In-flight Beauty Essentials

By the time you read this, I will be packing up a storm and getting ready to fly out to Korea in a few days. From London to Seoul, that is a whole 11 hours to spend on a plane, which if you're a skincare junky like me, means you have 11 hours to pamper yourself and make sure the dry cabin air doesn't get the best out of your skin. 

As a matter of fact, dry skin tends to get even drier in the air, whereas oily skin will produce even more oil to compensate for the lack of moisture around. I have dry skin so keeping it hydrated throughout the flight is my number one priority. Of course, it all starts with me bringing a large bottle of water to drink throughout the flight, but that's no fun so instead, let's take a peek inside my beauty bag, shall we? I might not use everything in there, every time I fly, but it's good to come prepared, right?

THE SKINCARE

OLE HENRIKSEN CLEAN TRUTH CLEANSING CLOTH

£17.50 / $15.00 

I rarely use wipes these days, but when I do, I reach for these by Ole Henriksen. Enriched with vitamin C and jojoba seed oil, these thick and textured brightening clothes are perfect to take off any dirt or makeup residue when in a pinch. I don't tend to wear makeup on long haul flights, but I still like to use these before using anything else on my face to make sure I start off with a clean base.

CosRX ACNE PIMPLE MASTER PATCHES

£8.00 / $5.00 

I swear by these pimple patches - both on land and in the air. Not only do they draw all the "gunk" out of any blemishes you might have, they also create a physical barrier, preventing you from picking at your skin, no matter how bored you get on that flight. They're also great to use after you land shall a spot decides to pop up out of nowhere and try to ruin your holiday. 

DR JART+ WATER JET SOOTHING HYDRA SOLUTION SHEET MASK 

£3.00 per sheet / $6.00 

I'll be honest here, I rarely have the guts to do a sheet mask on a plane. I don't often fly business or first class (and by not often, I mean never,) so the idea to crack out a sheet mask so close to a complete stranger is not exactly the most appealing but I still like to make sure I have one with me, just in case. This Dr Jart+ Water Jet Soothing Hydra Solution one is my all-time favourite for days when my skin feels tight, dry and lackluster. 

NUXE CRÈME FRAÎCHE DE BEAUTÉ HYDRATING MASK

£18.50 / $25.00

Since I often get too self-conscious to do a sheet mask on the plane, I also like to carry with me a sleeping mask. This Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté hydrating mask isn't technically meant to be left on for an extended period of time, but I always do and have never had an issue with it. Once again, I really like the idea of the thick, clear mask creating a little bit of a barrier between the dry cabin air and my skin. You also only need the smallest amount, which means you can easily decant it into a small jar and save some space in your carry-on too. Win!

DR JART+ DERMACLEAR MICRO WATER

£34.00 for 250ml / $32.00 for 250ml 

I always travel with some sort of cleansing water. It's great to remove any dirt or makeup, wash off a face mask or just refresh your skin right before landing. I recently picked this one up from Sephora in one of their Beauty-to-Go sets and thought it was the perfect size to pop into the dreaded clear plastic  bag. 

LUCAS PAPAW OINTMENT

£6.30 / $7.99

Ointments are a real beauty must-have, whether you're on a plane or not. I use mine on my lips,  my cuticles or any other dry patches of skin. I'm using the Lucas Papaw Ointment at the moment, but I also love the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

KIEHL'S CACTUS FLOWER & TIBETAN GINSENG HYDRATING MIST

£18.50 / $17.00

You're probably tired of hearing me bang on about this face mist any chance I get, but the truth is, I haven't found anything better yet. Of course, there's only so much a mist can do, but I still love the whole ritual of giving my face a few spritz every now and then. The scent isn't too strong either, so it's perfect to use in confined spaces, like a plane.

THE ORDINARY COLD-PRESSED ROSEHIP OIL

£9.00 / $11.50

Rosehip oil is a great natural source of vitamin E and is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant that soothes and moisturises even the driest and most sensitive skin - long story short, it is a real staple in my skincare routine and makes for a great source of hydration when flying. Depending on how my skin feels after spending a few hours on the plane, I either like to layer it underneath my usual moisturiser or just mix a few drops in that same moisturiser.

EMBRYOLISSE LAIT CRÈME CONCENTRÉ

£20.00 / $28.00 

Last but not least, I always bring with me a moisturizer. This one by Embryolisse is one of my favourites to use, whether I'm flying or not. It's incredibly rich but very quick to absorb into the skin and makes for a great base if you're going to apply makeup over the top. And don't worry about the half empty tube, there's a full size coming with me in my checked-in luggage too.

You might have noticed that I'm not taking any of my beloved hyaluronic acid serums with me. Why? Hyaluronic acid is great to draw moisture into the skin and a real staple in my usual skincare routine but it is not so great to use in drier environments, like a plane for example. Instead of drawing the moisture in, it can actually do the exact opposite, so try and keep this in mind if you're traveling soon.

THE LITTLE EXTRAS

PHILOSOPHY 'AMAZING GRACE' ROLLERBALL

£34.00 for 60ml / $20.00 

After spending such a long time in a stuffy airplane, it's always nice like to freshen up and put a little bit of perfume on. I'm personally a huge fan of Philosophy's Amazing Grace and its fresh, soft scent and wear it all year around. 

YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE ÉCLAT

£25.50 / $42.00

Unless I have a busy day of exploring ahead, I don't tend to put much makeup on before landing. Now, I am pretty comfortable with my bare face, but I am - and always have been - a little bit self-concious about my dark circles so I like to use the YSL Touche Éclat to bring some light back to the area. 

SOAP & GLORY ARCHERY BROW PENCIL

£8.50 

Remember when I hacked away at one of my eyebrows with a pair of tweezers, a few summers ago? Well, LiBrow did help most of the hair grow back but it's still a little bit sparse so I still like to fill my brows in if I can - although this might change when I finally get my hands on Glossier's infamous Boy Brow.

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES DEEP RELAX BALM

£18.50 / $25.50 

I'm not a nervous flyer by any means, but I do sometime struggle to fall asleep, which isn't ideal when time differences mean you can lose hours of sleep. This Aromatherapy Associates balm is, hands down, the most luxurious "sleeping-aid" I own and my favourite one of the bunch for sure. 

Not pictured : Hand sanitizer, Caudalie hand cream and my trusty Lilash, which decided to play hide and seek while I took these pictures. 

What are your in-flight beauty essentials?

- Elodie x