An effective skincare routine for long flights starts before you have stepped foot on the plane. In fact, it’s all in the prep. “It’s about going into the flight with your skin barrier in a strong, stable place,” says Dr Richard Devine, aesthetic doctor and founder of Devine Clinic. And to achieve this, “Avoid anything too aggressive beforehand and focus on hydration.”
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If you’ve ever arrived on holiday and your skin feels dehydrated, tight, or you have broken out, you are not alone. This happens to me each and every time that I arrive at my destination. Flying can be harsh on the skin – the low humidity, recycled air, and high altitude are, for me, a recipe for a stressed-out complexion. This is common, according to the expert. “Cabin air is extremely dry, so the skin loses water much faster than usual,” explains Dr Devine. “You’ll often notice tightness, dullness and fine lines looking more obvious by the time you land. Circulation also slows when you’re sitting for long periods, which can lead to puffiness. In some cases, dehydration pushes the skin to produce more oil, which is why breakouts after flying aren’t uncommon.”
It is important to build a nourishing skincare routine for long flights, to help support the skin barrier and boost hydration. This routine, as mentioned above, before the flight, but can include steps during with TikTok’s favourite mid-flight sheet mask and after.
- Best skincare products for before flying
- Best skincare products for a mid-flight routine
- Best skincare products for after flying
- What happens to the skin during long-haul flights?
- What ingredients help prevent dehydration on planes?
- Should you avoid make-up on long flights?
- How can you prevent breakouts while travelling?
- Meet the experts
Ahead of your next trip, coat the skin in nourishing ingredients to strengthen its resilience. “Preparation is really about supporting the skin barrier and keeping everything balanced,” reveals dermatologist Dr Galadari. “Over-exfoliating or introducing new actives right before a flight can leave the skin more vulnerable, so it’s better to focus on hydration and barrier support.”
ILLIYOON
Ceramide Ato Lotion
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Illiyoon is the bestselling moisturising care brand in South Korea and in the small amount of time that it has been available in the UK, it has made a huge impact. Sensitivities are increasingly common and the ceramide-enriched formula was created to have skin covered, strengthening the barrier and calming irritation when it occurs, without leaving a greasy finish behind. It’s a clean label that suits those prone to allergy and irritation. Illiyoon is also vegan.
- Key ingredients: soy-derived ceramides
- Benefits: restores skin barrier
- Best for: long-lasting hydration at an affordable price point
- Size: 68ml
La Roche-Posay
Cicaplast Baume B5+
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5+ has become a travel essential for me. The holiday-friendly 100ml tube can be slathered over the face and body where skin is feeling sensitive and inflammed. The multitasking formula is brimming with kind-to-skin ingredients like vitamin B5, glycerin and cicaplast and the brand’s own signature and soothing thermal spring water. It’s a thick cream texture that calms redness and encourages healing.
- Key ingredients: vitamin B5, glycerin, cicaplast and thermal spring water
- Benefits: Soothing inflammed skin
- Best for: multitasking
- Size: 100ml
Skinceuticals
H.A. Intensifier
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Formulated to deliver hydration to skin and help encourage skin’s own natural hydration synthesis, this formula combines hyaluronic acid with liquorice root, purple rice and ProXylane. The multi-action treatment helps combat dryness and reinstates suppleness and firmness to the skin. Recently reformulated to improve the texture, this feels silky and refreshing on skin and makes a great canvas for make-up.
Medik8
Hydr8 B5 Liquid Rehydration Serum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: One of the best hyaluronic acid serums for a reason. “It’s lightweight and plays well with all the other products in my routine,” says contributing beauty editor Lauren Murdoch-Smith. “It’s the kind of formula that my skin drinks up, so it alleviates dryness, but it’s also not sticky. It works wonders at plumping and smoothing the face, neck and hands over time too. I’m obsessed.” Combining smaller HA molecules with heavier ones, it works on multiple layers of the skin for ultra-effective hydration. Free from oil, fragrance and any irritating actives, Medik8’s hydrating serum is a great choice for all skin types. Those with very dry skin will benefit from the multi-weight hyaluronic acid formula enhanced here by vitamin B5, which soothes as HA draws moisture both deep into the dermis and onto the surface of the skin.
According to the expert, it’s not about complex routines or irritating active ingredients. An optimal strategy includes “A good serum layered under a moisturiser, which helps lock in moisture before exposure to dry cabin air. Keeping the skin calm and resilient tends to give the best results.”
Dr Devine adds that it is worth paying attention to your water intake. “Staying well hydrated is key, and adding electrolytes can help maintain fluid balance more effectively. I’d also avoid alcohol before and during the flight, as it accelerates dehydration.”
In-flight skincare routines are a controversial topic among dermatologists, with many claiming the environment isn’t hygienic enough for the multi-step processes that dominate our FYP. Our experts both agree that while it’s important to pay attention to this, it is safe to practice self-care in the sky.
