Flying is exciting, but let’s be honest—it can be tough on your body, and your skin feels it first.
You’ve probably noticed what altitude does to your digestive system: Lower air pressure and reduced oxygen slow digestion because:
- Blood flow gets redirected (your body prioritizes vital organs over the gut).
- Bloating and sluggish motility slow down digestion.
But did you know the same environment takes a toll on your hydration levels, too?
What Cabin Air Does to Your Hydration (and Skin)
At altitude, two major changes happen that affect hydration:
- Diuresis: Your body loses more water because altitude stimulates renal activity, using up all your water and storing it in your bladder, where it is no longer of use to you or your skin.
- Dry cabin air: Humidity levels in planes can be as low as 10–20% (think desert-dry), which speeds up water loss through your skin and breathing.
The result? Even if you’re sipping water, your net hydration is lower—you’re losing it faster than you can comfortably replace it.
Basically, flying is a big shock to your skin.
How Skin Reacts in the Air
- Dehydration: Dryness, dullness, and fine lines appear more quickly.
- Barrier stress: Low humidity strips away natural oils, making skin reactive (tightness, flaking, or post-flight breakouts).
- Circulation shifts: With less oxygen and altered blood flow, skin can look tired, sallow, or puffy.
In short: your skin is working overtime. Luckily, with the right prep, you can minimize the impact.
Two Things to Do Before Your Flight:
Treat your skin to a little extra care a few days before your flight. A facial before you travel gives your skin a head start.
A Facial Made for Travellers
Our frequent flyers swear by the Oxy Hydrate Super Facial. This treatment deeply infuses hydration while gently exfoliating, leaving skin plumped, smooth, and better prepared to handle dry cabin air.
Plan for Frequent Moving
For long-haul flights, choose an aisle seat. You’ll thank yourself later when it’s time to refill your water, or make restroom trips in your effort to stay hydrated.
If you’d rather not disturb an entire row every time you get up, that few seconds of a window seat view (before you disappear in the clouds) and the perfect Insta pic may not be worth the trade-off.
If you don’t mind frequently displacing your row: More power to you! Get that window seat.
And a middle seat? No one wants that.
In-Flight Skincare Tips
Skip the Makeup
Avoid concealer, foundation, or powders for long flights. They mix with sweat and bacteria, clogging pores in the dry, recirculated air. If you feel you must wear makeup for your departure, make sure you bring what you need to remove it before cleansing, especially on overnight flights.
Pack a Simple Skincare Routine
Keep it light and travel-sized:
- Cleanser (don’t moisturize before cleansing!)
- Moisturizer to lock in hydration after cleansing. Be generous with it.
- SPF before you land (or if you did pick that window seat)
What about cleansing wipes? If you’re breakout-prone, bring your regular cleanser and a clean face towel. Cleansing wipes may leave residue and lead to breakouts. A small face towel you don’t mind disposing of (or storing in a sealed bag for laundry later) is perfect.
Protect Your Skin from Travel Gear
Travel pillows can’t always be washed, which means bacteria and oils can build up and lead to vacation breakouts. If you’re prone to breakouts, bring a clean pillowcase, scarf, or bandana to line the part that touches your skin. It creates a protective barrier and is easy to wash later. Keep your hair away from your face.
Hydration Essentials
- Drink plenty of water throughout the flight.
- Lip balm to prevent chapping.
- Hand cream to avoid dryness after handwashing.
Before You Land
(Or the first thing to do when you arrive): cleanse and moisturize. Removing sweat, oil, and bacteria picked up during travel is essential. Plus, cleansing is a much-needed opportunity to re-moisturize clean skin. You don’t want to accidentally rub debris and bacteria further into your skin by moisturizing without cleansing first.
Don’t forget SPF, especially if you’re arriving during the day!
And once your trip is over? Book a post-travel facial to refresh your skin and help it bounce back from stress, dryness, and environmental changes.
Now that you’ve crossed the sky a few times, you might want to treat your self to the big drink of water for your skin that is the Hydrating Trio.
Travelling doesn’t have to leave your skin feeling dull, oily, tight, or stressed. With a little prep, some smart in-flight habits, and recovery care, you can keep your skin glowing from takeoff to touchdown—and beyond.