DRY PLANE SKIN ?
Here’s how I fixed it
By Zoé — 26, aisle seat enthusiast, forgot to moisturize at gate C42
You’d think after years of flying, I’d have learned. But no. I still treat boarding like a red carpet, not a skincare survival zone. Cute outfit? Check. Lip gloss? Obviously. Moisturizer? Left it in the checked luggage. Four hours later, my skin was drier than the in-flight pretzels and begging for the emergency exit.
The Cabin is Basically a Giant Dehydrator
The air on a plane? 10% humidity. Translation: your face is in a constant state of “SOS.” I could feel the moisture leaving my cheeks with every passing minute. Tightness. Flakiness. A forehead so matte it could reflect runway lights. Why didn’t anyone tell me the real turbulence was happening on my skin?
Window Seat, Pore Panic
Somewhere over Frankfurt, I looked in the mirror and saw a crusty version of myself. I had that dehydrated glow — you know, the kind that’s actually just inflammation + trapped oil. Not cute.
The worst part? I had packed all the right things… just not in the right bag. My poor skin sat through a whole flight with zero support, while my jelly cleanser and barrier cream lived their best life in the hold.
My In-Flight Routine Now Lives in My Tote
Lesson learned: never trust checked luggage with your skincare. Now I carry on a mini lineup that includes:
– a jelly-textured cleanser that doesn’t strip
– a mist that feels like a cloud
– a barrier-loving cream that’s as calming as the “we’re beginning our descent” announcement
Bonus? None of it leaks, and the TSA doesn’t hate me.
Glow Rule at 30,000 Feet
Hydration isn’t just a pre-boarding thing. It’s a strategy. A lifestyle. A defense plan against recycled air and window seat UVs. So next time you see someone sheet-masking in seat 23B? Don’t judge. She’s not extra.
She’s just smarter than I was.