A Breath of Fresh Air: The Secret to Looking A-List After a Long Haul Flight

The brand new, ultra-luxe Emirates Airbus A350 has made a revolutionary upgrade: A system that infuses parched cabin air with extra moisture to combat the Sahara-like conditions of jet-travel. Sadly for Canadians, securing a spot on the Emirates plane is not possible – it only flies between Dubai and Edinburgh with destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Europe to follow.

However, for those of us determined to emerge from 37,000 feet looking like we’ve come from a facial, not a red-eye – there is hope. As plane loos don’t encourage lavish beauty regimens, in-flight grooming is really down to things you can do in your seat without annoying fellow passengers. Skin type and flight length dictate how many products you care to juggle, but from super-hydrating sheet masks for long hauls to effective eye balms for shorter jaunts, we’ve gathered the best beauty products for a fresh landing.

INFLIGHT: COUNTER CULTURE

By Viia Beaumanis|May 6, 2025

<p><span class="s1">A stash of moist towelettes removes that layer of travel grime and can do double duty to wipe dirty surfaces. L’Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes are gently exfoliating and rich in Vitamin C.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Almay Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for oily skin are biodegradable and hypoallergenic.</span></p>

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CLEANSING WIPES

A stash of moist towelettes removes that layer of travel grime and can do double duty to wipe dirty surfaces. L’Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes are gently exfoliating and rich in Vitamin C. Almay Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for oily skin are biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

<p><span class="s2">Who doesn’t want a light mist on a long, dry flight? Avène Eau Thermale offers a cooling spray of French spring water. The more active Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist from Dermalogica helps skin hold onto water with refreshing, antioxidant polyphenols, and Tower 28 SOS Facial Spray contains antimicrobial hypochlorous acid to kill bacteria and prevent breakouts. </span></p>

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MISTING WATER SPRAY

Who doesn’t want a light mist on a long, dry flight? Avène Eau Thermale offers a cooling spray of French spring water. The more active Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist from Dermalogica helps skin hold onto water with refreshing, antioxidant polyphenols, and Tower 28 SOS Facial Spray contains antimicrobial hypochlorous acid to kill bacteria and prevent breakouts.

$<p><span class="s2">You want to massage in a hydrating serum that contains water-binding humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, then lock in the hydration with a moisturiser. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules single dose pods are rich in omegas and can get through customs. Follow with a sealing layer of cult classic Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, the skin-tightening cream targets signs of fatigue. Finally, multi-tasker Weleda Skin Food has cult status for a reason – compared by many to La Mer, at a fraction of the price – and The Ordinary’s Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm is a multi-use salve designed to moisturize everything from lips and cuticles to elbows.</span></p>$

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MOISTURIZER

You want to massage in a hydrating serum that contains water-binding humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, then lock in the hydration with a moisturiser. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules single dose pods are rich in omegas and can get through customs. Follow with a sealing layer of cult classic Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, the skin-tightening cream targets signs of fatigue. Finally, multi-tasker Weleda Skin Food has cult status for a reason – compared by many to La Mer, at a fraction of the price – and The Ordinary’s Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm is a multi-use salve designed to moisturize everything from lips and cuticles to elbows.

<p><span class="s2">The award-winning Jet Lag Mask from Summer Fridays uses a complex compound of vitamin B3 to nourish parched skin and is available in travel minis. If it looks too Freddy Krueger for public application, apply discreet eye masks like Patchology’s Serve Chilled on Ice Firming Eye Gels, which are drenched in a depuffing cocktail of nine peptides.</span></p>

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MASKS

The award-winning Jet Lag Mask from Summer Fridays uses a complex compound of vitamin B3 to nourish parched skin and is available in travel minis. If it looks too Freddy Krueger for public application, apply discreet eye masks like Patchology’s Serve Chilled on Ice Firming Eye Gels, which are drenched in a depuffing cocktail of nine peptides.

<p><span class="s1">On a plane you’re 30,000 feet closer to the sun. Produced in Australia, Ultra Violette’s Fave Fluid Ultralight Screen SPF50+ has broad-spectrum protection with a dash of skin-brightening niacinamide. Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 from Supergoop! is lightweight and and great for all skin types.</span></p>

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SUNSCREEN

On a plane you’re 30,000 feet closer to the sun. Produced in Australia, Ultra Violette’s Fave Fluid Ultralight Screen SPF50+ has broad-spectrum protection with a dash of skin-brightening niacinamide. Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 from Supergoop! is lightweight and and great for all skin types.

›
CLEANSING WIPES

A stash of moist towelettes removes that layer of travel grime and can do double duty to wipe dirty surfaces. L’Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes are gently exfoliating and rich in Vitamin C. Almay Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for oily skin are biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

›
CLEANSING WIPES

A stash of moist towelettes removes that layer of travel grime and can do double duty to wipe dirty surfaces. L’Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes are gently exfoliating and rich in Vitamin C. Almay Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes for oily skin are biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

›
MISTING WATER SPRAY

Who doesn’t want a light mist on a long, dry flight? Avène Eau Thermale offers a cooling spray of French spring water. The more active Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist from Dermalogica helps skin hold onto water with refreshing, antioxidant polyphenols, and Tower 28 SOS Facial Spray contains antimicrobial hypochlorous acid to kill bacteria and prevent breakouts.

›
MOISTURIZER

You want to massage in a hydrating serum that contains water-binding humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, then lock in the hydration with a moisturiser. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules single dose pods are rich in omegas and can get through customs. Follow with a sealing layer of cult classic Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, the skin-tightening cream targets signs of fatigue. Finally, multi-tasker Weleda Skin Food has cult status for a reason – compared by many to La Mer, at a fraction of the price – and The Ordinary’s Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm is a multi-use salve designed to moisturize everything from lips and cuticles to elbows.

›
MASKS

The award-winning Jet Lag Mask from Summer Fridays uses a complex compound of vitamin B3 to nourish parched skin and is available in travel minis. If it looks too Freddy Krueger for public application, apply discreet eye masks like Patchology’s Serve Chilled on Ice Firming Eye Gels, which are drenched in a depuffing cocktail of nine peptides.

›
SUNSCREEN

On a plane you’re 30,000 feet closer to the sun. Produced in Australia, Ultra Violette’s Fave Fluid Ultralight Screen SPF50+ has broad-spectrum protection with a dash of skin-brightening niacinamide. Unseen Sunscreen Invisible Broad Spectrum SPF 40 from Supergoop! is lightweight and and great for all skin types.

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