Skincare on the plane? Here's what you need to know

June 26, 2026, by flowererman

Skincare on the plane? Here's what you need to know

You board the plane with a fresh face and get off with skin that feels like sandpaper. Sound familiar? The humidity in an airplane cabin can drop significantly. Your skin loses moisture, your lips feel tight, and your eyes protest. The solution is simple: a little extra love and attention in the form of the right products, and preferably without a thick layer of makeup on your face. These are the products you want to take with you.

Moisturizing creams

Start with a richer cream than you normally use, even before boarding. This way, you won't need to reapply as much during the flight, and your skin will already be well protected against the dry cabin air. Our recommendations in this regard: Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré en Medik8 Advanced Night Restore are ideal during the flight. These creams nourish your skin and therefore ensure that your skin remains well hydrated.

Masks & Water

Are you really into preparation? Then apply a hydrating mask both before and after the flight. Before departure, it supports the skin barrier and brings extra moisture to the upper layers of the skin. Upon arrival, it compensates for moisture loss and your skin immediately feels much more comfortable. masks from Dr. Jart+ are in this case always a go to or think of the HEO set from Medik8. This combination of both mask and rich cream is gold for on the plane.

And one more thing: don't forget all those serums and creams, but above all, don't forget your water. The dry cabin air does little good for your skin. Bring a refillable water bottle and keep drinking during the flight. Simple, but effective.

Lip balm

Your lips are the first thing to dry out. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask of Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm They keep them soft and supple. Prefer something a bit more luxurious? The lip balm by Susanne Kaufmann Protects against drying out. The balm is enriched with nourishing oils that melt like butter on the lips.

Or go straight for the heavy artillery: the Lipnights Overnight Lip Mask from RMS Beauty deeply hydrates thanks to Kakadu Plum (an Australian fruit with surprisingly high levels of vitamin C) and pomegranate peptides, and makes lips look fuller. Just as impressive is the 271 Recovery Lip Mask from L:a Bruket: A melting lip mask with seaweed complex that hydrates, repairs, and envelops. Apply it generously to the lips before going to bed on the plane, and there will be no trace of dryness upon arrival.

Makeup is fine, but it is best to avoid products with a lot of alcohol; these only dry out the skin further. And even after arrival, some restraint is not a bad idea. However tempting a scorching hot shower may sound, hot water significantly degreases the skin. Exactly what dry flight skin does not need.

Sun protection

UV radiation simply passes through windows. SPF is therefore not an unnecessary luxury, even on a plane. In other words: sunscreen is indispensable. So, for example, take La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-in Milk Sunscreen (transparent, but also available in color) for protecting your skin without making it greasy. Or the wonderfully scented Caudalie Very High Protection Cream with SPF 50. They won't take yours.

And just to be safe: everything taken into the cabin must be a maximum of 100 ml. It would be a shame if your favorite cream got left behind at security. Therefore, bring sample sizes or fill a few small travel jars with your favorite creams and serums. So, pay close attention to the ml content of your favorite products. It saves space and a lot of frustration at the airport.

Skincare on the plane? Here's what you need to know