“It’s absolutely safe, and in many cases helpful, but it’s important not to overdo it,” Dr Galadari believes. “Applying multiple layers without properly cleansing the skin can lead to congestion. A simple approach works best, something hydrating followed by a moisturiser. On longer flights, a sheet mask or hydrating mask can be beneficial, particularly if applied onto clean skin. Keeping hands clean before touching the face is just as important as the products being used.” Dr Devine agrees, he details that not only is it safe, but “it’s one of the easiest ways to minimise the impact of flying on the skin. Keep it simple and hygienic.”
Vital Baby
Vital Baby Aquaint Cleansing Water
The number one summer beauty essential in my hand luggage is a hypochlorous acid spray. I find that planes really exacerbate my acne, and this ingredient acts as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, while remaining gentle on the skin. This is especially true of Vital Baby’s formula, which is affordable, travel-friendly, and so dermatologically safe that you can use it on children from birth.
HAAN Hydrating Hand Cleansing Spray
Remember when hand sanitiser was clinical, alcohol-scented and left your digits chapped and dry? No longer. HAAN is the compact hand cleansing brand that infuses its bacteria-fighting formula with delightful fragrance. Plus, your hands will thank you as the label throws soothing aloe vera into the mix.
111Skin
Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Face Mask
Enriched with potent biomimetic peptides, lax skin gets a hefty lift under 111SKIN’s Celestial Black Diamond face mask. A complete renovation for weary complexions, it delivers these peptides via deep-reaching diamond particles. Featuring hero ingredient Centella Asiatica – a potent botanical extract that heals scars and stimulates collagen synthesis – it’s the sheet mask of choice for firming the face and lessening both blemishes and wrinkles.
£95 for 5 masks.
Medicube
Salmon DNA PDRN Pink Collagen Mask
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: We never thought we’d see the day when salmon DNA (also known as PDRN) became commonplace, but here we are. The ingredient is surging in popularity for its ability to boost collagen production and improve elasticity, texture, and tone when utilised in office procedures or in topical treatments. This mask leads with PDRN alongside growth factors, which Nietzel-Leone says “are an added bonus, great for post-recovery and overall skin health.” He recommends patch testing before applying it to the entire face, as it can irritate certain skin types. If your skin tolerates it well, he notes that it’s great for post-recovery after lasers or microneedling. It’s viral on TikTok – not just because it works, but also because it’s visually satisfying, thanks to the colour-changing gel that turns from pink to white as the nutrients are absorbed.
- Key ingredients: Salmon DNA PDRN, collagen
- Best for: Brightening, smoothing, post-treatment recovery
- Size: 4 masks
Medik8
Advanced Night Restore
- Size: 50ml
- Key ingredients: multi-ceramide complex, cell-repairing peptides, N-acetylglucosamine, antioxidant-rich botanical extracts
- Benefits: restores the skin’s lipid barrier, promotes hyaluronic acid production and neutralises free radicals to prevent skin damage
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “As so much repair happens during the night, it is exceptionally important that our skin cells are protected and supported during this time of work. A key role of Advanced Night Restore within your skincare regime is to recuperate the skin after a long day of exposure to the environment,” shares Daniel Isaacs, director of research at Medik8.
After arriving at my destination, the very first thing I do is wash my face. I have found this simple step has made a huge difference to my skin, immediately removing acne-causing bacteria. “After a flight, the skin is typically dehydrated and slightly sensitised,” says Dr Devine. “Keep things simple; rehydrate first, then lock that in with a good moisturiser. This is a good time for soothing, barrier-repair ingredients rather than jumping straight back into stronger actives. Let the skin settle before reintroducing anything more intensive.”
Dr Galadari adds that, if your skin is looking particularly dull, “Something like Lumecca Peak IPL can help improve overall clarity and brightness, especially for those who travel frequently and notice ongoing changes in skin tone.” I personally like to ensure I am consistently using my LED face mask for the professional experience at home.
Sulwhasoo
Gentle Cleansing Foam
Why it’s Vogue-approved: You only need a couple of pumps of this product – a little goes a long way. Applied to dry skin as the first step in our skincare routines, it feels sumptuous and nourishing as you massage it into the skin. The lathering begins even before you add water, but it goes into overdrive once you do. The brand recommends working it into a lather before slathering it onto the skin and then rinsing with water, but I find whichever way works effectively. You can really feel all the dirt and grime from the day washing away, but it is also extremely effective for hard-wearing make-up.
CeraVe
Intensive Moisturising Lotion for Very Dry Skin
- Key ingredients: three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, 5% hydro-urea, shea butter, glycerin and dimethicone
- Benefits: repairs and strengthens the skin barrier, locks in hydration, supports moisture retention
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A brilliant option for anyone who wants a simple moisturiser that does what it’s supposed to (moisturise, hydrate and support the skin barrier) and doesn’t cost the earth – this CeraVe number hits all the marks. A favourite among many of the Vogue staffers, it’s a day-and-night must-try for anyone with dry or combination skin.
