You may have seen videos of influencers doing their skincare and makeup on the airplane, and, while that may be cool looking, here’s the truth. Plane ride skincare and makeup routines are unnecessary and quite frankly gross: “Frankly, I think masks on the plane are disgusting, I don’t know why influencers think it’s important or it looks cool to apply skin care on an airplane when you’re just layering whatever is being circulated [in the plane] onto your skin,” explains Dr. Karan Lal. A plane is one big box of bacteria particles. By rubbing different lotions onto your skin on an airplane, you are also rubbing bacteria on your face too. While we are most likely doing this everyday, the excess of germs on a plane make this trend unsanitary and unnecessary. Though, it is important to take care of your skin especially when traveling. Here are my top three travel self care essentials:
- Sunscreen
Even if you are traveling north, sunscreen is something you should be applying everyday, rain or shine. The windows on the airplane are not necessarily protective of the very nearby sun. UV rays are still capable of harming your skin (even if you can’t see it). These rays not only can give you a partial burn, but they can also bring out unwanted pigmentation on your face such as scars. Before boarding the plane, apply sunscreen to protect your skin from even the slightest bit of sun exposure, to avoid long- and short-term effects.
It is important to choose the right sunscreen. Here are my two favorites:
Supergoop:
- Acne Safe
- Long Lasting
- Unscented (but smells good!)
- TSA approved
Elta MD:
- Dermatologist recommended
- Acne Safe
- Unscented
- TSA approved
- Tower 28 Antibacterial Spray
The Tower 28 Antibacterial Spray, better known as the SOS (Save Our Skin) spray is an exception to the no skincare on planes rule. This spray kills bacteria resulting in clearer skin (especially helpful to acne breakouts). This spray is great to use when your skin is a little dirty, like after working out or being in a germy place like a plane!
- Moisturize!
If you feel like your skin is dry after traveling, it probably is in need of a good moisturizer! Planes lack humidity and moisture resulting in dry skin. Use Aquaphor or Vaseline to save your lips from being chapped, and apply to any other dry patches like under your nose. For a full face lotion, I love Vanicream. It is good for sensitive and dry skin and will lock in moisture for hours. It’s also great to use a refreshing serum to get rid of any more dryness. My go to is the Prequel Hydration Serum, which is a great base to put on before your moisturizer to give your skin extra hydration. These moisturizer tips will keep your skin feeling hydrated and ready for vacation!
Now, I hope I didn’t gross you out about airplanes. I over emphasize the bacteria, just so you can become more aware about how to treat your skin while traveling. These are purely recommendations, but I hope that you find these products helpful in making your skin the best it can be so you can glow on vacation.
Works Cited
Fargo, Morgan. “Is In-Flight Skincare a Scam? How to Actually Help Your Skin While Flying.” Woman’s Health, 10 June 2024, www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/skin/a61025502/plane-skincare/.
Gruber, Lauren. “Dermatologists Debunk TikTok’s Plane Skin Care Trend.” Elle, 2 Oct. 2025, www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/a68004260/plane-skin-care-routine-dos-and-donts/.
