The Beauty Essentials To Get You Through A Flight

Flights play absolute havoc with our complexions, sucking out every ounce of moisture and leaving our skin dry beyond belief. You see, alongside the re-circulated and filtered air, our skin becomes subject to very low humidity which basically drains our skin of hydration. To give you an idea, while the average family home has a humidity of 50%, our skin is subject to 10-20% when we step onto a plane.

So whether you're hopping on a long haul flight to far away lands to jetting off to the South of France, it's imperative you have a line-up of beauty products in your hand luggage to pep up your skin and re-inject it with all that lost moisture.

We've rounded up the essentials you'll need to keep your skin looking flawless...

Short haul flights don't have quite as much of an impact on your face, but it's still important to give your complexion a little helping hand getting through the experience of flying at so many thousand feet about the ground. A super hydrating moisturiser like Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate, £13, is key as it will replace any lost hydration, ensuring your skin stays nourished and plump. A facial spray is a great way to awaken your senses before landing and the Neal's Yard White Tea Facial Mist, £11.50, is light and refreshing. Blended with antioxidant-rich white tea and calming aloe vera, it'll sooth and hydrate your complexion. The mistake people often make is forgetting their hands, so take a rich handcream with you on your travels. Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy, £5, is enriched with shea butter to moisturise your skin, leaving your hands silken. Oh and it's delicately scented with the most relaxing, sea-like fragrance.

Medium haul flights put our skin through a bit more aggravation - so there are a few more additions to make to you in-flight bag alongside the short haul flight essentials. On boarding, spend a few minutes gently cleansing your face and remove all makeup. We love Cleanse by Lauren Napier, £8, namely because the individual sachets make them ideal for travel, but they're also much kinder to your skin then your average face wipe. Once your face has been cleasning, spritz on the Neal's Yard White Tea Facial Mist, £11.50, and once soaked into your skin, take some time to work a coin-sized amount of Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate, £13, into your complexion, treating it to a little facial massage in the process. Our hero product for all kinds of travel (well, any situation really) is Elizabeth Arden's coveted Eight Hour Skin Protectant, £27. We're not exaggerating when we say it can be used for EVERYTHING - sun burn, chapped lips, dry patches of skin, you name it, this balm has it covered.

Long haul flights are when 'plane face' occurs. We're talking sagging, dull skin and red blotchy eyes - and it's all thanks to the air pressure and dehydration. Follow the medium haul flight beauty routine, but add in a few extra steps. When you hit the midway point or are about to try and get some shut eye, apply Guerlain's jelly-like Super Aqua Eye Patches, £78. They'll rehydrate your delicate under eye area so you don't step off the plane with puffy, sunken eyes. While these are working their magic, pump a few drops of Estee Lauder's renowned Advanced Night Repair, £52, on your face and spend some time massaging it into your complexion to drain any excess fluid and lift your facial muscles.

An hour before you hand, re-cleanse your face and pop on some This Works Light Time Skin Plumper Moisturiser, £29. The clever formula works to reduce signs of fatigue and boosts radiance to leave your skin looking healthy and fresh. Finally, dab a little concealer onto any red patches and under your eyes!