Beauty Secrets for Surviving Long Flights

You’ve got a long flight ahead and want to arrive at your destination looking refreshed and ready to go. While air travel can be dehydrating and cramped, with some advance planning you can touch down looking radiant. Follow these beauty secrets for surviving long flights—keep your skin glowing and minimize the negative effects of a plane flight.

Prepare Your Skin

In the days leading up to your flight, be sure to hydrate and moisturize your skin thoroughly. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin cells plump and your body hydrated. Use a rich moisturizer, especially on your face, hands and any dry areas. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells for smoother skin. Get plenty of rest to avoid dark under-eye circles.

Choose Your In-Flight Skincare

Bring travel-sized versions of your favorite skincare products onboard. For your face, pack makeup remover wipes, a hydrating mist, a nourishing serum, eye cream, moisturizer and any treatments you normally use. Don’t forget lip balm, hand cream, facial wipes and lotion for your body. A mild cleanser can also be useful for washing your face mid-flight in the lavatory.

An essential item is a hydrating mist like rosewater spray. Spritz it on your face for an instant refresh and glow. Eye drops also help hydrate and reduce redness. For hands and body, pack a rich cream to rehydrate after hand washing.

Do Mini Treatments

While on board, take the opportunity to pamper your skin with some mini treatments. For your face, apply a hydrating sheet mask to soak in moisture. Follow up with eye gel, serum, moisturizer and lip balm. For hands, exfoliate with a scrub, then slather on cream and wear cotton gloves for 10-15 minutes.

To relax, give yourself a mini scalp massage with essential oils like lavender, peppermint or eucalyptus. Bring oil-absorbing blotting papers for your face. Use a roll-on fragrance oil on your pulse points. Apply a collagen eye mask for an anti-aging boost. Every bit helps for self-care in flight.

Touch Up Your Makeup

Even with preparation, some makeup touch-ups will likely be needed after a long flight. Pack a tinted moisturizer or BB cream and lightly dab onto your skin for a hydrated glow. Add concealer only where needed. Use cream blush on your cheeks and eyelids for a pop of color. Curl your eyelashes and add a coat of mascara. Finish with a lip product that doubles as a balm. Keep your in-flight beauty look minimal, natural and radiant.

Follow a Post-Flight Skincare Routine

As soon as you get to your destination, do a full skincare routine to undo any damage from flying. Cleanse, tone and moisturize your face. Use eye cream and serum to hydrate. Exfoliate and moisturize your body, especially hands and any rough areas. Continue drinking plenty of water to rehydrate and get extra sleep if possible. 

Extra tips for long flight beauty

• Opt for an aisle seat if possible. This gives you more opportunities to get up, stretch and walk around the cabin which helps with circulation and easing tightness from sitting. Aisle seats also provide easier access to the lavatory for washing up.
• Do simple exercises in your seat. Rotate your ankles, raise and lower your heels, stretch your calf muscles. For your torso, do neck rolls, shoulder rolls and gentle twists. This keeps your body loose and prevents tightness.
• Use a sleep mask and earplugs. Blocking out light and sound will help you sleep which relaxes your skin and muscles. Lack of sleep shows on your face the next day.
• Limit alcohol and drink plenty of water. Alcohol is dehydrating and causes bloating. Stick to water and non-caffeinated beverages to keep your skin hydrated.
• Run a humidifier in the lavatory. The low cabin humidity dries out your skin and nasal passages. If allowed, run a small portable humidifier in the washroom while freshening up to add moisture back to the air around you.
• Change into comfortable clothes. Loose, breathable fabrics like cotton or cashmere help you stay cozy while reducing skin chafing and irritation. If possible, remove any restrictive clothing like belts.
• Pack healthy snacks. In-flight meals may be unsuitable for beauty food. Bring nuts, fresh or dried fruit, granola bars, jerky or trail mix. These provide nutrition without excess salt or artificial ingredients that can compromise your skin.
• Use a facial cleansing wipe. For an easy mid-flight refresh, wipe your face down with a cleansing cloth to remove oil, dirt and grime that builds up on a long flight. Follow with serum, moisturizer and a spritz of facial mist.
• Do gentle yoga. In the aisle or in your seat, do simple moves like cat/cow pose, seated twist, wrist rotations or shoulder rolls. Stretching increases circulation to promote radiant skin and a healthy glow. Be respectful of your fellow passengers if doing yoga in the aisle.
• Exfoliate after landing. As soon as possible after your flight, do a facial exfoliation treatment to remove dead skin cells. Exfoliation allows your moisturizers and treatments to penetrate better for maximum hydration. Your skin will look noticeably fresher and smoother.

The bottom line

With the right products and techniques, you’ll get your glow back in no time. By following these beauty secrets for surviving long flights, you can still look fresh-faced for what awaits at your destination. Travel rested and radiant!