Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
I’m sitting in the airport lounge, waiting to board my flight to Budapest. It’s a short trip. Two hours and then I’ll be soaking up the sun at an outdoor spa, going for romantic moonlight walks by the Danube, and snacking on chimney cake. I can’t wait. But… my skin is dreading it. Because plane life isn’t easy on it. Even a two hours flight takes its toll. Dryness, sun damage, stress…. they’re just some of the bad things that happen to your skin on a plane.
I’m determined to avoid all them and arrive to my destination looking all fresh and glowy. You feel the same, don’t you? If you’re curious to know how I do it, here’s how take care of your skin on plan – both short and long haul flights:
The Night Before: Pre-Flight Prep
Okay so if you’re anything like me, you’re probably running around like a headless chicken trying to remember if you packed your phone charger, but listen – do your skin a favor the night before and it’ll love you for it.
Slap on a hydrating face mask while you’re triple-checking your suitcase. Something with hyaluronic acid or ceramides – basically anything that screams MOISTURE. Leave it on for like 15-20 minutes. Your skin’s gonna need all the help it can get before the plane turns it into a raisin.
And I’m gonna sound like your mum here but GET TO BED EARLY. I know you’re buzzing and probably want to have “just one more drink” to celebrate, but your face will absolutely rat you out tomorrow. Dark circles, puffiness, looking generally dead – not the vibe.
Step 1: Fight Dehydration
It’s no secret that flying dehydrates skin but… how the heck does that happen? Here’s the short version: your skin’s happier when there’s lots of humidity around. Anything between 40 to 70% is ideal. But as the plane flies high into the sky, cabin pressure increases and humidity plummets down to 20% or less. Without moisture, your skin dries out, shrivels up like an old prune and gets all red and flaky.
THE FIX
Use a hyaluronic acid serum followed by moisturiser. Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet. It’s incredibly good at holding onto water. So good it can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water! Just make sure you seal it in with a good moisturiser. I do this before leaving for the airport and, once I’m on the flight, I reapply every 90 minutes. When I get off, my skin is so soft and smooth.
P.S. Yes, you can use a sheet mask with hyaluronic acid instead. I prefer the serum because it doesn’t make me look like a serial killer. 😉
P.P.S. Avoid mists. They’re refreshing but, with nothing to seal it in, the moisture evaporates out of your skin again. 🙁
Best Picks:
- Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid (£30.00): The most hydrating and plumping serum I’ve tried, it has 13+ forms of Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate every layer of skin. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, and Niod
- Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster ($39.00): A hyaluronic acid serum with ceramides to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and heal dry skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, SpaceNK.
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£7.90): A simple formula with Vitamin B5 to soothe and hydrate skin. It’s fragrant-free and suitable for sensitive skin too. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
Related: What Are The Best Serums With Hyaluronic Acid?
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Step 2: Prevent Oiliness
Do you find your skin goes in the totally opposite direction and gets a little oilier on flights? Lack of humidity in the cabin is the culprit again. You see, your skin doesn’t like to be dry. If it loses too much moisture, it will sometimes try to counteract the dryness by pumping out more oil.
THE FIX
Same as above. Use a hyaluronic acid serum followed by moisturiser. Great skin on a plane is all about hydration, hydration, hydration.
Step 3: Slather On Sunscreen
Can I tell you a secret? I hate sitting by the window. Sure, the view is nice, but it’s too close to the sun for my taste. UV rays are more intense at higher altitudes. Add the thinner air that can’t screen harmful radiation as well and you’ve got a recipe for sunburns and wrinkles. Oh, and a higher chances of skin cancer. No thank you!
THE FIX
Wear sunscreen. I know you’re doing it every day anyway, RIGHT? Putting it on before a flight and reapplying every couple of hours on long haul flights (especially if you get the dreaded window seat) is a must.
Best Picks:
- EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47 ($25.00): Its silky texture is pretty lightweight and sinks in quickly without turning your skin into a greasy mess. Plus it’s water-resistant. The catch? It does leave a slight white cast on the skin. Available at Dermstore and Walmart
- Paula’s Choice Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($33.00): My fave mineral sunscreen, it’s super lightweight and doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind. It’s suitable even for oily skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
- Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 ($45.00): A mineral tinted sunscreen that’s lightweight enough for even oily skin. Available at Blue Mercury, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, and Skinceuticals
Related: Do You Really Need To Reapply Sunscreen Every 2 Hours?
Step 4: Beat Travel Stress
Travel stress is real. I love travelling but just the thought of packing three suitcases, going to the airport and making it to security are enough to trigger an anxiety attack. What if I lose the plane? What if security stops me? What if they lose my luggage? What if, what if, what if….? There are a gazillion things that can go wrong. All this stress increases the levels of your stress hormones, which can lead to flareups of psoriasis, eczema and acne. Now I’m lucky I don’t have to deal with the first two, but acne is very much a risk for me. One I’d rather avoid.
