In-Flight Skincare Routines Are Popular On TikTok But Doctors Wouldn’t Recommend IRL

There are a lot of TikTok skincare videos I come across that inspire me to take better care of my skin. I’ve gotten on board with Gua Sha-ing, learned all about dermaplaning, and bought products to help me get “glass skin.” But one skincare trend I will never subscribe to is the airplane beauty routine.

Whether I’m on an hour flight or an 8-hour flight, nothing changes the fact that I feel fucking disgusting after a flight. And so a long time ago, I decided that planes were just for getting to my destination and that’s it. I’d wear as many layers as possible, throw my hair up in a bun, and just keep it moving. Anything I wanted to do to protect my skin would be happening after I’m off the plane, safely in my hotel, and post-shower, otherwise it’d feel equivalent to putting lotion on my body post-workout — wrong and just gross.

But if you’ve seen one of these plane skincare routines on TikTok, you’d know that influencers are doing the opposite. Not only are they throwing on face masks (the skincare kind, not the COVID kind) and slugging, but they’re also doing intense, multi-step skincare routines — all sometimes even before takeoff.

According to board certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, Dr. Corey L. Hartman, this might not be the best idea.

Why Doing A Skincare Routine On A Flight Isn’t A Good Idea

“A flight is a breeding ground for bacteria, which is the main reason a full skincare routine on a plan is not ideal,” Dr. Hartman says. “Thousands of people have been on planes, and have touched everything with both good and bad bacteria.” So if you decide to do a full skincare routine on a plane, there’s a high risk of transmitting bacteria to your skin. Say you touch the screen in front of you and then dip your fingers into a moisturizer, not only are you putting bacteria all over your skin but also potentially into your clean product.

If you really want to do something great for your skin, drink a ton of water during the flight to keep your skin moisturized — plane air is super dehydrating. And we all end up touching our faces even if we don’t realize we’re doing it, so bring some sanitizing wipes for surfaces you’ll probably be touching like the screen, arm rests, and your phone. And if you simply can’t sit through a flight without doing something for your skin, skip the nine-step beauty routine and keep it simple. “Use a bio cellulose face mask or eye patches that can be applied to the face and then thrown away after use,” Dr. Hartman says. Just make sure you use some hand sanitizer first.

Now if you’re like me and you save the skincare for after your flight, remember before doing anything, wash your hands and wipe your phone down with an alcohol wipe. I like to just do an everything shower.

“I recommend drinking water immediately following your flight, and when you have the opportunity to wash your face, go about your regular skincare routine, with a focus on adding moisture to the skin,” Dr. Hartman says.