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When your skin is a frequent flyer
Date: 21 july 2016

The mile-high club is very dated; beauty geeks, turn the airplane into a mile-high spa with this guide to skincare pre, during and post a flight - By Parizaad Khan Sethi

Pre
Prep skin like grease is going out of style
1

Exfoliate regularly for a few days before taking off. The acid exfoliants in in Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 and Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence will zap excess skin cells which can block pores and create breakouts.

2

Use a nourishing mask before your flight to build up skin’s moisture levels and pack some into your carry-on also.

3

After rinsing the mask off with water, follow this up with a hydrating serum—we love Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti Aging Micro Sculpting Serum, and a light moisturizer like Forest Essentials Light Hydrating Moisturising Facial Gel Pure Aloe Vera. Building layers of hydration is key. Sunscreen is next. (No escape from that one. You need major SPF protection on day flights as you’re closer to the sun’s damaging rays. I didn’t make that up. Science, yo.)

4

Don’t stop at the face. I like to moisturize the body with two lotions: the first can be one containing AHAs so dryness and flakes are busted. Then, top off with the buttery richness of Kiehl's Creme De Corps Body Moisturizer. Forest Essentials Ultra Rich Body Lotion Soundarya with Natural SPF 25 is fantastic, too.

5

This may sound extreme, but like mums say to fussy eaters: try everything once. Hair too gets dry and brittle while flying. Work an oil-based leave-in product through the lengths and ends, like Moroccanoil Treatment or Kiehl's Damage Repairing & Rehydrating Leave-In Treatment.

During
Layer skincare like a master
1

This is when thinking ahead (and Muji) comes into play: pack one of their cute travel-size plastic containers with enough moisturizing mask for your travel needs. When they dim the lights, bring out your contraband and stick it on your face. Chunk-up the under eye area with a layer of Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado. Tissue it all off in 15-20, or if adventurous, wash it off in the tiny bathroom basin.

2

Rose water or an H2O spritz like Vichy Thermal Spa Water is a must-have to refresh, but that alone dehydrate skin more, as dry cabin air will evaporate the moisture, leaving you drier. So after spritzing, seal hydration in with moisturizer, and then layer a few drops of Kiehl's Daily Reviving Concentrate, or another facial oil. Wait a few minutes and then put on sunscreen.

3

Open a box of The Body Shop Shea Body Butter and slather everywhere: lips, hands, nails, cuticles, elbows, and even nostrils, which get dry and flaky (so sexy, airplane travel). Put some on your feet and pop on plane socks.

Post
Repeat everything you’ve learnt
1

After flying, all skin needs is a bit of coddling and comfort. Cleanse, exfoliate and cover it with diamonds. JK! Slap on your masks, serums, moisturizers and oils.

When your skin is a frequent flyer
Parizaad Khan Sethi

is a beauty and wellness editor based in New York. She was the former beauty editor at Vogue India and now serves as a contributing editor for the magazine. At age 5, Parizaad fell in love with an old cream blush she found in the back of her mother’s drawer, and has been in awe of the transformative power of beauty ever since. When she’s not writing about beauty, she researches advances in skincare as a hobby, and is constantly guinea-pigging herself in the name of beauty.

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