We all love jetting off to exotic destinations, but not so much the dry skin that inevitably comes with air travel. You want to look your absolute best on vacation, which is difficult when the flight leaves your skin dry, flaky and tight. Fortunately, help is at hand. With the right products stashed in your carry on, you can prevent dry skin when flying and step off the plane with supermodel skin.

From sheet masks to serums, there’s a whole host of products to ensure that you never have to worry about dry skin when flying ever again. 

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Why does flying dry out your skin?

In short, the air in a plane cabin is super dry, and dry air sucks moisture from your skin. The optimum humidity level for skin is 40-70%, but the average humidity on an airplane is 20%, which is bad news for your skin.

You also tend to drink less than usual on a flight, so your whole body is more likely to be dehydrated. Lack of sleep and the disruption to your usual routine can make these effects even worse. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing products that can help prevent dry skin when flying. Here are the best of the bunch, in the correct order of application:

The best products to prevent dry skin when flying

Sheet Masks

Kick off your in-flight skincare routine with a nourishing sheet mask to leave your face feeling soft and dewy. It’s also a super soothing process that will help you relax and enjoy your flight all the more. Here are some fabulous favorites:

Hyaluronic Acid Serum 

Hyaluronic acid is the holy grail of skin hydration. This miracle ingredient essentially acts like a sponge, helping your skin to retain and absorb way more moisture than usual. It plumps up skin, smooths out fine lines and wrinkles and helps you get the most of your moisturiser. Best of all, it’s very gentle and suitable for every skin type. Here’s a hand-picked selection of the best hyaluronic acid serums out there:

Moisturiser 

It goes without saying that you need moisturiser to prevent dry skin when flying. Choose a rich, hydrating product to lock in moisture. Night creams work well as they’re thicker and nourish your skin. Here are my go-to moisturisers to leave my skin soft and flake-free on a flight:

Eye cream 

Protect those peepers with a gentle, nourishing eye cream. Dehydration and jet lag can leave your under-eye area looking tired and puffy, but with the right eye cream no-one needs know that you missed out on a full eight hours’ sleep.  

Lip Oils and Balms

Is there anything more uncomfortable than dry, cracked lips? Stepping onto a flight without your favorite lip oil or balm is a big no-no. Fortunately, the following lip saviours are here to see you through. 

Sunscreen

Ask any dermatologist and they’ll tell you: don’t skip SPF. Ever ever ever. Not even on a plane!

You might think you’re safe from the sun’s rays inside a plane, but you’re actually exposed to more UVA up in the air. You’re flying closer to the ozone layer, which means the UV is even more potent. It’s essential that you protect your skin – especially if you’re sitting in a window seat. 

Let’s break it down:

UV rays consist of UVA and UVB. UVA penetrates more deeply and ages the skin. UVB is what burns your skin. Both can cause damage to the skin’s DNA, increasing the risk of skin cancer. 

Fortunately, airplane windows do block UVB rays but they don’t offer adequate protection against UVA. In fact, a study found that spending an hour in the cockpit exposed the skin to similar UVA levels as 20 minutes on a tanning bed. Ok, so you’re not going to be sitting in the cockpit but don’t think that means you can skip your sunscreen! 

Remember, sunscreen always goes on last. Wait 20 minutes before applying any kind of makeup over the top as this can denature the product. 

This step is especially important if you use a retinol or retinoid product as part of your skincare routine because these products increase sun sensitivity.

Think of sunscreen as the cherry on top of your in-flight hydrating skincare routine. Choose a hydrating, non-greasy product and ensure you re-apply before you land so that you start your vacation with healthy skin.

Other tips and tricks 

• Don’t wait until you’re in the air to start moisturising. The best way to prevent dry skin when flying is to start before you head to the airport. Give yourself the best possible start by stepping onto the plane with beautifully hydrated skin.

• Drink plenty of water. Try to drink 8oz of water for every hour of your flight. It might mean an extra trip or two to the airplane bathroom but your skin will seriously thank you.

• Use hand sanitiser before applying your products. There’s so much bacteria floating around in the airplane air, so don’t make sure you add any extra germs to your face. 

• When you arrive at your destination, get rid of any dead skin and bacteria by cleansing and exfoliating your skin to leave your face fresh, bright and ready for those stunning vacay pics. 

And of course, fly in comfort. Check out my article on the best international business class airlines!