Social media can easily have you thinking that in-flight skincare is as essential as remaining seated while the seatbelt light is on and ensuring your tray table is stowed during takeoff. Since the idea of beauty regimens on a plane became popular during the rise of the influencer in 2010s, I have come across numerous how-to guides, TikTok videos, and hot takes around how to actually care for your skin through a flight.
Some debunk it entirely, arguing that it’s more of a selfie opportunity than of any actual benefit to skin. Others won’t hop on a plane without applying under-eye masks at cruising altitude. But no matter where you stand, there is no denying that flying has negative effects on the complexion. “The low humidity in airplane cabins can dehydrate your skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and dullness,” says registered aesthetic nurse practitioner Jackie Spagnuolo AG-NP. That paired with the increased levels of UV radiation at high altitudes creates a breeding ground for a less-than-desirable complexion upon landing? Can an airplane skin-care routine really be the solve? Ahead, we ask three experts to outline the dos and don’ts of airplane beauty; but to be clear, the below steps are simply suggestions—how you take your skin to new heights is entirely up you.
Vogue’s Favorite In-Flight Skin-Care Products
In This Story
Skip the Cleanse
The number one rule of flight skincare? Don’t actually wash your face. “Airplane bathrooms are tight, and cleansing your face can be messy,” Akram details. “If you feel you must, I suggest a travel-sized micellar water. Sprinkle some on a cotton pad, apply a few swipes to each area of the face, and you’ll feel refreshed.” You could also use a thermal spring water which Amin says “helps refresh and calm irritated skin.”
Masking Is Key
Flights are the perfect time to indulge in a quick skin treatment or two. In an effort to avoid using airplane water and touching your face too much, we’d recommend the sheet masks and under-eye patches route. With clean hands (a spritz of hand sanitizer will do!), Spagnuolo would recommend “looking for face masks with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract and retain moisture”—111Skin’s Rose Gold treatment mask or Biodance’s viral collagen mask are just the ticket. When it comes to les yeux, Akram reminds that puffy eyes are a normal part of landing after a flight as the pressure changes affect blood flow. The best way to combat that? Under-eye patches during or after a flight. “This helps bring life and radiance to your eyes, the focal point of your face, and helps with de-puffing, hydration and an under-eye contour lift.” For an extra boost, she suggests Qure’s microinfusion patches which feature 80 self-dissolving micro-darts designed to target and treat wrinkles.
Lock in Moisture
Per Amin, applying a heavy moisturizing cream before going on the plane is key to keeping your skin hydrated and to help protect your skin barrier. We, like Akram, would again caution against applying them mid-flight (as to avoid touching your face), but if you really want to—pick a formula featuring hyaluronic acid, squalane, and ceramides that provide deep, lasting moisture to skin. Of course, these would be excellent for post-flight application, too.
Spritz a Face Mist
Face mists are our favorite in-flight skin solution because of their refreshing application, instant hydration, and hands-free appeal. “Opt for mists with disinfecting, soothing, and hydrating ingredients like hypochlorous acid, aloe vera and rose water,” says Spaguolo. Her suggestion would be Hydrinity’s Hyacyn Active Mist: “Infused with hyaluronic acid, it attracts and retains moisture, helping to combat the drying effects of the airplane cabin environment,” she says. Additionally, it contains hypochlorous acid, which acts as a gentle disinfectant, helping to keep your skin clean and free from bacteria.” Another solution is Tower 28’s spray—cosigned by Amin— which is powered by hypocholorous acid to “help prevent acne breakouts and rosacea flares.”
Reapply Sunscreen
“Sunscreen is an in-flight skin-care necessity,” Amin reminds, as airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation. “UV rays can be more intense on a plane compared to on land because of the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes and closeness to the ozone layer. Pilots and cabin crew have approximately twice the incidence of melanoma compared with the general population,” Amin says, citing a 2015 study. Which SPF you choose on your flight depends on your desired finish: someone wanting added hydration should consider Chanel’s nourishing cream, whereas someone interested in a luminous glow should pack Kosas’s DreamBeam. For the hands-free application, take your pick of Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen stick or Habit’s SPF-infused mist.
Hydrate The Lips
“The dry air on the plane can be irritating and can cause your skin to loose moisture quickly,” says Amin, which is why she recommends using a hydrating lip balm throughout the flight. La Roche-Posay’s is excellent for no-fuss conditioning, as is good ‘ole Vaseline jelly. For more of a modern sheen, Sisley’s formula—beloved by Vogue’s senior shopping editor Talia Abbas—leaves lips soft and supple; while Eadem’s is peptide-rich and available in four tinted hues.
Beauty Tools
Like a skin-care routine on solid ground, a beauty tool is simply an added bonus if you have the time, space, and energy to indulge on your flight. While you’re sitting, unable to multitask, this could be a good time to whip out your LED face mask to boost collagen production, reduce inflammation, and combat acne. Or, you could partake in a simple facial massage. Gua shas and face rollers by Joanna Czech and Jillian Dempsey are great options and won’t hold you up through a security screening.
Is airplane skincare actually worth it?
“An airplane’s dry cabin environment can leave your skin looking and feeling dehydrated, but you can still feel your best even when you’re 30,000 feet in the air,” says celebrity master esthetician Sarah Akram, continuing that this is where a mid-flight skincare routine could help—particularly if you’re keen to arrive refreshed and radiant. “Let’s say you’re on your honeymoon journey, you don’t want to look dry and tired on one of the most memorable vacations. This is where small in-flight skin practices can be beneficial. Keep it simple and a hands-free mist and eye patches to brighten the eyes and give your skin a dewy glow.”
How should you best take care of skin on a plane?
“When it comes to taking care of your skin on a plane, my favorite treatments are the ones where you won’t have to touch all over your face,” Akram says, whose recommended salves range from LED light therapy to eye patches and face rollers. Meanwhile, Spagnuolo’s guidance is rooted in apt moisture. “To best take care of your skin on a plane, follow a hydrating skincare routine before and during the flight, drink plenty of water, avoid touching your face frequently, and reapply moisturizer and face mist periodically,” she explains. “Also, avoid heavy makeup as it can contribute to dryness and clog pores.”
Are there any “don’ts” with airplane skincare?
Amin’s biggest piece of advice is to not use airplane water at any step of your flight skin-care routine. “I do not recommend washing your face on the plane using the bathroom sink,” she persists. “A 2019 study found that tap water on both major and regional U.S. planes had varying levels of bacteria, including E. coli.” Next, Spagnuolo cautions against over-exfoliating before or during flying which can irritate your skin in the dry cabin environment; also, “avoid heavy makeup as it can lead to clogged pores and dehydration.” Lastly, avoid applying skincare with your hands as much as possible, per Akram. “There are so many hands-free options to keep you glowing on your flight that minimize touch and ensure you’re not over-exposing your skin to germs,” she says; but if you must, please use hand sanitizer.
Meet The Experts
- Sarah Akram is a master esthetician who counts celebrities like Rachel Zegler and Mindy Kaling as clients.
- Dr. Mina Amin, MD is a Los Angeles-based dermatologist at California Dermatology Specialists.
- Jackie Spagnuolo AG-NP is a New York-based registered aesthetic nurse practitioner.