Can it be avoided? Does jetlag make it worse? Can anything be done? Sort of, yes, and yes.
Unless you've never taken an airplane, you're familiar with this syndrome. A face that feels too small, but somehow seems sort of....greasy. Burning eyes. Ashen pallor. The wonders of stress and seriously low humidity at work. We all know to guzzle water, avoid salty snacks and alcohol while flying (as if that's going to happen) and to wear noise-cancelling headphones. So let's say that you actually followed these edicts, including the ban on booze, and still look and feel like crap when you land. Why?
"Guzzle water" may mean much more than you think it does. Airplanes are even drier than the driest desert, and your lungs need to humidify the air you breathe. If it isn't in the air they take in, the necessary water will be pulled from your system. Thus the "my face is too small" phenomenon. Drinking a LOT of fluids, which don't include coffee or soda, helps to maintain a somewhat adequate hydration level, which allows your skin to hang onto at least some of the water normally allotted to it in a moister environment. During the flight, periodically mist your face with something like Eau Avene Thermale, which not only helps you to feel a bit more hydrated, but has an oddly soothing effect, and if you apply additional moisturizer, helps it to cling better. Speaking of additional moisturizer, definitely do so. SkinCeuticals B5 Hydrating Gel is an absolute must (don't bring the whole bottle of course, get a tiny apothecary bottle from the drugstore with a dropper and just bring that. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way.) Then add more sunscreen; you're way, way up there, where the air is super thin, and airplane windows don't offer all that much protection from UV rays. Controversy aside, I use a sunscreen powder to combat the inexplicable grease that appears despite the dry skin factor. [What's the controversy you ask? For one thing, its easy to inhale powders as you apply them. Be very, very careful about this: titanium dioxide can accumulate in your lungs. I don't breathe while I'm applying, and I forcefully exhale through my nose when finished. For another thing, the powder can float off around your skin rather than settling onto it, giving you far, far less than the advertised SPF, AND increasing your risk of inhaling it. Don't wave and flick the brush around your face and neck like a silent movie star; instead, press the bristles gently against your skin.]
Keep lubricating eye drops and a pair of giant sunglasses handy and just pray you're not seated behind a screaming two year old.
If you have to go directly to a meeting from the plane, I'm sorry. That sucks. "Bronzer" is your best friend, right up there with your life partner, "undereye concealer". But if you have a chance to get to your hotel, give yourself a quick rescue mask. Going skiing? Pack a hydrating mask. To Mexico City, Beijing or LA? An anti-oxidant mask or detox mask. SKII's all travel like champs since they're single use linen sheets, but may require a loan on your 401(k) if you develop a habit. If you've checked your luggage, my top picks are Peter Thomas Roth's Oxygenating Mask, Malin + Goetz's Detox Mask, Dermalogica's Antioxidant Mask, and Juara's Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask, and the B5 hydrating masks from SkinCeuticals or DermaQuest.
Unless you've never taken an airplane, you're familiar with this syndrome. A face that feels too small, but somehow seems sort of....greasy. Burning eyes. Ashen pallor. The wonders of stress and seriously low humidity at work. We all know to guzzle water, avoid salty snacks and alcohol while flying (as if that's going to happen) and to wear noise-cancelling headphones. So let's say that you actually followed these edicts, including the ban on booze, and still look and feel like crap when you land. Why?
"Guzzle water" may mean much more than you think it does. Airplanes are even drier than the driest desert, and your lungs need to humidify the air you breathe. If it isn't in the air they take in, the necessary water will be pulled from your system. Thus the "my face is too small" phenomenon. Drinking a LOT of fluids, which don't include coffee or soda, helps to maintain a somewhat adequate hydration level, which allows your skin to hang onto at least some of the water normally allotted to it in a moister environment. During the flight, periodically mist your face with something like Eau Avene Thermale, which not only helps you to feel a bit more hydrated, but has an oddly soothing effect, and if you apply additional moisturizer, helps it to cling better. Speaking of additional moisturizer, definitely do so. SkinCeuticals B5 Hydrating Gel is an absolute must (don't bring the whole bottle of course, get a tiny apothecary bottle from the drugstore with a dropper and just bring that. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way.) Then add more sunscreen; you're way, way up there, where the air is super thin, and airplane windows don't offer all that much protection from UV rays. Controversy aside, I use a sunscreen powder to combat the inexplicable grease that appears despite the dry skin factor. [What's the controversy you ask? For one thing, its easy to inhale powders as you apply them. Be very, very careful about this: titanium dioxide can accumulate in your lungs. I don't breathe while I'm applying, and I forcefully exhale through my nose when finished. For another thing, the powder can float off around your skin rather than settling onto it, giving you far, far less than the advertised SPF, AND increasing your risk of inhaling it. Don't wave and flick the brush around your face and neck like a silent movie star; instead, press the bristles gently against your skin.]
Keep lubricating eye drops and a pair of giant sunglasses handy and just pray you're not seated behind a screaming two year old.
If you have to go directly to a meeting from the plane, I'm sorry. That sucks. "Bronzer" is your best friend, right up there with your life partner, "undereye concealer". But if you have a chance to get to your hotel, give yourself a quick rescue mask. Going skiing? Pack a hydrating mask. To Mexico City, Beijing or LA? An anti-oxidant mask or detox mask. SKII's all travel like champs since they're single use linen sheets, but may require a loan on your 401(k) if you develop a habit. If you've checked your luggage, my top picks are Peter Thomas Roth's Oxygenating Mask, Malin + Goetz's Detox Mask, Dermalogica's Antioxidant Mask, and Juara's Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask, and the B5 hydrating masks from SkinCeuticals or DermaQuest.
No comments:
Post a Comment