The Three Things You Need To Do In-Flight To Avoid ‘Jet-Lag’ Skin

Jet-Lag Skin Explained: Experts Reveal What Happens At 40,000 Feet

Ever felt like your beauty prep was in vain for holiday before you even step off the plane? From dehydration to breakouts and even sunburn, flying can cause havoc with our skin. The best way to avoid jet-lagged skin happens before landing according to skin experts, who reveal what happens to our skin at 40,000 feet and the three things you need to pack to step off the flight glossy and glowing. 

Why does your skin become jet-lagged?

Dr Dave Reilly, Skincare Scientist at Absolute Collagen.

Air quality: “It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that poor air quality is the main culprit for causing skin problems. When you get on a plane, you’re essentially sitting in a high-pressure environment with cabin air that has very low humidity. This can lead to skin dryness. In addition to this, lack of oxygen circulation to our skin means that stress hormones and levels of cortisol can be much higher than normal, and these impact the skin barrier. Flying really is the perfect storm for a breakout.”

Dr Jason Thomson, Head Of Medical at Skin + Me

High UV rays: “UV radiation is twice as strong at 30,000 feet. Studies have shown that pilots flying for 56.6 minutes at 30,000 feet receive the same amount of UVA carcinogenic-effective radiation as they would in a 20-minute tanning bed session. Not only can UVA rays play a part in the development of skin cancer but they’re also responsible for 80% of skin ageing.”

Dr Ahmed El Muntasar GP and Award Winning Aesthetics Doctor

Lack of sleep: “Sleep really is key to skin repair and regeneration and we need a full seven hours a night, which we don’t get on a flight. Skins moisture levels can be affected when skin doesn’t have rest to regenerate and coupled with cabin pressure and, skin can feel dehydrated and dry quite quickly when flying.”

How Can We Combat Jet-Lag Skin?

Pre-flight

Give skin a collagen boost pre-flight. According to Dr Reilly “Collagen is the most prominent protein in the body, where it has many roles including firmness and elasticity of healthy skin. It, therefore, is a great idea to get a dose of collagen ahead of a flight. Absolute Collagen’s daily supplement has undergone rigorous clinical testing which has shown that 100% of the trialists experienced improvements in skin quality. These supplements should be implemented as part of your wider skincare routine to get that holiday glow.”

Absolute Collagen Marine Liquid Collagen, £26.99 14x10ml Sachets, available from absolutecollagen.com

This award-winning supplement contains 14 sachets of ready-mixed, hydrolysed marine collagen . Perfect for looking after yourself on the go , each 10ml serving is packed with 8000mg collagen, protein and essential amino acids. The advanced formula is also infused with vitamin C, which works synergistically with marine collagen for optimum rejuvenation and tissue renewal to keep skin plump and hydrated.  

Before take-off

Don’t skip SPF. Dr Jason tells us “We should always apply plenty of sunscreen before take-off and top it up on a long-haul flight. I recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which means it protects against UVA and UVB rays) with at least SPF 30.”

Skin + Me Daily Defence Oil-Free SPF50 Sunscreen, £19.99 (8-week supply), available now from skinandme.com

Protect skin everyday with this new high-factor sunscreen from Skin + Me. The Daily Defence Oil-Free SPF50 Sunscreen has been created by dermatologists to protect against UVA and UVB (the main cause of premature skin ageing and skin cancers). Its oil-free formulation is hydrating, leaves no white cast and contains barrier-boosting niacinamide and vitamin E, to protect and prime in one-step. Ready, set, SPF, go!

During the flight

Give skin a hit of hydration. According to Dr Ahmed El Muntasar “Keeping your skin moisturised ahead of a trip is key to ensuring your skin remains hydrated throughout the entire flight. Don’t drink alcohol the night before if you can avoid it, drink plenty of water, allow up to three litres of water a day and try to get a good night’s sleep. Skin can become very dehydrated on flights to make sure you pack a thick moisturiser with ingredients like ceramides, glycerine, niacinamide to help seal the skin and keep moisture in.”

Zelens Emulsion D Fortifying Moisturiser, £65 (50ml), available from Zelens.com, Look Fantastic, Cult Beauty and John Lewis.

A strengthening, moisture-replenishing emulsion formulated with provitamin D3, ceramides phytosterols and biomimetic vegetable lipids. This velvety smooth moisturiser fortifies skin’s natural barrier, protects from environmental aggressors and helps soothe the skin while promoting a healthy hydrated appearance.