Is It Bad to Get a Facial Right Before a Flight? Experts Weigh In
"The airplane cabin is basically a high-altitude desert."
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A woman packing her skincare for a flightTwo aestheticians tell Travel + Leisure that flying takes a toll on your skin.
If you're booking a pre-flight facial, try to schedule it a few days in advance and opt for a hydrating one.
What to skip? Avoid aggressive skin treatments before taking a flight.
The flight is booked, your bags are packed, and you’re manifesting landing as your glowiest, glass-skinned self. Then comes the aesthetic dilemma: to pre-flight facial or not to pre-flight facial?
According to aestheticians, there’s no denying, flying wreaks absolute havoc on your skin. "Air travel can be surprisingly harmful to the skin and body due to dry, recycled cabin air and low humidity, which can cause moisture loss," Vanessa Marc, aesthetician and founder of Vanessa Marc Spa, told Travel + Leisure.
Audrey Matney, a medical aesthetician at 123 Beauty Lab in New York City, told T+L that changes in cabin pressure can lead to fluid retention and poor circulation, resulting in dreaded post-flight puffiness, and the drop in humidity levels leaves skin feeling tight, flaky, and lackluster. “Dehydration, puffiness, and dullness are inevitable at 35,000 feet. The airplane cabin is basically a high-altitude desert,” she said.
So, how can you arrive looking your jet-set best? A pre-flight facial can serve as your secret weapon. "Though it is safe to get a facial before a flight, I generally recommend scheduling one a few days before to give the skin an ample amount of time to recover," Marc said.
When booking your facial, Matney advised against overly aggressive treatments. “Avoid deep exfoliation, chemical peels, or aggressive extractions,” she cautioned. “These treatments compromise the skin barrier, exposing freshly exfoliated skin to the dry, bacteria-filled cabin air—a recipe for breakouts.” If a facial includes terms like peel, abrasion, or deep exfoliation, it’s better to reschedule. Your skin barrier should be at full strength before your flight to avoid leaving your skin vulnerable.
Instead, opt for facials that prioritize hydration and support your skin’s barrier with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and antioxidants. According to Marc, air travel "can cause moisture loss" and a hydrating facial "helps replenish the skin and add much-needed moisture." Matney also suggested adding on red light therapy to combat the inevitable post-flight puffiness.
"Air travel can be surprisingly harmful to the skin and body due to dry, recycled cabin air and low humidity, which can cause moisture loss. So, a hydrating facial will help replenish the skin and add much needed moisture."
Vanessa Marc
There are other ways to prep your skin for travel, starting from the inside out. Begin by incorporating water-rich foods like cucumbers, watermelon, leafy greens, and celery a few days before your flight. Healthy fats such as avocados and nuts help support the skin barrier, and electrolytes from coconut water and potassium-rich bananas keep you balanced.
Once you touch down, even if you got a facial, your skin will crave an immediate reset. Matney recommends cleansing ASAP with a gentle cleanser or micellar water to remove bacteria and cabin grime. Hydrate by drinking water and applying a ceramide-rich moisturizer. For an extra refresh, try a cooling sheet mask or a splash of cold water. If puffiness strikes, use ice cubes, chilled jade rollers, or a cold spoon to help calm down swelling.
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