Recycled air, a drink or two, and food with zero nutritional value: is it any wonder skin starts to shrivel as soon as you step on to an aeroplane?
In-flight air is drier than the Sahara; and as black skin is already pretty dry, you could drink all the water in the cabin and your face would still prickle, and the area around your mouth and eyes go grey and feel tight. No matter how short the flight (yes, I know short flights are evil), I always feel rough by the time I step off. As a result, I put as much thought into packing my hand luggage as others do into planning what to take on their fortnight away.
It took me a while to realise that flight creams weren't regular moisturiser repackaged, but the difference between looking great (or at least OK) when you arrive and starting your holiday with pimples, chapped lips and prune-like skin - all before you've even hit the beach. If your skin is very sensitive, it's safer to go for an intensive version of a moisturiser you're already using - be it a serum, night cream or capsules - rather than switching brands. But, if you think your skin can take it, I'd go for a full-on flight cream, such as Prescriptives' Super Flight Cream. Alternatively, go mad and invest in a kit, such as the ace new In-flight one from Fresh (complete with cleansing wipes, in-flight mask and post-flight serum). Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour cream was one of the first to come on the market as great for in-flight rehydration; the last time I took a long haul, I put it all over my face - twice - and, though sticky at first, was shocked by the ease and speed with which it was absorbed, not to mention the good it did.
As for what else you can do, well, drinking juice is better skin-wise than alcohol, and drinking water is better than juice; but you knew that. I tend to go for a Bloody Mary - something about the goodness of tomato juice cancelling out the badness of the vodka. And take your own water: you'll drink more if you don't have to keep asking for it. Anyway, I've heard all sorts of dodgy things about aeroplane water.
