Whether first class or coach, there is no “upgrade” option to avoid the damaging effects flying has on the skin. Unfortunately, airplanes are like a black hole that sucks all the moisture from your skin. While traveling, you may notice that your once glowing and hydrated skin quickly turns into a parched and patchy mess. Because mid-summer is the most popular time to travel, we want to help our Eve Hansen family be prepared and hydrated when battling the drying realm of airplane travel. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the toll air travel takes on the skin and our favorite tips for how to avoid a skin crisis while on the go!
While traveling, most people will experience one – or all – of these four skin concerns: dehydration, blemishes, dullness, and puffiness. You may be wondering what it is about planes that cause skin to react this way. Let’s take a look!
Dehydration
The drier the air, the quicker moisture is lost from skin. As we know, even a few hours in flight can leave skin feeling tight and dry. No matter your skin type, dehydration on a plane is unavoidable and the results can range from red, flaky and dry skin to greasy, irritated and itchy skin.
Blemishes:
When facing dehydration, your skin tries to overcompensate the loss of moisture with excess oil production. This extra oil (mixed with makeup and sweat from the long airport security lines and sprinting to the right terminal) clogs pores and cues the breakouts.
Dullness and Puffiness:
Flying in a commercial aircraft that is pressurized between 6,000 to 8,000 feet equates to standing on top of a mountain. The higher the altitude, the less blood flow that circulates to the skin. Decreased blood flow to the skin dims the natural glow of your complexion and makes for a duller appearance.
Additionally, Sitting still for hours on end slows down blood flow throughout the whole body and can cause internal water retention. That, combined with airport snacks that are high in sodium, causes that dreaded post-flight swelling.
Tips:
Take a sheet mask on the plane
Our favorite way to combat the moisture leeching air in a plane is to stock your carry-on with sheet masks and eye mask Be prepared for stares and snickers from flight attendants and other passengers, but no need to defend yourself – let your post-flight glow do the talking!
Stock up on your favorite eye gel
Because the skin around our eyes is more delicate than the rest of our face, the damage caused by the dry airplane air can have twice the impact on skin around our eyes. Apply a hydrating eye gel every two hours while traveling to keep this sensitive skin nourished and moisturized.
Freshen up with a Face mist
Keeping a hydrating face mist in your purse is the quickest way for a mid-flight pick-me-up. A refreshing skin toner is also a great way to unclog pores by removing oil and dirt buildup from skin.
M O I S T U R I Z E
A face cream moisturizer is probably the most necessary product to include in your travel kit as replenishing skin’s lost moisture becomes crucial. Because there is no water in the air on a flight, regular moisturizers aren’t able to deliver maximum effectiveness. Look for creams that contain hyaluronic acid as it’s a molecule naturally found in the skin with an amazing ability to bind to water.
Incorporate these tips into your travel-time routine to feel fresh and hydrated by the time you land.
Happy Glowing!
