Why do people do skincare on plane?

Most of the problems your skin faces are the result of dry cabin air and low air pressure. “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%,” says aesthetician Shane Cooper.



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Overall, a robust flight-specific skincare routine doesn't seem to be a must for most of us. However, if it makes you feel good, look out for products with gentle, hydrating ingredients—and don't forget to wash your hands before touching your face.

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Clean your skin.
If not, it'll have an even harder time breathing than it already is (thanks, stale, recirculated airplane air) and the hydrating products you apply won't sink in as much as they could. I'd also recommend not washing your face in the airplane bathroom if you can avoid it.

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Airplane acne is a real thing, and many travelers are affected by it. The dry air on airplanes can irritate your skin, no matter what type you have. For those with already dry skin, the air on a plane can exacerbate the dryness, while those with oily skin could produce excess oils to compensate for the dryness.

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The Impact Air Travel Has On Your Skin Dehydration: airline travel is one of the fastest skin dehydrators. Dullness: flying can take away your glow. Sun Sensitivity: sitting in a window seat gives you extra exposure to closer UV rays. Extra Eye Baggage: the puffy bags under your eyes can get worse.

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Good news, bar-lovers: you're allowed to bring soap bars on the plane. Because soap bars are considered solids, they aren't subject to the same rules as liquid items. In other words, you can pack your favorite soap bar without worrying about a TSA agent throwing it away at the checkpoint.

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If you do happen to pick up bacteria or fungi that's not your own, this may lead to itchiness and bumps on the skin and scalp. Showering after flights is probably a good thing—regardless of the length! —if only to have that clean feel after being cooped up in a cabin.

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During Your Flight
As for the rest of your skincare routine, look for serums and moisturizers that contain humectants (like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and sodium PCA) and emollients (like shea butter and squalane). “These will draw water from the air and seal it into the skin,” Yadav says.

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Makeup in a solid or powder form is allowed in carry-on and checked bags with no quantity or size limitations. However, when packed in carry-on bags, makeup in a liquid, lotion, gel, paste or creamy form, must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less.

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To help keep your skin supple during long flights, Josie Vasquez, a flight attendant with United Airlines for more than ten years, swears by using a moisturizing face mask the night before take-off and after landing. She even travels with a mini humidifier that easily plugs into any USB port to keep her skin glowing.

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Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.

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The TSA rules allow for lipstick to be considered a solid, not a liquid or gel, which means that you do not have to take it out of your carry-on during the security check.

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TSA counts mascara as a liquid, so the 3-1-1 rule for packing it in hand luggage applies. It states that all liquids have to be in 3.4 oz (100 ml) bottles or smaller and packed in a 1-quart bag. Mascara usually isn't above 3.4 oz, so you're free to pack it in your hand luggage.

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“During a flight, cabin humidity is often less than 10 per cent, while our skin typically feels comfortable with 50 per cent humidity,” explains Professor Michael Detman, co-founder and chief scientific office of Iräye, of why we often get puffy on flights.

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Sitting down in a tight seat for 13+ hours can sometimes lead to circulation issues, including swelling in the feet. According to The Healthy, the chance of your body forming blood clots increases when blood isn't moving correctly, such as when onboard a long-haul flight.

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The only problem is, besides that warm breeze and feeling the sun on your face, air travel also has some less pleasant associations, like dryness and puffiness. When “flight face” strikes, it pays to know how to deal with it (or better yet, prevent it happening in the first place).

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The pores in your skin tend to be enlarged as the result of high humidity, so it feels like there's a sheen of moisture layered on your skin, which exposes it to oils, toxins and normal pollution. This invites clogging, which results in acne, eczema, allergic reactions and blemishes.

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Travelling dehydrates the skin When you board a plane, the humidity drops to a mere 20%. As your skin attempts to compensate for this, moisture is pulled from the deeper layers. This leads to a dehydrated complexion. Throw in a few drinks from the bar cart and you're at an even higher risk of systemic dehydration.

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