The spring and summer seasons have officially started, so one priority that is probably taking over your mind is travel! With long-haul flights to countries like Australia sometimes lasting for as many as 24 or more hours, you may wonder how to save your skin against the effects of flight. Research indicates that planes do indeed hamper skin quality. Hovering at 10% to 20%, humidity levels are very low in aircraft, which means that dry and oily skin can suffer. Streamlining your beauty routine while flying is essential for keeping your skin looking fresh and bright while on vacation.
The key to caring for your skin during your adventures is sticking to the essential aspects of your skincare routine. You may lower the steps in your daily care, but you need to keep up with traditional methods and rely more on natural ingredients like Waxing Kara’s Rose+Lavender Facial Oil to nourish skin throughout your travels.
Why Do Flights Affect Both Oily and Dry Skin?
If you have dry skin, you will probably notice that familiar tight, uncomfortable sensation about an hour into the flight. Those with oily skin, meanwhile, may notice that their oil glands seem more active than usual. Essentially, dry skin is caused by oil glands seeking to over-compensate for dryness. Therefore, you will need to tackle both problems before take-off. Lips can also become very dry, and you may notice cracking and chapping. Pop a tub of Waxing Kara Raspberry Lip Scrub with you. Made with soothing honey, it is gentle and paraben, petroleum, and phthalate-free. The tub is nice and tiny, so that it won’t take up too much space in your bag.
On-Flight Steps
Ditch heavy makeup to give skin a fighting chance during a hectic flight. Before leaving your home, cleanse and moisturize the skin as usual and afterward, use a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, a powerful hydrating ingredient. Avoid vitamin A-containing creams (retinoids) during the day since these can have a drying effect when you start using them. After your moisturizer, apply sunscreen with a high SPF (aim for 30+). Remember that the sun can still enter through the window, thus potentially worsening sun spots and dark patches. Of course, sunscreen will be key throughout your voyage, especially if you are exploring exotic countries or warm sunny areas where being out and about is the order of the day. If you have oily skin, bring gentle wipes containing micellar water.
Overnight Pampering
If you are flying at night time, take advantage and apply a wipe-off mask during ‘lights off’ time. The mask should ideally be made with a hydrating base like shea butter. Masks generally need to remain on the skin for 10 minutes; wipe it off with your favorite micellar wipes afterward. Even oily-skinned passengers will find that a non-comedogenic (i.e., non-pore-clogging) moisturizing mask will leave their skin beautifully smooth, silky, and not greasy. Even if you usually love black charcoal peel-off masks, plane humidity challenges require a more hydrating solution.
After the Flight
Keeping up a complex skincare routine will be challenging if you hop from city to city or participate in adventure activities. Take it down to four ingredients if you can: your cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and any specific treatment that is part of a long-term program. This can include glycolic acid or retinol capsules, which are small and which therefore take up very little space and time to apply. Lastly, remember to use good sunscreen every day. This will ensure you don’t return with sunspots or sunburn.
Try to bring only the beauty products you need on your next flight, making hydration and lip care key priorities to battle dryness. If you have room in your bag, a mask is a fantastic idea to help your skin enjoy a boost of moisture. Keep up any long-term skincare routines you have relied on, but take individual capsules or smaller tubs with you. You may not have time for your usual five-or-more-step routine, but you can continue to target your primary skin concerns during your flight and beyond.