Whether you're heading away for a weekend break or boarding a long-haul flight, travelling can leave your skin feeling tighter, drier and more sensitive than usual. Low cabin humidity, changes in climate, disrupted sleep and dehydration can all place extra stress on your skin barrier.
The good news is that looking after your skin while flying doesn't require an extensive routine. A few gentle, barrier-supportive steps before, during and after your journey can help your skin stay comfortable from take-off to landing.
Why does flying make your skin dry?
Flying can leave your skin feeling dry because aircraft cabins have much lower humidity than we experience on the ground. This dry environment can increase moisture loss from the skin, leaving it feeling tight, dehydrated and sometimes more sensitive, particularly on longer flights.
Your travel skincare routine
- Why does flying affect your skin?
- How should you prepare your skin before flying?
- What skincare should you pack in your hand luggage?
- How can you keep your skin hydrated during a flight?
- Should you wear SPF on a plane?
- How do you restore your skin after flying?
- Can nutrition and gut health support your skin while travelling?
- Flight Skincare Checklist
- FAQs
Why does flying affect your skin?
Commercial aircraft cabins typically have humidity levels of around 10–20%, considerably lower than most indoor environments. This dry air can increase transepidermal water loss (TEWL), meaning your skin loses moisture more quickly and the skin barrier has to work harder to stay balanced.
Combined with changes in temperature, recycled air, disrupted sleep and dehydration, it's no surprise that skin can feel tighter, duller or more reactive after flying.
Rather than introducing lots of new products before travelling, focus on a simple routine that supports your skin barrier and helps your skin retain moisture throughout your journey.
How should you prepare your skin before flying?
Preparing your skin before you fly can help reduce moisture loss during your journey. Start with gentle cleansing, replenish hydration and support your skin barrier before leaving for the airport.
Balancer Cream Cleanser removes sunscreen, makeup and impurities without stripping the skin. Formulated with hydrating prebiotic inulin, pro-vitamin B5 and niacinamide, it helps support the skin barrier, while apricot seed, mango butter, marshmallow root and black oats gently soothe and nourish sensitive skin.
Follow with Reviver Hydrating Mist to replenish hydration before applying your moisturiser or facial oil.
If you're travelling during the day, finish with Serene Daily SPF 50+ as the final step in your morning skincare routine.
What skincare should you pack in your hand luggage?
You don't need a full skincare shelf when you travel. A small collection of barrier-supportive essentials is often all that's needed to keep your skin comfortable throughout your journey.
Consider packing:
- Reviver Hydrating Mist for lightweight hydration throughout your flight.
- Hero Facial Oil to replenish moisture after long periods in dry cabin air.
- Serene Daily SPF 50+ for daytime protection before departure and after landing.
- Vitamin C+E Facial Oil to support brighter-looking skin throughout your trip.
Choosing travel-friendly essentials helps keep your routine simple wherever you're travelling.
How can you keep your skin hydrated during a flight?
During a flight, your focus should be hydration rather than adding more skincare steps. Supporting the skin barrier little and often is usually more effective than applying multiple products all at once.
Reviver Hydrating Mist instantly replenishes hydration while supporting the skin microbiome. Formulated with prebiotic inulin, L-arginine, aloe vera and cranberry, it helps refresh skin whenever it begins to feel tight or dehydrated. Simply mist over clean skin or makeup throughout your journey.
Reviver Hydrating Mist was also selected by Caroline Hirons for her Hydrate & Brighten 2026 Kit, recognising its lightweight, fragrance-free formula that helps refresh and hydrate sensitive skin throughout the day.
For longer journeys, gently press a few drops of Hero Facial Oil onto the face and neck if your skin begins to feel particularly dry. Rich in sweet almond, apricot, pumpkin seed and argan oils, alongside evening primrose and vitamin E, it helps replenish essential fatty acids that support a healthy skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.
Should you wear SPF on a plane?
Yes. Many people associate sunscreen with sunny destinations, but SPF remains important while flying. Unlike UVB rays, UVA rays can pass through aircraft windows, meaning your skin can still be exposed during daytime flights, particularly if you're sitting by the window.
Apply Serene Daily SPF 50+ before travelling as the final step in your morning routine. Its hybrid broad-spectrum UVA and UVB filters provide high protection while antioxidant-rich extracts of ginseng, apple and peach help soothe and protect sensitive skin from environmental stressors.
Dermatologically Approved for sensitive skin, the lightweight, non-comedogenic formula has also been independently tested for excellent skin compatibility.
How do you restore your skin after flying?
Once you've arrived, your skin often needs hydration and nourishment more than intensive treatments.
Begin by cleansing with Balancer Cream Cleanser to remove SPF, pollution and travel build-up.
Follow with Reviver Hydrating Mist, then apply Hero Facial Oil to help replenish moisture and support the skin barrier after hours spent in dry cabin air.
If your skin looks dull after travelling, Vitamin C+E Facial Oil combines slow-release vitamin C with vitamin E, squalane, jojoba and grapeseed oil to help brighten the appearance of uneven skin tone while nourishing sensitive skin. Gently pat and press into the face and neck as the final step in your morning skincare routine before applying SPF.
For your first evening after arriving, Bakuchiol Natural Retinol Facial Oil offers a gentle overnight treatment. Bakuchiol helps support smoother, healthier-looking skin without the dryness often associated with traditional retinoids, making it a suitable choice for sensitive skin.
Can nutrition and gut health support your skin while travelling?
Yes. Looking after your skin while travelling is about more than the products you apply. Long flights, disrupted sleep, dehydration and changes in routine can all influence how your skin looks and feels.
Alongside your skincare routine, drink water regularly throughout your journey and choose water-rich foods such as cucumber, melon, berries and citrus fruits where possible. Snacks such as unsalted nuts and seeds also provide healthy fats that support overall wellbeing.
If travel often disrupts your routine, supporting your gut health may also benefit your skin. Flora Daily Biotic was developed with both gut and skin health in mind. It contains 20 billion live cultures from clinically studied strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus LA85 and Bifidobacterium longum BL21, alongside 100% of your daily recommended intake of zinc, which contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and supports normal immune function.
With delayed-release capsules designed to help the live cultures reach the gut, Flora offers a simple daily ritual that fits easily into your routine, whether you're at home or travelling.
Flight Skincare Checklist
✓ Start with a well-hydrated skin barrier. Cleanse gently and layer hydration before you leave for the airport rather than trying to rescue dry skin once you're on the plane.
✓ Choose a window seat? Don't skip SPF. UVA rays can pass through aircraft windows, so apply broad-spectrum SPF before boarding, especially for daytime flights.
✓ Hydrate little and often. Mist your skin throughout the journey and sip water regularly, rather than waiting until your skin already feels tight or thirsty.
✓ Avoid introducing new skincare while travelling. Flying can make skin more reactive, so stick with the gentle products your skin already knows and trusts.
✓ Support your recovery after landing. Focus on replenishing hydration and your skin barrier with gentle, nourishing products before reaching for exfoliants or stronger active ingredients.
FAQs
Why does my skin feel dry after flying?
Aircraft cabins typically have much lower humidity than normal indoor environments, which can increase moisture loss from the skin. Combined with changes in climate, disrupted sleep and dehydration, this can leave skin feeling tighter, drier and sometimes more sensitive after a flight.
Can I use skincare during a flight?
Yes. Yes. Keeping your routine simple is often the most effective approach. A hydrating facial mist such as Reviver Hydrating Mist can help refresh the skin throughout your journey, while a nourishing facial oil may provide extra comfort on longer flights if your skin feels particularly dry.
Should I wear sunscreen on a plane?
Yes, especially during daytime flights or if you're seated by a window. Unlike UVB rays, UVA rays can pass through aircraft windows, so applying a broad-spectrum SPF before boarding helps protect your skin throughout your journey.
Can I take my skincare in my hand luggage?
Yes. When travelling with hand luggage only, liquids generally need to be 100ml or less per container, in line with airport security regulations (always check the latest requirements for your departure airport and airline).
The entire By Sarah skincare collection is travel-friendly, with every product available in a size suitable for hand luggage. That means you can maintain your usual skincare routine while travelling without compromising on the products your skin already knows and trusts
Can flying make sensitive skin worse?
It can. Dry cabin air and changes in environment may temporarily weaken the skin barrier, making sensitive skin feel tighter, more reactive or uncomfortable. Gentle cleansing, regular hydration and barrier-supportive skincare can help minimise these effects.
Explore More
Caring for your skin, wherever you're travelling
Travelling can be exciting, but it can also ask more of your skin. A gentle, consistent routine that supports hydration and protects your skin barrier can help keep your complexion feeling comfortable wherever your journey takes you.
Take our free 3-minute Skin Quiz for personalised skincare recommendations tailored to your skin's needs, explore the By Sarah collection, or get in touch with us at care@bysarahlondon.com or via @bysarahlondon. We'd love to help you build a routine that feels right for your skin, wherever you're headed.
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