The ultimate air travel skincare guide

Winter and air travel are battling your skin – but beauty aficionado Laura Capon knows how frequent flyers can fight back

Any frequent flyer knows there’s no quicker way to dry out your skin than a combination of low humidity and high altitude. Right now, you might not be engaging in any form of in-flight skincare, and yet it’s arguably the time your skin needs love the most. With my tips below, we can simplify the process. Even better, you can collect Avios on every pore-reducing purchase mentioned below by shopping through the British Airways shopping platform, so clear skin can lead to clear skies...

Take it off

Whether you’re on the morning flight out or the red eye home, always start with a clean canvas. Even if you’ve only been awake a few hours, pollution, oil and sweat will have begun building up during your trip to the airport. I always pack cotton rounds and one of the market’s best cleansers – mini Garnier Micellar Water – in my hand luggage to wipe over my face pre-take off. Buy from Boots via the British Airways shopping portal to collect 4 Avios for every £1 spent until 24 November.

Mist away

My favourite way to counter the drying effects of flying is by regularly spritzing a hydrating spray. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Hydrator Mist proved to be my best friend on a recent flight to New York, as the humectant (moisturisers that attract water from the air) packed ingredients list kept my skin moisturised without ever being greasy. Plus, it was the refresh I needed to stay awake on local time. Buy from Cult Beauty via the British Airways shopping portal to collect up to 10 Avios for every £1 spent until 4 December.

The art of layering

Just like painting a wall, the best way to moisturise your skin is with light, multiple layers, rather than going in with one thick one. I use the three-step method: mist, serum, moisturise. For that second step, forget your retinol or vitamin C serums, because the only one you need mid-air is a hydrating one. I recommend Sculpted by Aimee’s HydraGlo Serum.

Double up

Travelling with two moisturisers might seem excessive, but both of my favourites come in a mini size so you can breeze through airport security. In keeping with my light layers philosophy, I love the formula of Tatcha’s lightweight The Water Cream. When it comes to hands and arms, though, you need something a little richer – that’s where Glossier’s enveloping After Baume comes in. Buy from Space NK UK via the British Airways shopping portal to collect up to 9 Avios for every £1 spent until 5 January.

The nice to have (but non-essential)

I appreciate an in-air sheet mask isn’t for everyone. However, for those of us who can’t raw dog a seven-hour flight, they’re not only a way to pass some time, but also a great way of replenishing moisture loss while you’re up there. Dr Jart’s Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Mask gets my vote thanks to the ceramide-packed formula, which re-strengthens compromised skin.

The nice to have-Dr Jart’s Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Mask

Don’t get caught short

If, like me, your skin turns into a teenager’s mid-flight, a packet of Hero’s Mighty Patch Original is truly an essential. These clear patches use hydrocolloid (an ingredient used to treat wounds) to speed up the recovery time of any spontaneous spots and are so undetectable, they won’t even show up in your passport control portrait.

Anxious flyers, take note

Whether you’re prone to nail biting or not, the overuse of drying hand sanitisers when we’re travelling creates a veritable paradise for hangnails. Essie’s On a Roll Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil stops ragged skin in its tracks and keeps idle hands occupied.