HOW TO BEAT AEROPLANE SKIN
Attention, frequent flyers! Here are our top tips for keeping your skin
Skincare SOS so you stay hydrated when you jet off
Skincare SOS
Being cooped up in an aircraft cabin for several hours can send your skin straight into panic mode. (Thanks a lot, recycled air!) So be prepared. Our top tip? Don’t wear makeup. No matter how hydrating foundations can be, they often cake on your skin when you fly, so rather go barefaced. A good
tip is to start introducing a nourishing product like Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer, R705 into your skincare regime a few days before and after you travel. It’s got heaps of beneficial ingredients to hydrate and calm stressed-out skin, such as mannose (to strengthen the skin’s barrier function), chamomile (to soothe and comfort) and rosa gallica (to reduce redness). It may be lightweight in texture but provides bucket-loads of moisture.
Mighty mist
Keep a facial mist at the ready when you fly and give your skin a few spritzes for an instant refresh. The benefits of mists are endless: they soften your skin, protect it from recycled air, hydrate, ease redness and calm sensitivity. We love: Urban Decay B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray, R405 & Dior One Essential Mist-Lotion, R970
Mask it
The night before you fly, apply an overnight mask like Dior’s Hydra Life Jelly Sleeping Mask, R1340. Smooth the lightweight, gel-based formula onto your face before you go to bed – no need to rinse! It treats your skin while you sleep, pumping it with plenty of hydration, resulting in a smooth, radiant complexion when you wake.
Fight the fatigue
The first signs of fatigue and, worst of all, dehydration, occur around the eye area, so keeping those telling signs concealed and the eye area fresh should be on your to-do list before you board. Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Yeux Light-Pearl™, R955 comes with a flexible massage applicator, and keeps dark circles, puffiness and undereye bags at bay. What jetlag?
Use a hydrating facial oil
If your skin’s still not cooperating, apply a facial oil (using clean hands, of course!). It’s one of the quickest ways to give your skin moisture (if you’re not in the mood for a mask), and is known to rebalance, add radiance (if you’re suffering from dullness) and make your skin feel less tight. If you take one in your carry-on luggage, make sure it’s in a travel-size bottle – and be careful of leakage: pop it into a ziplock bag just in case. We love the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, R500, especially designed for dehydrated skin. It contains hazelnut oil to prevent moisture loss and the formation of lines.
Hands on
Another handbag must: non-greasy, easily absorbable hand cream to keep your hands from getting cracked and dry. The Nuxe Rêve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream, R195 is one of our favourites. With ingredients like vitamin E, honey and precious oils, it smells incredible! There’s also something oddly therapeutic about using the SpaRitual Cuti-Cocktail Pen, R265 on your cuticles while you fly – it comes with a cuticle-pusher to ensure your hands look tip-top when you land. Plus, it’s a great time-killer! Happy landings