The magic of face mists is that they intuit exactly what your skin needs. Those laced with probiotics mimic your natural skin barrier and can dial down redness. Others packed with aloe vera, botanical oils, vitamins, electrolytes and brightening ingredients leave hot skin feeling immediately refreshed and transform a dull, weather-beaten complexion into one with a dewy sheen.
As liquids, they are easy to apply on the go and have the added benefit of encouraging these ingredients to deep dive into the skin, so it’s hardly surprising that so many of us pack a face mist in our hand luggage as respite during a flight.
But there is a caveat: Not all face mists hydrate at 30,000 feet – in fact, the wrong formula can leave skin even more dehydrated.
Ultimately, aeroplanes are void of moisture. In the UK, the average humidity in the air is between 70 and 90%, which skin is typically comfortable with. However, at altitude, humidity in an aircraft plummets to just 12% – drier than most deserts.
“This can cause your skin to become dehydrated as your skin loses moisture through an increase in transepidermal water loss [when water evaporates through the skin], which in turn can disrupt the skin barrier, leading to dry, dull and even tight feeling skin,” notes Kathleen Rogerson, Global Scientific Director at Coats. Factor in arctic blasts of air-conditioning and there’s a lot that can affect how your skin holds up.
These, aesthetic doctor Dr David Jack believes, are just some of the reasons why your skin can look the opposite of plump and juicy upon landing. Simple floral waters, while giving your skin and senses a much-needed wake up call at your desk, don’t offer many benefits on board a flight.
“Flower waters might smell nice, but the lack of other ingredients that lock in moisture can cause your skin to be more dehydrated in a dry environment such as an aeroplane,” he says. “This is because water molecules evaporate from the skin’s surface, removing its natural moisture.”
But here’s when things get complicated. While humectants such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin are excellent on the ground, simply spritzing them onto your face isn’t the answer at 30,000 feet (the average altitude for most flights).
“In normal circumstances, humectants such as hyaluronic acid pull water from the air into the surface layer of your skin, making them highly effective at retaining moisture in the skin,” Dr Jack explains. “However, because the air on a flight is so dry, humectants actually have the opposite effect. Hyaluronic acid absorbs water from its closest source – within your skin – leaving it feeling drier than before.”
That’s not to say that you should avoid these humectants all together but used alone they can backfire, notes Dr Jack. “After misting your face, the key is to trap the moisture in the skin with a face oil or a ceramide-rich cream as they prevent it from evaporating,”
This is also where Korean face mists such as COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream Mist come into play, as many offer a moisture-locking shortcut by combining glycerin with multiple types of ceramides in a face mist to boost the skin barrier.
Alternatively, apply your face mist pre-flight, immediately after cleansing, to create a base layer of hydration that turbocharges the effects of everything else you apply on top. “When skin is wet, it is also more absorbent, meaning your moisturiser is able to penetrate deeper into the skin,” says Kathleen. “This allows humectant ingredients to become even more effective at drawing in moisture from the top layers to keep the skin hydrated for longer.”
Step One: Face Mist
Step Two: Face Oil or Ceramide Moisturiser
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Education News Click Here
