Have you ever felt that the air inside an airplane is so dry that your skin starts to feel itchy, dry, and tight? If yes, you’re not alone, because it’s such a common experience that girls have started helping each other by sharing their airplane beauty routines on TikTok, where you can see them wearing sheet masks, using hair rollers, or applying moisturizer inside the cabin.

But apart from the ideas and pressure of social media, when it comes to the essentials, what do we really need to prioritize when we’re on the go?

Sunlight Air CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia, the first female CEO of a local homegrown airline—and a jetsetter herself—shares in a one-on-one interview with Allure Philippines her beauty and wellness routines before, during, and after a long-haul flight. She also reveals the exact products she uses to keep her skin fresh even while travelling.

What is your beauty and wellness routine before a flight?

One beauty ritual that I do not skip before a flight is skin care. It gets really, really dry in-flight, so I try to do the whole [skin care] routine including a thick moisturizer before a flight. 

And then for wellness, it’s very important for me to keep my body as calm and relaxed as possible, especially if it is a long-haul flight. So having an acupuncture session done before a flight, like a day or two before, is very important to me.

What is your beauty and wellness routine when you’re already inside the cabin?

The air around us when we fly is typically very dirty, so I like having a hypochlorous acid spray with me. And then another [one] is I like to make sure that if the air feels very dry that I have my Purcell spray with me as well.

And then the second one would be lip balm. So, the one that I like using is Lucas Papaw because it’s very thick, because I get very, very dry. And for some reason, when the temp is a little colder, the first thing that cracks are my lips and the skin around it. So, I try to carry lip balm with me on a long-haul flight.

What does your beauty and wellness routine look like during an airport layover?

For airport layovers, especially if I have enough time, let’s say two-, three-hour layover, I try to squeeze in a full shower in between the two legs. 

What is your beauty and wellness  routine after getting off a long-haul flight?

After a flight, when we arrive at the airport, I’m always in a rush to get home. And when I get home, I’m just really excited to wash my face and take a bath. That’s always something that I have to do after a flight.

Portrait of a woman in a pale pink dress, facing slightly away, with an Allure logo in the top left against a lavender backdrop.

Gail Geriane

How do you reset your skin after landing? 

I am usually thirstier in-flight and after a flight. And so, I do try to carry a jug with me and drink some water as soon as I land. To reset my skin after a flight or a trip is a facial mask. I also do LED masks. I also use frequency wands when I get home. 

How do you stay looking fresh and well-rested after a long flight?

For me, after a long-haul flight, the two products that I like to put to make myself look at least presentable, let’s say I had a flight and I had to meet people straight away, are number one,[color] corrector, and second, a cute cool-toned blush and I think it just lightens up your face altogether. One that I particularly like is the one from NARS, the shade is Wanderlust. 

How do you simplify your beauty routine when you’re constantly on the go? 

I like doing things that make me feel ready for anything as quickly as possible. So dry shampoo is one, I also like getting perms, just so that I wake up and then it’s done. I also like having sprays, so [hydrating] mists, and moisturizing sprays. Anything that I can leave the house with is ideal for my lifestyle.

What is the biggest misconception about beauty while flying? 

It’s actually not good for your skin when you put a full face of makeup, like foundation, concealer, because the air around us and the environment in-flight is already not as clean as we would like it to be. So when you have all those products, the skin gets trapped underneath.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ryna-Brito Garcia  always carries a hypochlorous acid spray, a hydrating mist, and a thick lip balm to combat dryness in-flight.
 

According to Ryna Brito-Garcia, heavy makeup like foundation and concealer can trap dirt and impurities on the skin because the cabin environment is not as clean as people think.
 

For Ryna Brito-Garcia, she hydrates by drinking plenty of water and uses facial masks, LED masks, and frequency wands to help restore and refresh her skin after a trip.
 

A color corrector and a cool-toned blush are enough to look polished after a long-haul flight. These two products counteract dullness and sallowness caused by cabin dehydration, brightening the complexion without layering heavy foundation over travel-stressed skin.

Dry shampoo, hydrating mists, and moisturizing sprays are practical staples for frequent travelers. Low-maintenance hair treatments like perms also reduce daily styling time, keeping skin and hair presentable with minimal effort between flights.

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