How to Stay Fresh on Board: 5 Inflight Skincare Essentials
Pack Up Go
Part of having a successful traveling experience means being prepared on and off-board. And while many of us will dedicate a lot of time to packing our suitcases for the pre-planned activities scheduled throughout our trip, we’ll likely overlook the items we stow away in our carry-on bag.
Believe it or not, the luggage you load in your carry-on bag can play a huge role in your traveling journey. Having the proper inflight materials on you is critically important for a safe, healthy, and enjoyable trip!
Beyond packing basic items such as a pair of headphones, travel pillow, throw blanket, book, laptop, etc.—you’ll also want to pack up a few travel-sized cosmetic products to help you stay fresh on board.
To get you started out on the right foot, here are five inflight skincare essentials you need on your next traveling excursion!
1. MAKEUP REMOVER
Wearing makeup throughout the duration of your flight can wreak havoc on your skin if you’re not careful. Although a good primer can be effective in protecting your skin and maintaining a long-lasting look, it’s not ideal for staying fresh while you’re on board. Under these circumstances, you’re better off keeping a clean face and skipping the cosmetic application entirely.
However, if you’re unable to board the plane bare-faced—or simply prefer not to— then that’s certainly fine too! Just be sure to carry along some sort of makeup remover product with you so that you can easily wipe off any unwanted makeup, oil, dirt, and built-up bacteria you’ve accumulated throughout the course of your flight.
Generally speaking, makeup cleansing wipes may be thought of as one of the most practical products to travel with since they do not take the form of a liquid, but if possible, try to find a travel-sized cleansing oil or micellar water to bring with you as these tend to do a better job removing makeup and are more gentle on the skin.
2. ANTI-AGING SKINCARE
Many people experience puffiness when they’re traveling by plane for long periods of time. This, combined with dark circles and under-eye bags that form on account of disrupted inflight sleep, can inevitably age your appearance. That’s why it’s important to travel with anti-aging skincare.
Most anti-aging products normally act as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant—both of which are necessary for combatting these particular inflight skincare concerns as well as other developmental signs of premature aging. To maintain your youthful glow, consider packing a collagen-boosting anti-aging cream as this will help you keep your skin hydrated and plumped onboard and beyond.
3. FACE/BODY OIL
When you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up, you might be tempted to reach for a hydrating facial mist. In most cases, this would be an adequate decision to make, but throughout your inflight experience, you’ll want to refrain from using any type of spritz on board. As explained by celebrity aesthetician, Renée Rouleau, “Because the air is so dry on an airplane, moisture is not present. So misting your skin will make the moisture within your skin evaporate out, leaving it tight, dry, and dehydrated.”
Instead of trying to prevent jet-lagged skin with facial spray, try using an alternative like face/body oil as this skincare product is known for packing a hydration punch, and is safe to use inflight. Frankincense oil and jojoba oil, for instance, are great for shielding the skin from oxidative stress and dehydration, and can typically be applied to all different areas of the body including your face, lips, and neck.
As if that wasn’t reason enough to carry this with you on board, face/body oils are also normally packaged in a small liquid bottle, making them an easy item to travel with. For optimal application, rub oils on your skin in a circular motion and massage upward and outward. Doing this will serve to support post-flight radiance as it acts to deepen product into your skin, awaken muscles, and increase blood flow circulation.
To further replenish the skin and prevent puffiness from occurring, remember to pack a skin sculpting tool such as a jade roller or gua sha stone. Using a sculpting tool after applying your anti-aging cream and face/body oil will allow you to fully work the product into your skin, thereby working to enhance inflight hydration.
Aside from this perk, these tools also offer a number of other skincare benefits. In particular, face rolling helps to improve the circulation of blood flow, stimulate collagen production, and drain congested lymph nodes. So, kick back, relax, and embrace the art of this skincare item. Use the duration of your flight as an excuse to give yourself the nourishing facial you’ve always dreamed of.
5. BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen is always an essential step to include in your daily skincare routine, and when it comes to your inflight must-haves, the same holds true. Being high up in the air obviously brings you closer to the sun, which consequently, means your skin has a heightened exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Specifically, UVA radiation is more likely to penetrate your skin while you are on board—especially if you’re sitting in a window seat—and cause corruption to even the deepest layers of your skin. In turn, this not only puts you at an increased risk for developing sun-damaged skin issues like premature wrinkling or hyperpigmentation but also for developing skin cancer later on in life.
That being said, save the sunbathing for your actual trip. In the meantime, lather on the broad-spectrum sunscreen! Usually, a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30 is recommended by skincare experts, but given the fact that you’re so high up in the air, upping your SPF game is probably a smart idea. Don’t forget to apply before you board and reapply throughout the duration of your travels as this will help provide you with the best protection.
GLOW UP ON YOUR NEXT FLIGHT
Don’t glow down on your next flight; glow up! As you plan for your next traveling excursion, spend some time carefully selecting the items you want to have stowed in your carry-on bag.
What you choose to bring with you inflight is totally up to you, but when it comes to staying fresh onboard, you’ll want to be sure you include makeup remover, anti-aging skincare products, face/body oil, a skin-sculpting tool, and of course, broad-spectrum sunscreen to your pre-packing checklist.