Skincare Travel Essentials: How to Stay Hydrated In-Flight

We all know travel can be stressful, and flying can be especially hard on skin, which is easily disrupted by changes in humidity, temperature, altitude and routine. As you plan your next trip, we recommend packing your skincare essentials in your carry-on. Here are a few tips to keep your skin hydrated and protected.

How Flying and Travel Impacts Your Skin

Flying for even short periods of time has a way of drying out and dehydrating the skin.

The main culprit here is dry air. Airplane cabins are extremely low humidity environments, which can quickly deplete moisture. The low air pressure at cruising altitudes means your body is working harder to take in less oxygen, which can also do a number on your skin—causing everything from a dull appearance to puffiness.

Drinking plenty of water, doing your best to minimize TSA-induced stress and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can go a long way to keep you and your skin your best.

Having a hydrating pre-flight and in-flight skincare routine is another great way to keep yourself feeling good in the air and looking dewy once you land.

Different items including a Jet Lag Mask, Jet Lag Eye Patches, a plane ticket, headphones, keys and a computer in side a silver bin.

How to Keep Skin Glowing On the Go

The secret to supporting your skin while traveling is simple: hydration. The low-humidity air in the cabin means your skin will be extra thirsty, so adding extra hydrating skincare products to your routine can go a long way towards protecting your glow while you’re on the move.

Pre-Flight Skincare Tips

Prepping your skin for the skies starts before you even step foot in the terminal. Here’s our pre-flight, hydration-focused skincare routine.

Pro Tip: We like to wash our face at home before leaving for the airport with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser like the Super Amino Gel Cleanser, which contains a trio of Vitamin E, Sodium PCA and Sodium Lactate to help skin attract and hold onto moisture.
Use your treatment step to boost moisture retention by patting the Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum into clean, dry skin. Formulated with soothing, deeply hydrating ingredients like Squalane and Glycerin, the serum floods skin with weightless moisture and supports the skin barrier for lasting dryness relief.
Lock in moisture with a richly hydrating cream like the Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer, which is packed with ingredients like Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide that can help your skin feel more hydrated. Then, add a layer of nourishment to the lips by swiping on your favorite Lip Butter Balm flavor.
If you’re flying during the day, finish with ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen to prevent fine lines and protect your skin from UV rays, which yes, can even happen in the air!

If you can, skip reapplying makeup before you head to the airport. Flying fresh-faced will make it much easier to apply your in-flight travel skincare routine.

Jet Lag^™ Deep Hydration Serum

Lightweight serum formulated to hydrate and soothe skin

ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen

ShadeDrops^® SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen

Hand holding a pouch of Jet Lag Eye Patches over a plane window and blue sky

In-Flight Skincare Routine

Once you’re in the air, the main goal is to keep your skin as hydrated as possible. That means layering on hydrating skincare products every few hours to help your skin retain moisture, combat irritation and reduce puffiness. These are the on-the-go skincare essentials we always keep within reach while flying. (Just make sure to apply them with freshly sanitized hands!)

Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist. Spritz on a layer of this ultra-fine mist, which is formulated to deliver dewy hydration and provide a protective moisture barrier to support glowing skin, whenever your skin starts to feel a bit tight or dehydrated.
Jet Lag Mask + Moisturizer. On long-haul flights, we love applying a thick layer of our award-winning jet lag mask as a mini treatment to deeply hydrate skin. On shorter flights, apply a thinner layer to face, neck, and hands after spritzing your skin with the Skin Soothing Hydration Mist to lock-in moisture. Reminder: head to the bathroom to wash your hands before applying!
Lip Butter Balm. Your lips will become extra dry in-flight. We love swiping on a thick layer of Lip Butter Balm for extra nourishing hydration.
Jet Lag Eye Patches. Refresh, soothe and de-puff tired eyes after long flights by applying these hydrating, non-slip hydrogel eye patches as you begin your descent. By the time you’re on the ground at your destination, the Caffeine and Peptides present in the patches will have you looking glowy and awake.
ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen. If it’s going to be sunny when you land, be sure to re-apply a layer of SPF before you step off the plane. And, if you’re flying during the day, it’s a good idea to reapply as you would if you were outside to protect your skin from the intense UV rays.

Travel Skincare Essentials

Not sure where to start? With our Jet Lag Essentials Set, it’s easy to travel with your favorite skincare must-haves. Featuring the award-winning Jet Lag Moisturizer + Mask, Jet Lag Soothing Skin Hydration Mist, Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum and Jet Lag Eye Patches, it has everything frequent fliers need in their carry-on to support healthy skin while on the go.