I may not (yet) be able to do my own taxes but if there’s one thing I’ve mastered, it’s my skincare and makeup routine for long-haul flights.

Long-haul flights are the killer of beautiful, hydrated skin due to the extremely dry airplane air. Now, it sounds impossible to look good after flying for 6-12 hours, but you can definitely achieve that flawless celebrity-just-off-the-plane look if you follow a few rules.

Here are some tips I’ve learned from being a frequent long-haul flier (14+ long, long flights…).

Table of Contents

Beauty Care Before the Flight

I always make sure to shower before my flight and pile on the body lotion. Skip over hair products so you have clean, un-touched hair that won’t break you out. Face-wise, it’s important to follow your normal skincare routine no matter what time of day you leave for the airport. Make sure to fill up tiny, travel-sized bottles of your cream and toner.

I highly recommend not wearing any makeup to the airport. Some people put on their makeup and then take it off on the airplane, but I prefer the lazy route – why even deal with that extra step when you can be makeup-free from the beginning?

Skincare During the Flight: Part 1

Cleansing

Products: Hand Sanitizer, Facial Wipes, Toner

Clean hands are an absolute must for applying your skincare products. So after getting settled on the plane, the first thing I use is hand sanitizer. I follow that up with facial wipes, using one for my hands and another for my face. Facial wipes are a lazy girl’s best friend for long-haul flights since your window seat and long lines may keep you from going to the bathroom.

For that deeper cleaning and moisture, follow up with a few swipes of toner with a cotton pad. Toner helps to take off any chemical irritants like fragrance left over from the face wipes. As someone with sensitive skin, I always make sure to do this to prevent red blotchiness!