If you’ve ever stepped off a plane and felt like your skin is thirsty, you aren’t alone my friend. Airplane cabins notoriously have low humidity which can wreak havoc on your skin and hair. Today, I’m sharing my go-to tips on how to take care of your skin and help you fight in-flight dryness.
How to take care of your skin on flights
Flights have a tendency to dry me out like nothing else in life. My lips crack, my arms and legs get ashy, and my hair gets dry. The low humidity on flights affects you in more ways than just drying out your skin. It can increase the possibility of getting sick and make you feel icky. Over the years, I’ve found ways to fight low humidity on a plane and products that changed how I travel.
Stay hydrated.
The easiest thing you can do to fight the low humidity on a flight is to drink water and stay hydrated. Dry air pulls moisture from wherever it can get it, which is why your skin gets so dry on flights. You can help prevent dryness by making sure you are hydrated before AND during your flight. Avoid lots of alcohol or caffeine and make sure you avoid heavily salted foods.
Use saline spray.
Dry, crusty noses… sexy to talk about I know, is one of the most common side effects of the low humidity in planes. Normally, your boogers are a protective barrier that helps you fight off germs and infections that might be floating around in the air. When that mucous membrane is dried out, you’re more susceptible to getting sick. Low-humidity environments allow viruses to float around a bit longer than they would at a normal humidity level which is why so many people get sick after taking a flight.
This perfect storm can sometimes lead to a cold or the flu so to protect yourself use a saline spray. You don’t have to carry a huge one with you either, a few sprays in each nostril will usually do the trick!
Moisturize your skin.
I learned the hard way after moving to Chicago that if you don’t take care of your skin, it will suffer. After a harsh winter where I had to completely redo my skincare routine, I dove deep into the world of skin health.
A good moisturizer is an excellent line of defense against the dry air in planes. Before you fly, consider using a heavier moisturizer or night cream to help keep moisture in. If you don’t like the feel of a heavy or really hydrating cream, pack a travel-size moisturizer with you to apply as needed on the flight. I always take a small vial of rosehip oil with me on longer flights too! I’ll apply it before they dim the cabin lights as a moisture bomb but you could also try a sheet mask mid-flight to keep your skin happy.
Use eye drops and skip the contacts.
Dry eyes are a pain and a very common occurrence on flights. I always carry eye drops or artificial tears with me because I wear contacts but they come in handy when flying. They help restore moisture in your eyes and relieve discomfort. If you wear contacts, opt for your glasses while you fly! There is nothing worse than dry eyes AND dry contacts, trust me.
Try moisturizing mist.
After working for LUSH in college, I realized how important mists and toners can be for the health of your skin. On flights, I always bring a mist with me to spritz when I start feeling a little dry. I love products with rose water or lavender since they help soothe your skin too. Mists are great to help bring back life into your skin because they energize and rejuvenate. They also make great makeup setting spray!
Though low humidity can wreak havoc if you know how to prepare, you shouldn’t feel the effects of low humidity on your flight. Listen to your body and make sure you have what you need to be comfortable. And don’t forget to bring a water bottle with you!