The negative impact of airplane air on your skin
Tori Douglas
Global Digital
4 min read
Find out what airplane air does to your skin and how to deal with it.
Despite the apparent ease of boarding a flight and flying from one destination to another, it can be tiring from a social and physical perspective. Moreover, it can also take its toll on you, leaving you drained when you get off. However, the impact of flying goes far beyond that; it even has an impact on your skin! This is because the air that circulates in airplanes is dry and lacks oxygen, leaving your skin dehydrated, no matter how quick or short the trip. This is why bringing skincare on a plane is a good idea.
The nature of flying and the high altitude can expose your skin to various external aggressors. For starters, there’s less humidity during flights, along with temperature fluctuations, changes in barometric pressure, and increased exposure to ionizing radiation. The impact of these depends on your skin type, age, other skin conditions, and how long you’re in the air.
To mitigate the impact of these factors, some airlines have installed HEPA filters in an effort to keep the air on planes cleaner. Despite this, people’s skin conditions do appear or are aggravated after flying. We recommend adding a skincare routine to your itinerary before boarding a plane.
A lot of people may be concerned about how in-flight air might affect their skin. One way to handle this is to add glycerin and hyaluronic acid to your list of products for airplane skincare. Below are some of the top tips for keeping your skin hydrated on an airplane, along with the best ingredients to use in the air.
Highly recommended is our Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner, which is a daily non-stripping toner containing real rose petals and hyaluronic acid. It works to hydrate the skin and minimize the appearance of pores. A toner is an excellent way to balance your skin before a flight, helping it retain moisture throughout.
Your eyes are very telling; they are among the first indicators of stress, tiredness, and dehydration. This is because the skin surrounding the eyes is relatively thinner and more delicate. That’s why, if it’s not taken care of, skin can show sagging or a dulled appearance, ultimately resulting in puffy eyes and dark circles. We recommend the Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream because of how featherlight yet effective it is as a gel cream. It contains hyaluronic acid for improved hydration and a revived look and feel. Moreover, it helps address the outward signs of jet lag, stress, or exhaustion.
While pre-flight preparation is important, so is mid-flight skincare. If you’re wondering how to keep skin hydrated on a plane, the good news is that it’s not complicated. All it entails is using a cleansing face wipe on your face to remove excess oil and any other dirt your face might have picked up on the flight. It’s also useful for dissolving dead skin cells, rehydrating, and toning your face.
Consuming alcohol, coffee, and soda may dry your skin out and possibly even cause breakouts. Given how dry it is inside a plane, the combination will likely cause blemishes and dull skin. It’s said that your body loses approximately one cup of water for every hour you’re in the sky. With that in mind, it’s clear that consuming water is your best option so that you and your skin remain hydrated.
For nourished lips, we recommend the coconut-flavored Sugar Coconut Hydrating Lip Balm. It does an excellent job of providing all-day moisture and suppleness. Formulated with grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E, this lip balm is the secret to well-maintained lips.
You don’t have to travel with countless products; your moisturizer is sufficient. Highly recommended, and what some might call the best moisturizer for dry skin, is our Lotus Youth Preserve Antioxidant Daily Moisturizer. Boasting a featherlight formulation, this moisturizer offers your skin antioxidant protection and boosts radiance for a youthful look. Its key ingredients include vitamin E, Super Lotus, and hyaluronic acid. You can rely on this quick hydrating skincare routine to combat any feelings of brittle or parched skin after your flight, especially if you suffer from dry skin.
When preparing to fly, your essential skincare products should contain gentle and hydrating ingredients. Many people overlook the importance of staying hydrated and hydrating your skin, but now you know better. A hydrating skincare routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming to be effective; it’s an excellent way to prevent airplane air's bad side effects. Using the likes of our Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum is an excellent option to ensure dewy skin when you land. This is especially true if you’re looking for the best skincare for dry skin.
Using a combination of potent natural ingredients, ancient rituals, and modern science, fresh offers you beauty and skincare products for visible results. Shop the perfect skincare products for your everyday and travel needs.
Written by Tori Douglas for Fresh. Tori is a NYC-based digital and brand strategist. Tori has worked for various publications and brands such as Kiehl's, The Body Shop, Deux Hommes Magazine, and Elite Daily with her expertise lying in the fashion & beauty space.