Best Skincare for Long-Haul Flights
I love long-haul flights. I’ve been called crazy, but I truly believe there are few places as relaxing as a long-haul flight. As someone who works multiple jobs with non-traditional hours, being stuck in a tube with no phone calls or expectation of deliverables is quite nice. My favorite long-hauls have been the long ones… I’ve done the DFW-DOH route, along with the return, several times and it might be my favorite flight to take. Not only does that mean there’s a great destination on the other end of that flight, but the 15 hours in the air means I can get serious about my self care and relaxation.
The number one non-negotiable item on my long-haul agenda is skincare. I’ve found that this sets the entire tone for me. If I don’t take my skincare seriously on long flights, I feel terrible and disgusting when I land. If my skincare is snatched, I land refreshed and feeling ready for the day. This is truly my make or break ritual.
Cleansing
I have mixed feelings about cleansing wipes; however, they have are my solid foundation for in-flight skincare. At home, I can’t quite accept that they do a good enough job to earn any place in my end-of-day routine. Sometimes in the morning, they feel okay as my first cleanse prior to an excessive amount of micellar water or toner. But on a flight? They are my ride or die.
Lately, I have been enjoying Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes. I always start my in-flight ritual with two rounds of cleansing with these wipes. I’m simply not going to be sudsing up with water in an airplane bathroom and these work well enough that I never find myself missing traditional facewash. I love that they are individually packaged, so it’s easy to stuff several in my pouch without taking up much space.
If you don’t like individually wrapped products, the tried and true Cetaphil Face and Body Wipes are always a solid choice. These are also incredibly economical and budget friendly. On top of that, they work GREAT at taking off my waterproof mascara. I’m not always wearing that on a flight, but on overnighters that you’re boarding after a long day at work, that’s critical.
My last “cleansing” step is the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray. This is a Hypochlorous Acid Spray that just makes me feel calm and less red and more hygienic on a flight. Not only do I use this after I cleanse, but I also will spray it anytime I’m just feeling gross throughout the flight.
Treatments, Masks, and Moisture
I don’t typically do any of my normal treatments on a long-haul flight. SHOCKING. I’m sure that’s standard, but what I do insist on doing is applying multi-use products that make me feel like I’ve treated by skin. After thoroughly cleansing, you cannot go wrong with a mask. I like the sheet variety, I like the cream variety. For sheet masks, I really like the BENTON Aloe Soothing Masks for travel. This comes in a 10-pack, making each mask a fraction of the average sheet mask cost. I like the cooling aloe because I’m often quite warm on flights. You can’t go wrong with these.
When I’m in the mood for a mask of the cream variety (or for extra moisture after a sheet mask), I love Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. I keep a mini version in my carry-on. While I don’t gravitate toward this at home, I think it’s the perfect multi-use treatment + moisture solution for a condensed routine. It is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Glycerin, and Antioxidants. With that plus the moisture aspect, I truly believe this is a travel essential.
Don’t forget to keep your lips moisturized. Airplane air is so drying and starting a trip with chapped lips is a mood-killer. Whether I’m traveling or at home, I default to the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm, specifically in Sweet Mint.
Moisturizing your hands counts as skincare. My known favorite hand cream is the Grown Alchemist Regenerating Hand Cream with Nourishing Phyto-Peptide in the Almond & Sage scent. It smells wonderfully, but arguably more important, it doesn’t leave me feeling sticky or weird, something I’m insanely particular about.
Self Care Items
Don’t do anything without sanitizing your hands. Everything is gross. Even if it’s not, assume everything is gross. If you like a mist, my choice is the ALŌH Hand Sanitizer Mist. If you like a wipe, my choice is the ALŌH Peppermint Eucalyptus + Aloe Sanitizing Hand Wipes. These have the best smell and leave the best feel on your hands. For sanitizing surfaces, I always go with the WipeEssentials Wet Wipes. Basic. Reliable.
Like all hot girls, I have a sensitive tummy. These Allclair Nausea Relief Inhalers are truly a great clutch resource for immediate nausea needs. I love that it’s fast acting and natural, a rare combination in my experience. These also help when I’m getting scent-triggered headaches. If I need something I little longer lasting or sustained, the Stomach Bloom Nausea No More Ginger Drops are my go-to. I don’t fly, or go on any trips away from home period, without these.
Another critical long-haul self-care requirement is staying fresh in general. I can’t imagine flying without some sort of acidified deodorant, and I think wipe form is the best and most versatile. I’ve been using the Lume Acidified Deodorant Wipes. These aren’t game changers in the way that I feel incredible after using them, but I never feel bad or gross or stale when traveling and using these. So that might actually be the game changer. In the same vein, the Wipe That Tush On-the-Go Fluashable Wipes are truly worth it and I absolutely do judge people who don’t agree.
CLEAN-FEELING AND LOOKING HAIR CHANGES YOUR LIFE. I’m not kidding, I am a different person if my hair feels dirty. The number one best solution for this when you’re traveling is the K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo. This non-aerosol formular WORKS. Better than any product you’ve ever used.
Clean teeth have a similar effect. The Crest Scope Mini Brushes allow you to get your brushing in with minimal storage space needed. These double-ended and pre-pasted toothbrushes are perfect for after meals on a flight.
I pack all of these items in F-color TSA Approved Toiletry Bags. These are extremely cost effective, high quality, and hassle free at every airport I’ve traveled through.
Product Round-Up
Just for ease of browsing, here’s a list of every product mentioned here with links. To be transparent, these are affiliate links. However, I have purchased and used each and every one of these products. I’ve only included items that I genuinely have in my carry-on and that I will continue to purchase with my own real money.
Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes – LINKED HERE
Cetaphil Face and Body Wipes, Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths – LINKED HERE
Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray – LINKED HERE
BENTON Aloe Soothing Mask – LINKED HERE
Summer Fridays Mini Jet Lag Mask – LINKED HERE
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm – LINKED HERE
Grown Alchemist Regenerating Hand Cream with Nourishing Phyto-Peptide Almond & Sage – LINKED HERE
ALŌH Hand Sanitizer Mist – LINKED HERE
ALŌH Peppermint Eucalyptus + Aloe Sanitizing Hand Wipes – LINKED HERE
WipeEssentials Wet Wipes – LINKED HERE
Allclair Nausea Relief Inhalers – LINKED HERE
Stomach Bloom Nausea No More – LINKED HERE
Lume Acidified Deodorant Wipes – LINKED HERE
Wipe That Tush On-The-Go Flushable Wipes – LINKED HERE
K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo – LINKED HERE
Crest Scope Mini Brushes – LINKED HERE
F-color TSA Approved Toiletry Bags – LINKED HERE