5 essential skincare products for travellers

It’s important to keep the skin clear and clean to avoid the build-up of dead skin cells and sebum, which can cause breakouts and inflammation.

With the ability to remove impurities – as well as waterproof makeup – without stripping the skin of its natural oils, Fancl’s MCO Mild Cleansing Oil is a gentle but powerful cleanser. This recently reformulated cult-favourite can dissolve pore-clogging dirt and oil effectively to keep skin healthy without drying it out.

Compact options that also work when you’re on-the-go include This Works’ In Transit No Traces cleansing pads, and Laneige’s new 3-in-1 Cleansing Tea Bag which works as cleanser, exfoliator and mask. As neither of them is a liquid, making them easy to back in your cabin bag.

Used immediately after a cleanser, toners are essential for balancing the complexion, tightening pores and prepping the skin for serums and moisturisers. For frequent travellers, toners that comes in mist form not only hydrate the skin, but also re-energise it, making them an inflight skincare necessity.

Singaporean brand Porcelain offers one such toner with its Soothe – Deep Hydrating Lotion, which combats free radicals while regenerating and smoothening the skin at the same time. The lotion is also included in Porcelain’s Travel Essentials (Anti-ageing) Kit, where the products come in cabin-ready 30ml bottles.

Other excellent inflight options include La Roche-Posay’s Thermal Spring Water Face Mist, which comes in a handy 50ml canister and is great for sensitive skin, and Fresh’s Rose Floral Toner, infused with pure rosewater for 24-hour hydration and a glowing complexion.

Dehydration and dryness are common issues when you spend extended hours inside a plane. Moisturisers that focus on lasting hydration make great travel companions – like the Seriguard Moisturizer from Alexandr & Co’s Chrysalis Silk Treasures line. Using sericin, a protein extracted from the cocoons of silkworms, the cream hydrates, protects and activates collagen production within the skin to keep it supple and youthful.

You can also consider La Mer’s Crème de la Mer, which has a rich and deeply nourishing consistency, and L’Occitane’s Aqua Réotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Gel, which comes in a lighter, gel texture.

Often forgotten on a flight, sunscreen is essential to protecting the skin against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can still affect the skin while on a plane. These rays can cause premature ageing, dark spots, discolouration and wrinkles, as well as skin-related cancers.

Sunscreens can contain chemicals that damage coral reefs, which is why Soleil Toujours 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 is a great product to bring both on the plane and to the beach, as it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients.

Another great choice is Shiseido’s Global Suncare Perfect UV Protector Hydrofresh, which increases in effectiveness when in contact with water, or Dr. Jart+’s Every Sun Day Mild Sun, which defends your skin from damage caused by short-term changes in temperature.

Masks are a great way to give your skin a mini treatment while onboard, as they offer an intensive dose of nutrients in a short time. The moisturising nature of a mask will also nourish the skin in the cabin’s dry air.

SK-II’s classic Facial Treatment Mask, which contains a concentrated amount of Pitera, SK-II’s unique complex of bio-ingredients that deeply moisturise, brighten and smoothen the skin, is a popular go-to treatment inflight. There’s also the new Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience sheet mask from Origins which uses ingredients like Reishi mushroom and Sea Buckthorn to soothe and calm the skin, perfect after a long flight. The sheet mask and the ingredients are stored separately until you’re ready to use the product, in order to keep ingredients fresh. Or try Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask – the lightweight texture of the latter is perfect for overnight flights and is available in a three-piece kit under 100ml.

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