It’s school holidays which means for some of you lucky ones it’s time to jet off on an adventure.

We all have our methods when it comes to aeroplane travel. Some like to knock themselves out and sleep the whole way, while others try to adjust to the upcoming time zone and force themselves to stay awake.

There are those who get to the airport 3 hours before check-in opens and others that consider ‘gate closing’ a perfect time to check out the duty-free shopping.

One thing though that everyone has in common (that doesn’t discriminate based on what class you’re flying in) is that flying is taxing on your skin. The recycled air is very dehydrating. The low humidity levels in the cabin decrease the hydration in the outer layers of your skin.

This is why your skin often feels tight and flakey and your eyes red and dry. The recycled air is also a breeding ground of other people’s germs which is why the air-conditioning is freezing cold and blasted on high, reducing the moisture levels even further to around 20% of what we’re used to.

Attitude also affects your skin. Aeroplane cabins are pressurised which means your blood isn’t circulating properly. They tell you to move your legs on a plane, but its also important to exercise your face.

I asked our Face Place Dermal Therapists to share their top tips to keeping your skin in a healthy time zone while travelling:

  1. Do NOT wear makeup on a long-haul flight. It’s ok if you’re just popping down to Melbourne, but anything longer than 2 hours on a plane, you should fly makeup free and give your skin a chance to breathe.
  1. If you have a day flight, make sure to wear Sunscreen. Think about it, you’re flying 30,000 feet above ground bringing you even closer to the harsh UV rays of the sun. If you love your window seat, make sure you had a thick coverage of 30SPF on. A BB cream is an ideal product choice as it includes a moisturiser.
  1. Cleanse your face, don’t spritz your face. Avoid the facial mists that promise hydration. Water attracts water. Spritzing rose misted water might feel calming but will actually aggravate dehydration. Wash your face before settling in for a long-haul flight then apply a facial oil or a nourishing night cream. Pro tip, mix a few drops of your facial oil into your night cream and apply.
  1. Reapply your moisturiser, all flight long. Every couple of hours….or in between naps, wake up, move around and reapply your hydrating cream in sweeping circular movements from your neck up. Giving yourself a facial massage is great for promoting blood circulation (remember the cabin pressure). It’s a DIY lymphatic drainage technique that your cells will thank you for. If you’re lucky enough to sit in business or first class, consider adding some under eye patches, or if you dare a hydrating sheet mask. Of course, you’re more than welcome to rock one in economy as long as you don’t frighten your neighbours.
  1. Swap the wine for water. Being on a plane can often be associated with a holiday, so it’s natural you want to celebrate with a drink, but it’s best to wait until you reach your destination if you want to look your best when you land. Alcohol is already dehydrating but when you combine it with altitude, you’ll feel the effects a lot faster. Alcohol will also cause your face to look more bloated and puffy than usual due to the cabin pressure.
  1. To beat the skin jet lag once you land double cleanse your skin, gently exfoliate and layer your product  depending on your new Timezone (day routine or night routine). Try and get some exercise first thing off your flight and you’ll start your holiday fresh faced and fabulous.

For a cosmetic consultation:
Call: 02 8897 0000
Email: [email protected]

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