Cosmo’s Travel Beauty Special
Whether you’re red-eyeing it for work or globetrotting for fun, beat travel blues with our on-the-fly solutions.
TRAVEL TRIP-UP
SWOLLEN LEGS WHAT’S THE DEAL?
The air pressure in a plane is way lower than normal, causing your insides to expand—especially your lower half, says Dr Rendon.
IN-FLIGHT FIXES
Pre-flight, rub birch and cedar oils into legs—both increase fluid flow, says Hope Gillerman, a holistic health expert.
Get up and walk around every couple of hours to boost circulation, says Dr Graf.
TRAVEL TRIP-UP
TIGHT, FLAKY SKIN WHAT’S THE DEAL?
“The air on a plane is only 20 percent humidity, while our skin’s optimal environment is 50 percent,” says dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD.
IN-FLIGHT FIXES
“Drink 250ml of water an hour before, during, and after your flight,” says Marta Rendon, MD, a dermatologist in Boca Raton. And avoid alcohol—it’s seriously dehydrating.
Once an hour, mist your face with a hydrating face spray, then apply a layer of lotion made with superhydrating hyaluronic acid (like Za’s, right), says NYC dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD.
TRAVEL TRIP-UP
JET LAG WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Travelling to a new time zone throws off your body’s natural clock, which tells you when to be tired or alert, says Dr Graf. It’s most noticeable after a red-eye flight, since you’re losing time (and sleep).
IN-FLIGHT FIXES
“Wear a sleep mask to block light—doing so relaxes your muscles,” says Gillerman.
When you land, pop on a pair of sunglasses, and if possible, wear them for two or three hours. “Blocking out light tricks your brain, allowing it to adjust to the new time zone,” says Gillerman.
TRAVEL TRIP-UP
BREAKOUTS WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Dry plane air is the main cause of travel acne. Oil glands overcompensate by going into overdrive, and the extra sebum gets stuck under the layer of rough, dehydrated skin, says Dr Rendon. The high concentration of onboard bacteria also plays a part, says Dr Jaliman.
IN-FLIGHT FIXES
Don’t ignore your usual skin routine, especially if you’re taking an overnight flight. Remove your make-up and wash your face to unblock pores, then apply a lotion labelled noncomedogenic (translation: non–pore clogging), says Dr Rendon.
“Carry hand sanitizer, so you don’t touch your face with dirty fingers,” says Dr Jaliman.
TRAVEL TRIP-UP
NEW TOWN, TERRIBLE HAIR WHAT’S THE DEAL?
Hard water (H2O that contains excess calcium), causes hair to look dull and feel coarse, while soft water (typically treated with resins like sodium) makes it flat and greasy-looking, says Charles Baker Strahan, a celebrity stylist for Herbal Essences.
POST-FLIGHT FIXES
Only going away for a day or two? Preserve the style you arrive with using dry shampoo. “Scratchy hotel pillowcases can rough up strands, so drape a silky slip or cami over it before bed,” says Strahan.
If you must wash—and the water is hard—rinse hair with bottled water first. “Hair is like a sponge,” says Strahan. “When you pre-wet it, it can’t absorb as much of the calcium-dense tap water.”
If the water is soft, use a volumising shampoo and conditioner, and run mousse from root to tip before blow-drying strands. If hair is still flat, reach for dry shampoo. It increases volume instantly, says Strahan. Or get a swish blowdry.