12 inflight beauty essentials that tackle the effects of flying

Flying is basically a beauty ambush. At 30,000 feet, your skin and hair are hit from every angle: bone-dry cabin air, harsh UV exposure, low oxygen circulation and hours of sitting still. The result is called 'flight face' – that lovely mix of tight, flaky skin, breakouts, greyness, puffiness and under-eye bags. Even your hair gets in on the drama, turning frizzy, flat and staticky. Add in germy surfaces and it's no wonder air travel can leave you looking seriously worse for wear. Here are some little helpers to combat the worst effects of airplane cabins.

Summer Fridays The Jet Lag Essentials Set, £35 The hero product in this quartet is the Jet Lag Mask, a skin-soothing blend of vitamin B5, allantoin and bisabolol. Apply, leave to work for 10 minutes and then simply wipe off. It hydrates and gently exfoliates and, well, works miracles. The serum can be applied to cleansed skin before sleeping, and the hydration mist will pep you up at any time (it can be applied as the first step of your cleansing routine or over make-up). Use the under-eye patches for ten minutes before landing and you'll swan through arrivals looking like you've just slept like a princess.

IGK Antisocial Time-Release Bond Building Dry Hair Mask, $16 (for travel size) This is such a clever hair saver – a no-rinse treatment that repairs, smooths and softens hair while you sleep. It uses bond-building technology and vegan silk proteins to strengthen strands from the inside out and reduce frizz. Spray directly onto dry hair, brush through, and wake up with glossy, hydrated locks. Genius. The downside? Only the full-size 187ml version is available in the UK – you'll need to order the travel size from the States.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion, £7 for 300ml I once asked an air steward which moisturiser cabin crew swear by and this was her response. It contains a triple whammy of oat extracts and shea butter, is unscented and particularly good for sensitive or eczema-prone skin. You'll have to decant it to a flight-suitable bottle, but it's worth the effort.

111Skin Cryo De-Puffing Face Mask, £100 for pack of five 111Skin is the brainchild of Harley Street plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides (his clinic is at no 111) so its products are both luxurious and super-scientific. Inspired by the science behind crytotherapy, these hydrogel masks combat tired-looking skin with caffeine and a tetrapepetide that depuffs and tightens. They work their magic in 20 minutes, and the effects are heightened if you store them in the fridge.

This Works In Transit No Traces cleansing pads, £20 A brilliant solution to cleansing on the go. These biodegradable pads are infused with rosewater, mint and echium oil to gently clean your skin and give it a hydrating boost.

Manetra Hair Mask, £70 Manetra is by Patsy Palmer's haircare line. Yes, that Patsy Palmer, Bianca from EastEnders. I think we can all agree that she has magnificent hair. She lives in Los Angeles now, but when she jets in to Heathrow and is going to be met by paps, she uses this mask to combat the harsh, dehydrating effects of cabin air. Apply to dry hair and the mask acts as a barrier to lock in moisture. Its secret ingredient? Aloe juice.

Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Mist, £13 for 50ml The last thing you need on a flight is airline hand soap or harsh antibac wipes. This fast-absorbing gel cleanses and hydrates in one, and also smells divine, thanks to mandarin rind, rosemary leaf and cedar extracts.

Patchology On The Fly Kit, £17.60 A nifty collection of four hydrogel masks to tackle the effects of flying. The Flashmasque Hydrate Sheet Mask contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 – great for really parched skin. Rejuvenating Eye Gels combat puffiness and dark circles with caffeine and centella asiatica, and Hydrating Lip Gels restore lips with peptides and green tea extract. Finally, there's Restoring Night Eye Gels, with retinol and squalane, for use during sleep.

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1, £13 Kiehl's has been making this classic balm since 1969 – an almost mystical longevity in the world of beauty. And here's why: with squalane and vitamin E, it provides an unbeatable hit of moisture for dry lips. It also comes in a dinky, very flight-friendly 15ml tube.

Larxrehy UV toothbrush cleaning case, £17.99 Up your oral hygiene game by swapping your toothbrush holder for a rechargeable cleaning case that uses UV light to rid your brush head of 99.9% of bacteria. Just snap the lid shut and it turns itself on for 5 minutes. One charge, via a USB port, lasts up to 60 days. Measures 7 x 5 x 3cm.

L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream, £10 for 30ml Another beauty classic, this has stood the test of time because its shea butter formula really nourishes yet it melts into the skin. It also contains antioxidant coconut oil, which is rich in vitamin E.

Opening image: Getty Images

Bumble and Bumble Pret A Powder dry shampoo, £12.80 On particularly long journeys, involving multiple airports and not a shower in sight, dry shampoo is a godsend. This offers triple-action benefits, by absorbing oil, refreshing your blowdry and adding volume. Shake gently onto the roots, massage in gently and, hey presto, your barnet is good to go again.

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