THE FIX
Keep it simple. This isn’t the time to try new products or overwhelm your skin with essences, serums, mists and who knows what else. Stick to a basic skincare routine: a gentle cleanser, hyaluronic acid serum, moisturiser and sunscreen. You don’t need anything else. It may also be a good idea to meditate, especially during particularly stressful moments, like before security. I know it doesn’t seem like a skincare tip but I swear it helps!
Related: How To Meditate Your Way To Clear Skin
Post-Flight Recovery
Right, you’ve landed! First up: wash your face but be nice about it. Use something creamy and gentle – your skin’s been through enough already. You just wanna get rid of all that gross airplane air and grime without making things worse.
Then absolutely DROWN your skin in hydration. Hyaluronic acid serum, thick moisturizer, maybe even both because why not. If your face is looking angry and red, chuck on a soothing mask. Anything with aloe or centella will sort you right out.
FAQ: Your Flight Skincare Questions Answered
Should I wear makeup on a plane?
Honestly? Skip it. I know it feels weird but your skin will be SO much happier. If you really can’t handle going bare-faced (I get it), here’s my move: tinted moisturizer with SPF, bit of concealer if you need it, done. That’s literally it. Save the full face for when you land and your skin doesn’t look like the desert. Your photos will be better anyway.
Can I do my full skincare routine in the airplane bathroom?
I mean… you CAN but those bathrooms are tiny and disgusting and there’s always someone banging on the door. Keep it simple. I just take my hyaluronic acid and moisturizer and reapply at my seat. Be subtle about it though. The full routine can wait – your skin will survive a few hours.
What about overnight flights?
Okay so here’s what I do: normal evening routine before boarding (cleanser, serum, moisturizer). Once you’re ready to pass out, slap on an extra layer of moisturizer or a sleeping mask. Some people sleep with nothing but I think that’s mad – your skin needs the help. Just don’t use anything super sticky that’ll end up all over the gross airplane pillow.
How do I pack skincare in carry-on?
The 100ml rule is so annoying, right? Get travel sizes or decant your stuff into little bottles (Amazon has them cheap). Shove everything in a clear ziplock. Makes security way faster. LIFE HACK: solid cleansers and stick moisturizers don’t count as liquids! Changed my life.
Do I really need to reapply products every 90 minutes?
Nah not necessarily. On a short flight like my Budapest one (2 hours), I do my routine before and maybe once during. Done. But on a massive long-haul? Yeah I’m reapplying every few hours because my skin genuinely starts feeling tight and shit. Just see how your skin feels. If it’s fine, don’t stress. If it’s feeling dry, reapply. Don’t overthink it.
The Bottom Line
Plane life will try to wreak havoc on your skin in every possible way. Don’t let it. Put your sunscreen on, moisturise, and keep your skincare routine simple and you’ll get to your destination looking fresh and flawless.
Keeping it simple is definitely how I do it. I personally do not like to remove make-up and applying skin care products during a long haul flight, especially since I sit in coach/economy where there is not enough space to do them without bothering my neighbor. I’ve sat beside a woman who removed her make-up at the beginning of the flight and then did her makeup before we landed – the problem was her elbow kept hitting me, her containers kept falling out of the backseat tray, and her mist ended up on my face (I had to tell her not to use mist with scent or perfume because some people can be allergic to it). Before leaving home, I double the amount of hydrating lotion I use on my face. I also use a tinted moisturizer or a tinted moisturizing sunscreen so that it’s easier to re-apply. I do not use foundation and use lesser make-up overall. I also drink a lot of water during the flight.
JD, that’s so rude! I agree, keeping it simple and preparing well before a flight, especially if you don’t have the chance to retouch your skincare, is key.
Hi Gio, may I know how do you reapply your hyaluronic acid and moisturizer on top of your sunscreen and makeup during your flight?
Claire, I don’t wear makeup on long haul flights so I just apply my skincare as normal on top of sunscreen.
I have been falling on this myth that anything skincare products applied after sunscreen will not be absorb by the skin as sunscreen (both chemical & physical) creates a protection preventing them from entering! That was what my demologist told me, sign. I’m so glad that I have found your blog, gave me more confidence on how to use my products properly. I will definitely reapply The ordinary HA and Argon Oil whenever my face is dehydrated! Oh, do I need to reapply my sunscreen after doing so? How about the normal days, are we supposed to reapply our sunscreen every 2-3 hours regardless of indoor/outdoor?
Claire, I would reapply sunscreen every two hours or so on a plane just because you’re so close to the sun up there. For everyday, it really depends on how much time you spend in the sun or near windows. UV rays degrade UV filters, making them ineffective after a while. The more time you spend in the sooner, the quicker the degradation process happens. So if it’s summer and you’re spending quite a bit of time outdoors/working near windows, reapply. If it’s winter, you can barely see the sun and don’t venture outdoors, there’s no need to. Experts must tell you to reapply every 2 hours but the truth is you have to exercise your own judgment.