If you’re fortunate enough to have been vaccinated and are considering travel, it may almost seem too good to be true! But once those plane tickets are booked and you’re getting your packing list ready to execute, it’s important to make sure your skin will be just as happy to jet-set as you are. Here are a few important skin care tips to remember before that boarding pass gets scanned.
Always Apply SPF
You’re physically closer to the sun in a plane than you are on the ground — all the more reason to never neglect your SPF. Studies have even shown an increased risk of skin cancer among flight attendants and pilots, so be sure to keep your window down if you can help it and apply your sunscreen as directed. And since that suitcase space is precious, it helps to have a multi-tasking sunscreen in your lineup, like Light Hearted Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. It keeps skin shielded from harmful UV rays and excessive blue light, and it also offers a hydrating, velvet-smooth finish that doubles as a makeup primer.
Consider the Climate
If you’re heading somewhere warm and humid, make sure that the products you’re bringing are all non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog the pores and lead to breakouts. Conversely, if your destination is dry and/or chilly, make sure you have an all-star moisturizer with hyaluronic acid and ceramides in your routine to keep your skin balanced, hydrated, and equipped to better handle potential changes in temperature.
Facial Wipes Aren’t Always a Must
Many facial wipes will rely on their travel-friendly nature as a selling perk (they don’t count as liquids, after all), but it’s important not to put too much stock in their (and questionable hotel soaps’) abilities to keep your skin clean while you’re traveling. Instead, bring your normal cleanser and if you feel the need, supplement your cleansing routine with facial wipes while you’re jet-setting. Better yet, instead of facial wipes, consider antibacterial wipes to ensure your hands (and armrests, trays, etc.) stay as germ-free as possible and wash your face as soon as you reach your hotel room. “Although the air quality on planes is generally quite good, I will always wash my face as soon as I get to my destination,” says Craig Starling, Education and Training Manager for Sunday Riley. “Planes, trains, and cabs can be unhygienic and we end up touching loads of gross stuff and then our face,” he explains.
Add Hyaluronic Acid or Hydrating Oil To Your Lineup
If your skin tends to dry out on flights, add a humectant like hyaluronic acid or a hydrating oil to your pre-flight skincare regimen. In addition to hyaluronic acid’s water-retaining powers (it can hold up to six liters!), it also supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier against telltale signs of dehydration, like the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
You can also consider a quick masking treatment for your flight with a moisturizer like Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream. “I’ll sometimes put more than I normally would on and let it sit on my face for twenty minutes before massaging it in properly,” says Starling. “Depending on the length of the flight, I’ll add a few applications of C.E.O. Glow Oil and even Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream throughout the flight.”
Flying can dehydrate the skin, so don’t forget to bring your own sealed water bottles or order water from the beverage cart.
Make Your Favorites Travel-Sized
Before you go down a rabbit hole of products marketed specifically for travel, consider your routine as it is. Unless you’re experiencing concerns or signs that it’s time to try something new, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, opt for travel-sized bottles of your current routine. If you’re currently using Sunday Riley products or considering a change, the Wake Up With Me and Go To Bed With Me kits each feature-complete morning and evening routines, both perfect for the TSA line.
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