Credits: Social Media
Avoiding flight face during travel is easier than you think
If youre hopping on a plane soon to a sunny destination, then youre going to want to arrive looking youthful, Dewey, and without the dreaded flight face.�
Flight face is largely a TikTok and Instagram term that has been adopted by the skincare industry to describe the post-flight state of your skin. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to offset the damage.�
How is flight face caused?
The issues with in-flight skin health come largely thanks to the altitude of the plane and the dramatic air humidity.
At 30,000 feet, humidity in an aircraft cabin drops to around 20%, while the humidity our skin feels comfortable in should be around 40-70%, aesthetician Shane Cooper told Glamour. This means that the skin on your face and body can become incredibly dehydrated, even on a short flight. �
Skin can also flare up as a result of increased stress, which travelers will know is a common experience thousands of feet in the air.
These factors can have a range of effects from person to person, with some experiencing painful cracked, and flaky skin and others fighting the breakout of their lives.�
What can you do to combat flight face?
To better understand how to combat the dreaded flight face, we spoke to licensed aesthetician Blaire Arvin.�
She told us: I dont want people to feel stressed out thinking they need to do some extra 10-step skincare routine on a flight, but its a good idea to have just a few travel-friendly items handy.
First and foremost, its always going to be best to do a really good protective routine before a flight. That includes a good cleanse, a great hydrator or moisturizer, and sunscreen. If its nighttime, just go ahead and work to seal in all that extra moisture.
During the in-flight specifically, when youre not binging the latest season of Greys Anatomy or watching the planes animated flick, Blaire recommended stocking up on hydration.�
To combat dehydration on a flight in particular, I like to bring a little simple hydrating mist, a moisturizer, and even something like a small Aquaphor. Theres no downside to having a few different options, she said. These products can be used together, on their own, and as much as you want. Theyre all skin loving. Just make sure your hands are clean if you are touching your face.
If its daytime, you 100% want to have sunscreen to protect your skin from pigmentation, wrinkles, and most of all skin cancer. Studies show UV radiation levels are twice as high at altitudes of flying, she added.�
