Takeoff to Touchdown Beauty
With summertime travel upon us, the excitement builds for the adventures we are all jetting off on. However, something that does not bring excitement is the phrase ‘plane skin’. You know what we mean, that dull, dry and greyish-hued complexion that we all gain after spending hours flying high in a packed cabin.
There is a real science behind this as well. The very low humidity in airplanes dehydrates skin, leaving us with a list of unwanted symptoms from; dryness, greasy T-zones and puffy eyes to irritated spots and dull, flakey patches. You then need to factor in the increased levels of UV radiation that we are exposed to at high altitudes (UV radiation is roughly twice as intense at 40,000 feet than on ground level). Which can create a breeding ground for unhealthy looking and feeling skin. So once you are tucked into your seat, you’ve taken off and have reached cruising level, it’s time to think about caring for your skin.
Here at PIBE we have selected five cabin-friendly skincare must-haves that can fit into one small zippered pouch and be tucked seamlessly into your carry on. Making sure your skin stays hydrated through every timezone and beyond.
Eyeam No Baggage Caffeine Eye Serum, £26
Firstly, let's consider our eyes. Early mornings mixed with the bright light as the plane peaks through the clouds can leave eyes feeling scratchy and tight. Eyeam is a community-driven wellness brand and has created their ‘No Baggage Caffeine Eye Serum’ to take care of just this. The feather-weight serum is a super-concentrated complex of caffeine, arnica, herbs and super-charged antioxidants and is also (importantly) 100% vegan. It’s easy to apply without a mirror on the plane, simply use the cooling built in rose crystal gua-sha applicator to roll the product all around your delicate eye area to instantly soothe and reduce puffiness.
Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. Uvmune SPF50 Cream, £90 for 50ml
Next up, moisturiser. After hours into your flight when the cabin lights start to dim, that is the time to give your skin a big boost of hydration. We love the Lancôme Rénergie H.P.N. Uvmune SPF50 Cream for a multitude of reasons. The top line benefits include a velvety texture that leaves skin soft, luminous and without a white cast. Built in SPF50 to care for your skin cells which are explored to the extreme UV radiation levels when flying high. Not to forget Lancome’s iconic techy formula combination containing 300-Peptide (300 types of peptides that help with skin regeneration) and Mexoryl 400 (delivering high protection against long UVA rays and improving dark spots, wrinkles, and firmness). This feels like a big drink of water for your face after hours of being surrounded by recycled cabin air - trust us, your skin will thank you.
Gun Ana Protective Face Mist, £32
If you are flying long haul then one round of hydration is not enough. This is when we reach for Gun Ana’s Protective Face Mist. This Swedish beauty brand is celebrated for its versatile and resilient products and is a must-try if you haven't already. Their deeply hydrating mist is an even spritz packed with beta-glucan, tremella mushroom, niacinamide, and birch extract, which are all super-charged ingredients to soothe irritation, protect your skin barrier, shield it from pollution and HEV light and give you a smooth, healthy glow- on the go. So make sure you subtly mist away whilst enjoying your movie and airplane snacks, knowing that your skin is also being fed with goodness.
Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Lemontini, £20
Our travel beauty bags would be incomplete without anything from Rhode, the brand of the summer. Let us not forget to care for our lips when onboard as this thin skin gets just as easily dry and chapped from flying. This is when we reach for the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in their new summer scent, Lemontini. The formula of these has been created with shea butter (a nourishing emollient that uses 5 essential fatty acids to hydrate), vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant to protect against external stressors) and peptides (short chain amino acids that hydrate and plump). With a few swipes you will immediately lock in moisture, nourish your lips and be left with a pillowy-soft glossy feel that your lips will have been lacking since takeoff. You will be addictively applying this on the hour so you can land with juicy looking lips - ready for your holiday.
Luna Roca Rock and Roller, £35
This tool is a total game changer when you encounter a layover. Whether it’s two or five hours waiting for your connection, you will be reaching for this Rock and Roller stick from Luna Roca. From the Bali born brand, created by a mother and daughter duo, this is a 100% natural volcanic lava rock that is reusable, recyclable and built to last. The volcanic lava rock is incredible for naturally absorbing excess oil and shine that our skin will build up when travelling and we don’t have access to our full skincare routine to combat. The roller can also be used for lymphatic drainage, by gently rolling the rock down your neck to open the lymph pathways. Before moving upward across the face to sculpt and de-puff. At PIBE we will be packing this for every future trip to roll away the jet lag and refresh our face throughout each journey.
This PIBE Beauty exclusive has been produced by:
Words by Beauty Editor / Sarah Barnes
Image / Studio PIBE