - especially important for those who can't sleep on planes. This Smoothing Eye Concentrate from Juice Beauty gives a nutrient boost to the sensitive area under your eyes, and reduces fine lines and dark circles. I've tried so many creams for the under-eye area and all of them irritated my skin that delicate area. This is the only one that I really like - and it's organic!
5. Moisturize.
Lastly, I like to use a rich, hydrating serum that absorbs well into the skin so it doesn't feel like it's sitting on my face while I'm on the plane. I got this Hey Honey Good Morning Honey Silk Serum from an Ipsy glam bag and fell in love. It's very moisturizing, gentle (my favorite, huh?), but also gets sucked right into my skin. And don't forget to apply to your neck!
There you have it, folks. Happy, healthy, hydrated skin so that you look flawless upon arrival.
