Back to Travel #1: This Is Your Skin on the Plane with Mineral Air Skin
Dermatology nurse and laser specialist Elizabeth Apostolou, RN, BSN of AVA MD at AVA MD in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills shares her in-flight skin-saving advice now that we’re getting back to it.
Back to Travel #1: This is the first of our 3-part Mineral Air series looking at skin as we’re starting to travel again.
After a year of going nowhere, we’re making plans to hit the road . . . in an airplane. While this is the best news for our mind, soul, and social life, airplane travel can be less than wonderful for our skin. Our friend Elizabeth Apostolou, an ace traveler herself, has some in-flight words to the wise.
Mask alert
For the foreseeable future (which some prognosticators say is as good as ‘forever’), we’ll be required to wear masks at airports and on airplanes.
Says Elizabeth, “Everyone has their mask routine down by now but air travel adds an extra challenge for the complexion. By their nature, masks can dry out the skin. And by its nature, air travel dehydrates everything. . . face, body, the works. So flying delivers an unhealthy double drying whammy to all of our tissues.”
Here’s how Elizabeth deals with that:
Before boarding – A day or two before your flight, have a hydrating facial and exfoliation treatment to get rid of any dry skin buildup. This will help any moisturizing materials you use absorb more efficiently. Also, go make-up free while flying. (You’re wearing a mask, no one will see you anyway).
Every hour in flight – A quick and refreshing under mask spritz of the Skin Renewal Serum with the ElixerMist Device by Mineral Air Skin works wonders. Keep it in your carry-on. The lightweight but penetrating hyaluronic and aloe formula help to keep the skin barrier protected and nourished. Plus, because it’s touchless, you’ll be able to keep everything totally hygienic.
- Also, apply lip balm even if you don’t think you need it but make it a waxier one that won’t smear onto the mac.
- Staying hydrated from the inside is important so set yourself a goal to drink at least two cups of water per hour. Try not to drink alcohol or consume too many salty snacks on a flight as these will dehydrate you even more.
Hygiene
With vaccination, masks and diminishing pandemic stats, CDC warning guidelines about touching surfaces are becoming a thing of the past. We now know that airborne coronavirus particles do not stick to surfaces so there’s little risk of infection if you’re talking about covid prevention. BUT, avoid touching your face no matter what unless you have washed and sanitized your hands thoroughly. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to sanitize your hands both before and after you use the facilities. Airplane bathrooms are still cesspools of all sorts of germs. A friend of ours caught conjunctivitis that was traced to an airplane bathroom and her not following this no-touch-the-face rule.
Hands on
Since hand sanitizer is something you’ll want to use frequently and since it has a tendency to dry out the skin, you’ll want to moisturize your hands before and during the flight. Hands need to keep their barrier function healthy and hydrated just as the face does. If you want something greaseless and handy, Mineral Air Skin Renewal Serum’s ElixerMist is an easy touchless way to do this.
Baggage claim
Hand sanitization is important here too. Wash hands in the bathroom and use hand sanitizer after you collect your luggage. You don’t need to wipe it down though. You can wear gloves but that’s more to keep your hands clean rather than a health issue.
What’s the difference?
Mineral Air offers two device-plus-formula categories, one for makeup, the other for skincare.
Mineral Air original (MA) includes its AirMist Device, an easy to use, everyday consumer tool that rivals professional airbrushing in its cosmetic application of our eponymous foundation, blush, or bronzer. Mineral Air Skin (MAS) features the Renewal Serum System with its ElixerMist Device for lightweight vaporized delivery.
“In an airplane bathroom, avoid touching your face no matter what unless you have washed and sanitized your hands thoroughly. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to sanitize your hands both before and after you use the facilities.”
Elizabeth Apostolou, RN, BSN
Dermatology laser and injectables
specialist, AVA MD Beverly Hills