It's finally the season of sun, sea, and margaritas! It’s time to catch a flight to a beautiful summer location to relax and unwind. But, no matter how prepared you are for your holiday, flying can cause the skin to dry up and break out.  
The humidity in the plane cabin is extremely low, making the cabin even drier than the Sahara Desert (literally). This environment mixed with UV rays, recycled air, and a lack of beauty sleep can be a disaster for the skin. Before your holiday has even started, your skin will no longer have that hot girl summer glow but will appear dehydrated, dry, and dull.   

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to keep your skin looking holiday-ready before, during, and after the flight.   

Here are our skincare rules for flying this summer: 

• Pre-Flight Skincare Cleanse  
  Before you take off, focus on cleansing and hydration. Start with a double cleanse to ensure your skin is free of dirt and debris, then follow up with your favourite hydrating serums or moisturisers. Specialists recommend using moisturisers or serums with ingredients such as squalene or hyaluronic acid to protect against dry air and keep the skin hydrated before the flight.  

• Don’t Forget SPF  
  It might sound crazy, but UV rays can penetrate an airplane window and leave skin exposed to potential sun damage. If you’re flying at night, then you can skip this step, but make sure you apply SPF before your daytime flight or when you land in the morning. 

• Drink Plenty  
  For optimal skin hydration, ensure you drink plenty of water before and during the flight. Not only will this keep your skin hydrated and refreshed from the inside out, but it will boost your weakened immune system and provide extra energy throughout the flight. 

  Pro tip:  Add electrolytes for energy.  Add lemon for extra skincare benefits.  

• Sheet Mask 
  A sheet mask is a great way to provide the skin with an instant boost of hydration. Don’t feel embarrassed about sitting on a flight with a sheet mask. It's not about what other people think, it's about looking after you. Look out for ingredients such as aloe vera, squalene, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides to hydrate, calm, and moisturise the skin. 

• Facial Mist   
  Pop a little bottle of face mist in your bag to spritz on your face throughout the flight. A refreshing and hydrating face mist will not only balance and breathe life into your skin but protect your skin barrier throughout the flight. 

• Gua Sha & Roller 
  Using a Gua Sha or a face roller on the plane is a great way to relieve tension and depuff the face, whilst also encouraging blood flow and lymphatic movement in your face after a long and exhausting flight. Use it alongside your sheet mask or with a facial serum to ensure that you aren’t dragging your tool along dry skin and causing further damage.  

• Pre-Landing Facial 
  For both long and short-haul flights, don’t be afraid to unpack the essentials and set up your own skincare space. It doesn’t have to be anything major, just remember to cleanse, moisturise and add a little lip balm before landing to wash away any junk or environmental stressors that would have accumulated during the flight.  

  For the best skincare results, don’t try to do anything crazy with your skincare routine just because you’re going on holiday. The key to happy skin is to keep it simple, focus on hydration, and stick to a routine that works for you. Your skin will thank you for it when you’re sitting on the beach fresh-faced and sun-kissed.
  Happy travels!