I once saw a woman doing her skincare routine mid-flight, including exfoliators and masks. No wonder she was glowing when she stepped off the plane!
Doing a full routine might be a bit too much for you, but even having a minimalistic airplane routine can help you arrive looking like a dewy god or goddess.
This article will cover everything related to skincare when traveling, including:
- Airplane air and how it affects your skin
- Changing climate and your skin
- How stress affects your skin
- Tips from experts
Airplane Air
Airplane air is the the air circulating an airplane. Simple enough, right? You might be wondering how this is relevant to skincare.
Airplane air is a bit different than office air or home air. This air can affect your skin, especially on longer flights.
Here's how airplane air differs from "normal" air:
- The air in an airplane is about 50/50 filtered air and fresh air.
- Typically, this air is refreshed every two to three minutes.
- Fresh air does not come from the front of the plane, but rather the top.
- Modern planes also have HEPA filters to remove 99.99% of bacteria and viruses in the air.
Your skin in an airplane
So, how does airplane air differ from the air in your home?
Airplane air is drier, and fluctuates in pressure and temperature throughout the flight. This lack of moisture can lead to skin stress, dryness, and breakouts.
On top of that, you might be exposed to higher UV radiation due to the altitude. The American Medical Association ran a study that found higher skin cancer rates in pilots.
Their study found that flying in a cockpit for ~1 hour has the same UV-A exposure as a 20-minute tanning bed session. UV-A doesn't cause immediate sunburn, but instead leads to skin aging and cancer.
While modern airplane windows are designed to block all UV, older plane windows can still let in UV-A rays.
Check out our blog post for the full details on the difference between UV-A and UV-B rays.
Different climates
Just like the climate inside an airplane, arriving in a different place can also affect your skin.
Your skin can get stressed from all the atmospheric changes. Different temperatures and humidity can freak out skin, especially if your skin is sensitive.
Dr. Papri Sarkar, board-certified dermatologist, states going from "hot and humid to cold, your dry skin pays the price. You might experience rough patches, and if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, you could also have a flare-up".
Additionally, pollution and water hardness can affect your skin as well.
Stress
While traveling can be fun, it can also be stressful. Running to catch a flight, missing luggage, and the general anxiety of traveling can take a toll on your body.
When your body is stressed, it releases the pesky the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol tells your pores to make more oil, or sebum. Combining the increase in sebum with new bacteria can lead to breakouts.
Adjusting to jet-lag and eating airplane food can stress out your skin as well.
Skincare Travel Tips
Here are the tips and tricks skincare professionals use when traveling.
Tip 1: Airplane Routine
One way to simplify your airplane routine is to invest in smaller travel-sized containers for your products. This way, you won't need to worry about liquid size limits when going through security.
If you are able to, try bringing part (or all) of your routine!
For long flights, we recommend at least a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Tip 2: Moisturize Before Your Flight
Try doing a mini-routine before hopping on a flight.
Applying moisturizer before you encounter that dry airplane air will help your skin come off the flight feeling less dry.
Dermatologists agree that mature and sensitive skin is most likely to be affected in-flight.
If you feel extra dry or sensitive on the airplane, try bringing a heavier moisturizer. Be sure to avoid sensitizing ingredients such as exfoliators.
Tip 4: Use a Spot Treatment
For those who are prone to breakouts when traveling, bringing an acne spot treatment can help.
Look for treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Even people who are not prone to breakouts might experience this while traveling due to all the changes in your lifestyle and climate.
Tip 5: Adjust for the weather
Adjusting your routine for a different climate can help immensely. But the key is to keep skin hydrated.
When traveling to a dry destination, bring a heavier moisturizer. On the flip side, bringing a water-based moisturizer to a hot and humid climate can help prevent clogged pores.
However! This does not mean to change up your routine completely.
It's best to stick with products you know already work with your skin.
When traveling to dry destinations, bring the moisturizer you would normally use in fall or winter. That way you already know the product works with your skin.
Tip 6: Remove makeup
This tip is especially for longer flights. If you would not wear makeup to bed, definitely don't wear makeup on a long flight!
Leaving makeup on overnight can clog pores and irritate skin. This is the same for traveling!
If you don't want to go makeup-less, try lighter versions of your products. For instance, use a BB cream or tinted moisturizer instead of full-coverage foundation.
Conclusion
When traveling, don't forget to take care of your skin too!
A busy travel schedule can make it easy for your skin to suffer, but taking a few precautions make a big difference.
It takes a bit of planning, but coming up your own travel routine is 100% worth it.
Whether you are exploring a new destination or visiting loved ones, we wish you a great journey.
