Beauty on Board

There's an art to travelling at 35,000 feet; and I'm going to reveal how to make dry skin, swollen feet and cabin colds a thing of the past.....

 

Boarding a plane can be much like a grown up game of sardines. We squeeze ourselves into narrow seats, comfort our limbs into all manner of positions and jostle for space with neighbouring passengers in a cabin not dissimilar to a tin can. But that doesn't seem to put us off flying; the International Air Transport Association predicts that by 2017 there will be 3.91 billion aeroplane passengers, an increase of 31% since 2012. More of us than ever may be embracing short and long haul but our bodies have yet to evolve to life at altitudes between 35,000 - 39,000 feet: even the shortest journeys can leave us achy and bloated with parched dry skin and bloodshot eyes. While we can't help with the dreaded jet lag, here are some ideas to help you combat the side effects of flying, making sure you'll disembark at your destination looking more refreshed than when you boarded. Bon Voyage!!

Combat Cabin Colds:

As the dry air evaporates the protective, germ-catching mucus inside our nose, we're 100 times more likely to catch a bug when flying. Applying Vaseline inside the nose can create a barrier to germs and, if your neighbour looks poorly, ask to swap seats as air is circulated from the sides to the centre of the cabin so you're most likely to catch something from someone in your aisle. Sprinkle Altitude Oil, £25, de Marmiel, on a tissue to inhale the blend of anti bacterial eucalyptus and anti-viral peppermint. It was specially created by facialist Annee de Marmiel to prevent her from catching colds on flights.

Put Dry Skin on Standby:

Cabin air has a humidity level of 10%-20% compared to the average 80% in the UK (other countries have higher humidity). As we inhale, our bodies become dehydrated from the inside out and moisture is drawn away from skin in order to hydrate vital internal organs leaving skin parched. Noella Gabriel from Elemis, who devised the brand's Travel Spa Treatments for British Airways, advises applying a hydrating serum to your face pre-flight (try Radical Skincare's Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum, £125, or Philosophy's When Hope is Not Enough, £34) to tackle ageing free radicals that attack dehydrated skin.

Out-Smart Germs:

Stock up on anti-bacterial gel from the chemist once you're through security as planes are not sterile environments. "60% of US planes trays were found to carry the MRSA virus," say microbiologist Charles Gerba from the University of Arizona. Hands spread the contagion so those sitting in aisle seats are most at risk: "They're closest to the traffic of passengers moving through the plane who place their hands on the seats to stabilise themselves," Gerba says. Cleanse hands with Anti-Ageing Hand Sanitizer, £22, Renouve, which kills 99% of germs but also contains Palmitoyl Tripeptide 5 which boosts collagen and hydrating vitamin E. Also, don't forget to wipe down that food tray with anti-bacterial wipes.

Reduce Salt & Swelling:

Swollen hands and feet come with the mile-high territory. This is because there is less oxygen in the blood which also means salt levels are more concentrated; the body counter-balances this by clinging on to puff-inducing water. Instead of snacking on complementary pretzels, have a banana - potassium in the fruit will help reduce fluid retention. And don't over season your food: our ability to taste salty and sweet flavours diminishes by 30% in the air, which is why we get a salt-tooth.

Combat Bloat:

By 18,000, air pressure is already half that found at sea level. This causes the natural gases in the stomach and intestines to expand and often causes an embarrassing (and uncomfortable) case of wind. A pilot's trick for expelling trapped gas is to lean forward over the left knee to apply pressure to the stomach, and then quickly sit up again. Snack on carrot sticks, raspberries or probiotic yogurt.

Slather Yourself in SPF:

The earth's atmosphere thins out above 30,000 feet. At that altitude the dose of UVA is much larger than you'd get on the Earth's surface, as UVA is a well-known cause of skin ageing and skin cancer, but planes are also exposed to a UV ray that doesn't reach the ground: UVC, the strongest of all the UV rays. However, on the plane, the Plexiglass windows shield us from UVC and some UVA rays but if you have a window seat, apply Sun Crème Face SPF50+, £12, Eucerin, which comes in a handy 50ml bottle.

De-Static Your Hair:

Even a short light can deflate the bounciest of blow-drys, leaving a tell-tale indent just below the crown courtesy of the headrest. Dry air has more positively charged ions which repel each other (hence static hair standing on end), which increase with the friction caused by hair rubbing against the back of synthetic headrests as you try to get as comfortable. Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade, £18, Aveda, smoothed through hair will hydrate and fight static, preventing frizziness and flyaways and conveniently, it comes in a plane friendly 75ml pot. Or try Frizz Ease Perfect Finish Polishing Serum, £6.29, John Frieda, which creates a smooth, sleek look. Opting for a natural wood and boar bristle brush such as Round Brush 50MM Wood, £33.75 Cloud Nine rather than plastic models, will reduce frizz and static for touch ups before touch down.

Soothe Red-Eye:

Overnight flights aren't called the red-eye for nothing: moistureless cabin air irritates the mall blood vessels in he eye so the whites looks bloodshot. Apply ULTRA UD Eye Drops, £10.49 for 30, Systane, every hour to stay hydrated. If you wear contact lenses remove them before boarding the plane (cabin air will dry the out even on the runway) and on a long business class flight avoid a horizontal position; it encourages fluid to pool around the eye causing puffy bags. No Puffery Cooling Roll-On, £24, Origins, refreshes and de-puffs tired eyes.

So there you have it, hopefully these tips will make your flight a hassle free journey. Anyway, I'm off on my holidays tomorrow, so I will see you in September for tips on your new Fall wardrobe, crystal clear skin and ways to make you a beauty genius with great makeup tips!!

See you in September!! xxx