Hiya Gorgeous!

I just got back from the Bahamas and wow did I need that break.

I don’t know about you, but resting is not easy for me. On my vacation, I realized that there’s a big difference between putter resting (where you pretend you’re relaxing, but you’re really making lists, organizing, folding laundry and a million other things ) and real resting. I’m talking about, true, ain’t doing nothing but reading and drawing in the sand with my toes, rest. I’ll have more to say about this in an upcoming video, so stay tuned!

I also realized that travel can make my skin look a little mangy.

That’s why I asked our awesome beauty editor, Danielle Shine, to show us how to keep our skin healthy and glowing while we’re on the go.

Take it away, Danielle!

Skincare in the Air

by Beauty Editor Danielle Shine

Before you board your next flight, let me shed some light on a few things you can do to supercharge your skin’s wellness while you’re high in the sky.

After 17 years of frequent flying across the globe, I feel as though I’ve got this thing nailed. After much trial and error, I’m now that girl who always arrives at a destination looking fresh and feeling fine. I want this for you too, which is why I’m sharing my top skin care commandments.

Thou shalt wear no makeup during thy travel

Whether you’re in the air or on the ground, makeup on your face naturally grabs onto dirt and other environmental toxins that create free radicals. This causes breakdown of the precious collagen in your skin—that’s the good stuff you want MORE of, not less!

Generally speaking, I encourage makeup-free days, but especially urge you to fly bare-faced. Instead of covering up, embrace your bare-faced beauty! True beauty involves self-acceptance and nourishment—including any bits you consider to be your ‘flaws’. No such thing, ok?!

Thou shalt drink a LOT of water

Repeat after me: I hydrate, I hydrate, I hydrate! Aircraft cabins are pressurized in a particular way so you can breathe easy during your flight. The thing is, this type of pressure drastically reduces humidity levels on board.

I like to drink 16 ounces of water for every hour I’m in the air. I also incorporate detoxifying herbal teas into my liquid allowance to support and stimulate my body’s natural detoxification pathways. It’s important to support your body, namely your liver, to effectively process and eliminate pollutants absorbed during and after flying. Some of my favourite herbs that support the detoxification process include: calendula, burdock root, dandelion root, milk thistle and dandelion leaf.

Thou shalt add extra moisture to thy skin

Invest in a high quality, synthetic-chemical-free face moisturizer to apply during transit. Or, DIY like I do by combining the following health-supportive oils that provide natural vitamins, minerals and SPF to keep your skin happy and hydrated.

Combine two teaspoons each: olive, jojoba, borage, sunflower and red raspberry seed oil in a dark glass bottle. Shake well before each use and apply with clean fingers every 2 hours of long haul travel. When creating your own skincare blends, choose the highest-quality natural products and save money by buying in bulk.

Thou shalt safeguard thy wellness whilst asleep

If you typically wake from long haul flights with a puffy face and a scratchy throat, consider wearing an organic, animal-and-environmentally-friendly facemask while you sleep. I also recommend you cover your mouth with a ventilated face mask to keep your throat moist. I’m not going to lie, this look is definitely unique! But, your comfort is worth it (not to mention that you’re probably never going to see most of your fellow travelers again, so let your self-care flag fly, girlfriend). I like these masks.

Thou shalt moisturize thy nasal passages

The skin inside your nose is very thin thus highly prone to becoming super dry and irritated fast! You can avoid this by investing in a lubricating nasal spray—my current favorite is this one but there are many available. Check your local health food store and opt for one created with minimal and natural ingredients.

Thou shalt avoid plane food

This is possibly the BEST piece of advice you’ll ever receive when it comes to safeguarding your overall wellness when flying.

Prep and pack your own food to take and eat on board. Or, if you don’t have health concerns that would require eating at regular intervals, consider adopting intermittent fasting during travel, it’s a practice I decided to adopt 3 years ago which has totally changed the game for me! Not only does it supercharge the appearance of my skin, it also works wonders for my digestion.

Thou shalt move thy body before, during and after thy flight

We all know by now that sitting is the new smoking, so it’s a no-brainer that sitting for extended periods of time in a pressurized cabin is a big no-no.

If you follow my advice to hydrate regularly, you’ll be needing to make more frequent toilet trips, which will get you up and about. You can also set an alarm on your phone to remind you to stand and stretch every 30-60 minutes. Head to one of the galleys for more space to move. I like to bust out some yoga poses that get my blood flowing. Feels. So. Good.

Thou shalt remember to breathe, be calm and stay positive

One of the biggest stressors on your skin (and overall wellness) is excess cortisol hormone. Too much of the stuff can seriously impair your skin’s ability to function as a safety barrier to airborne bacteria that cause redness, blotchiness and breakouts.

Work on lowering your stress levels before, during and after flying by practicing guided meditations like this one.

Flying is the PERFECT time to just ‘be’ with yourself, so follow the steps outlined above and enjoy the (makeup-free) ride!

Thanks, Danielle! We hope these tips help you on your next flight. But before you go, I’d love for you to chime in!

Your turn: What’s your go-to in-flight beauty routine? Let me know in the comments below!

Peace & glowing travels,