Getting ready for that fabulous tropical getaway? Air travel can be especially hard on the skin. Keep your complexion fresh and beautiful on vacation by preparing your skin for the journey with these pre-travel tips.
Pre-flight done right
A simple cleansing diet. What we do for our skin for the 48 hours before the flight has a big impact on how our skin reacts to the stress of travel. A couple of days prior to takeoff, cut out all sugars and simple carbs – these contribute to water retention, the last thing you want on an airplane.
Up your intake of fresh fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water, increase your intake of Omega 3’s with fish oil supplements, and eat proteins like salmon and sardines. This will protect skin cells from stress and dehydration, and help the body to rid itself of toxins.
A pre-flight mini-facial.
The night before flight, be sure to exfoliate, hydrate and protect. After cleansing with your normal cleanser, use a gentle exfoliator like Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator to sweep away dead skin cells. Follow up with a hydrating mask like DHC’s Bio-Cellulose Mask (available at Feel Unique), which uses botanicals and fermented coconut water to give yourself a jumpstart on calming and balancing skin. Finish with a facial oil such as Caudalie’s Overnight Recovery Oil, to nourish the protective layer of your skin and lock hydration in.
In-flight protection
Use a slightly richer moisturizer during flight. Choose a product containing dimethicone, such as Sundari Elder Flower Moisturizer, to help minimize the slow water loss that happens in a dry cabin. If you have dry skin, use a hydration-binding serum with hyaluronic acid before your moisturizer, to infuse skin with moisture and plump lines.
Keep hydrated!
Drink pure mineral water and plenty of hydrating foods like cucumber, tomatoes, cantaloupe, celery, radishes and strawberries. Stay in circulation. Be sure to move around as much as possible, and avoid crossing your legs, which slows circulation. Avoid coffee and alcohol during flight, as these are diuretic and dehydrate skin, as well as restricting blood flow.