Emma Lewisham
Skin Reset Serum
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: “A push-down applicator is always a win for me, but that’s just where the good stuff begins with this serum from Emma Lewisham. It reveals a light yellow-tinted formula with a fresh scent that glides onto the skin and provides immediate brightening. With continual use, however, the vitamin C-based product provided long-lasting radiance for my tired complexion, while niacinamide improved the look of uneven texture. It shines for its ability to minimise pigmentation.” – Ellie Davis, senior beauty shopping writer
- Key ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, aloe vera water
CurrentBody
Skin Series 2 LED Light Therapy Mask
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Clinically proven to reduce wrinkles by an impressive 35 per cent in just four weeks, CurrentBody’s LED Mask is also a hit with a number of celebrities. With red and near-infrared, it won’t target acne-prone skin (as it doesn’t offer blue light), but it is brilliant for general luminosity, collagen boosting and skin smoothing. And to add to that? It’s made from patented flexible silicone, which isn’t just comfortable, but it also ensures light covers every area of the face. It’s a yes from us. “I love using this mask. Not only do I see genuine results with better clarity and improved bounce when I use it regularly, but it’s comfortable to wear and simple to activate. A great option if you’re new to LED.” – Vogue contributing editor, Georgia Day.
This device also ranks high on dermatologist Dr Nicole Ruth’s list. “I find CurrentBody’s face mask sits nicely on the curvatures of your face, allowing even coverage on the skin surface without any gaps,” she says.
- Key specs:
- Light Modes: Red (633nm), near infra red (830nm), deep near infra red (1072nm)
- Mask Type: Flexible
- Device type: Face mask
- Target area: Face
- Treatment Time: 10 minutes
- Best for: The mask has noticeable anti-ageing effects, including improved skin texture and firmness.
- Wireless: Yes
- Good to know: Emily in Paris actress Lily Collins is a fan of this mask. With her virtually poreless skin, that’s good enough validation for us.
Tatcha
Indigo Overnight Repair
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: Formulated for sensitive skin, this fragrance-free night cream promises deep skin hydration and will visibly calm irritation caused by everyday environmental stressors. Rich in key skincare ingredients like lipids and ceramides, it works hard to repair and strengthen the moisture barrier to keep hydration in – and irritants out.
- Size: 50ml
- Key ingredients: Japanese indigo extract, biomimetic ceramide blend, mondo grass root
- Benefits: hydrates and visibly calms irritation, while strengthening the moisture barrier
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Aestura
ATOBARRIER365 Cream
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: This deeply nourishing cream is packed with a lipid complex of ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol that’s similar to the actual skin barrier. Board-certified dermatologist Michelle Park, MD, previously told Vogue of this Korean moisturiser that “the ceramides in question are encapsulated, allowing them to be better retained in the skin barrier for a long period of time, where they seal gaps and lock in hydration for hours.” Safe for sensitive skin, the formula has undergone allergy and sensitivity testing, and is free from colourants and fragrance, ensuring it’s gentle enough for daily use without causing irritation.
- Key ingredients: Ceramide, fatty acids
- Best for: Ultra dry skin that needs soothing and strengthening.
- Available size: 80 ml
- Type: Cream
- Fragrance: No
FAQs
What happens to the skin during long-haul flights?
“Flying has quite a noticeable impact on the skin,” Dr Hassan Galadari tells me. “The low humidity draws water out very quickly, so dehydration is almost inevitable. Skin often feels tight, looks dull and can appear more lined than usual. At the same time, reduced movement affects circulation and lymphatic flow, which is why puffiness and a slightly flat complexion are common on arrival. For some, this imbalance can also trigger breakouts, as the skin starts to overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of moisture.”
What ingredients help prevent dehydration on planes?
Both experts spotlight hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which, according to Dr Galadari, “are effective for drawing moisture into the skin.” Dr Devine adds ceramides and squalane to the list, too, as barrier-supporting ingredients, and the combination of all the above “is what prevents the skin from drying out too quickly in low-humidity conditions.”
Should you avoid make-up on long flights?
Ideally, yes. “The skin is already under stress and more prone to dehydration and make-up can sit unevenly and may contribute to congestion,” Dr Galadari says. He recommends that “If worn, lighter, more hydrating formulas are better suited to this environment, anything breathable rather than heavy or matte.” In this case, Dr Devine believes “lightweight skin tints rather than heavier, matte foundations.”
How can you prevent breakouts while travelling?
Dr Devine breaks it down: “Breakouts are usually the result of dehydration, increased oil production and bacteria.” To prevent this, he recommends “Keep your routine consistent, avoid over-cleansing or overusing actives, and try not to touch your face unnecessarily. A compromised skin barrier is often the starting point for inflammation.”
Meet the experts
- Dr Hassan Galadari is an American board-certified dermatologist
- Dr Richard Devine is an aesthetic doctor and the founder of Devine Clinic