There’s something magical about takeoff. The hum of the engines, the promise of arriving somewhere new. Yet, as exhilarating as travel can be, it’s no secret that flying takes a toll on both body and skin. Whether it’s a quick business trip or a long-haul escape, the more we prepare, the easier it is to arrive feeling balanced, refreshed, and radiant.
Air travel, though wondrous, is far from gentle on the skin and body. Inside the cabin, humidity levels can drop lower than those of a desert, we can lose a ton of water, and oxygen levels dip just enough to leave skin dull, dehydrated, and inflamed.
I’ve seen with clients returning from travel, especially those managing inflammatory conditions like eczema or acne, the combination of dryness, fatigue, and sluggish circulation can quickly trigger flare-ups and throw even the most disciplined routines off course.
That’s why a pre-flight body and skincare ritual isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. Giving your complexion a dose of nourishment and protection before boarding can mean the difference between arriving looking tired and arriving looking luminous. Trust me, I’ve flown both ways, and preparation is everything. Ahead, I’m sharing my tried-and-true tips for keeping your skin calm, hydrated, and glowing from takeoff to touchdown.
How to Prepare Your Skin for a Flight
1. The Night Before Your Flight.
Lightly exfoliate, as dead skin buildup can prevent serums and moisturizers from absorption and you want to be sure you are as hydrated and moisturized as possible for your flight. Movement rituals such as gua sha and face massage are great to do the night before to support your circulation and lymphatic system before take off.
2. The Morning of Your Flight.
Before your flight, follow your daily skincare routine consisting of cleansing and toning, follow with a hydrating water based serum and then moisturize. I personally love a deeply moisturizing balm for flying as they work well to seal in hydration, moisture and prevent water loss. I apply 2 layers of each finishing product; toner, hydrating serum and product of choice for my moisturizing. The key is to seriously hydrate and moisturize. Think of creating a “reserve” of each to prevent skin dehydration and dryness as much as possible.
3. Windows on Planes May or May Not Be UV Resistant.
I always play it safe with sun protection. There is no room for error here! Always be mindful of direct sunlight on your skin while flying and avoid if possible. If you’ve got a window seat, apply your SPF.
4. No Skincare Treatments In Flight.
Not sure if it’s done for approval on social media but I do not recommend doing gua sha or face massage during your flight. There is no way to get your skin or hands clean enough for this during a flight. Highly recommend both for flight skin preparation the night before, morning of, and after flight nourishment but skip the in flight treatments.
5. Tone, Mist, & Essential Oils.
If you do want to incorporate some selfcare approaches to your flight, you can opt for light facial misting with a properly formulated emulsive toner, totally refreshing. A well formulated emulsive toner can also help prevent transepidermal water loss or TEWL. I’m also a fan of aromatherapy doses in flight. Ylang Ylang is my favorite essential oil so I’ll dab a few drops on my wrists and take some deep inhalations every so often.
6. After arrival.
Double cleanse and follow the above hydration steps for aftercare. If you’re worried about acne or congestion, apply a beta hydroxy serum layered underneath your hydration and moisturizing steps for both anti-inflammatory and anti-congestion properties.
How To Prepare Your Body For A Flight
1. Hydrate.
Begin prepping 1-2 days before with your water intake to keep your complexion extra hydrated. Drink 4 liters, a little over 1 gallon, of water the day before your flight and the day of your flight. (Brownie points for the aisle seat!) Keep coffee intake light the day of flight or opt for green and herbal teas. Hold the iced anything, which can slow down digestion.
2. Workout.
Try to get in a sweat inducing workout before your flight to support circulation and detoxification. The less stagnation when flying, the easier it will be on the skin and body. Same goes for after your arrival. I love outdoor workouts and what better way to explore a new place.
3. Eat Light Meals.
The lymphatic and digestive system becomes sluggish while flying. I recommend to stick with light meals before a flight to avoid extra stress on digestion. Pack light snacks, fruit, and opt for light meals starting 24-48 hours before flight. Flight dehydration slows down transit time and can create digestion imbalances. Loading up on heavy meals around travel time can leave us feeling sluggish and constipated.
4. Opt For Movement After Your Flight.
Even a 20 min walk around the airport while waiting for luggage is supportive. If you ever see me power walking around an airport, now you know why.
5. Avoid Alcohol Before and During Flights.
Flying may mean vacation time but I highly recommend to avoid boozing it up before and during flights. It can be tempting but the combination of dehydrating and inflammatory factors can leave us sluggish and tired. Add on a time change and it can be quite challenging for the body and circadian rhythms to adjust. Save the appetite, alcohol and indulgences for once your settled in and can enjoy with out the taxing effects of flying and time changes, totally worth it!
6. Body Oiling Night Before and Day of Flight.
Body oiling seals in hydration and prevents the skin on the body from becoming dehydrated. Oiling the body can also help keep us energetically grounded. I love traveling but airports are a chaotic place with a lot of energy. The more grounded and centered we are in such places, the less likely we are to pick up other peoples energy. Call it woo woo, I call it energetic hygiene.
Wrapping Up
Travel has a way of awakening the senses and expanding horizons, but it doesn’t have to take a toll on your skin or your energy. With a little mindful preparation, a few nourishing rituals, and a focus on hydration, you can arrive feeling as radiant as you did when you left. Safe travels, and may every journey leave you refreshed, glowing, and ready for whatever adventures await.
