First Class Skin…

How to arrive plumped, hydrated, and bright on a long haul flight

Long-haul travel isn’t that glamorous anymore (with a few exceptions). Flying in a metal tube for hours on end, endless delays, a bus gate (which I FUCKING hate) and the general trauma of navigating an airport takes a big toll. Not to mention what that recycled cabin air and pressurization do to your skin.

Now, I know these are champagne problems considering everything going on in the world, but for anyone wondering how to preserve skin health while flying and arrive looking refreshed…. this is my exact protocol.

Before the comments start… I am a self-proclaimed skincare nerd who loves to occupy his time at 35,000 feet with a lengthy, indulgent, and deliberate routine. This is what works for me & my skin…

The In-Flight Environment: Why Cabin Air Wrecks Your Barrier

No matter where you sit (whether you’re up front or in the back of the “bus”)… the physics of cabin air remain the same.

Commercial jets are typically pressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet (with modern aircraft like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 sitting closer to 6,000 feet). Higher altitude and lower pressure mean virtually zero humidity in the air. The cabin environment aggressively extracts moisture directly from your tissue thank to transepidermal water loss. The result of this? You get off the plane looking entirely dehydrated, dull, and haggard.

Fortunately, skincare and strategic of layering can completely offset and protect your skin from the damage. Here is my step-by-step routine…

Phase 1: Pre-Flight Prep

Hydrate, Hydrate... Then Hydrate again- The real work starts on the ground… I drink water heavily the day before and the morning of a flight, always adding a packet of electrolytes. My favorites being these ones from Promix.

The Pre Airport Shower Routine Right before leaving for the airport, I take a quick shower and execute a minimal base layer:

• The Cleanser: A light pass with the MBR Enzyme Cleansing Booster to polish away surface debris. The allows all the products I’m going to use on the plane penetrate better.

• Antioxidants & Moisture: A thick layer of the Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C Serum followed by Augustinus Bader The Cream.

This combination provides immediate antioxidant defense and light beautiful moisture, while keeping the skin clear and receptive to heavier treatments, serums, and oils once airborne.

Phase 2: In-Flight Protocol

Once I take off… the real routine starts…

1. The Uniform

Schostal Linen Pajamas As soon as the seatbelt sign turns off, I change into pajamas. This might sound weird… but it is worth the bathroom acrobatics to change into these divine PJs. Schostal makes my absolute favorites—my friend Shirley, who runs the brand, curates incredible colors, fabrics, and cuts every season (she also makes my favorite polo shirts). I must have 12 or 14 pairs of PJs at this point. This slate grey linen set is immensely comfortable and perfect for a transatlantic flight.

2. The Hydration Base

Avène Thermal Spring Water is the absolute bedrock of my in-flight skincare protocol. This mist keeps your skin moist. I use this mist repeatedly throughout the flight to calm the skin and keep the barrier damp… ensuring the I replenish what the dry cabin air has taken away from my skin.

3. Deep Infusion

111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask One of my secret weapons for landing with a beautiful glow. It’s a single-piece hydrogel mask… I personally hate two-piece masks on a plane, as they are a nightmare to align in a cramped space. This blends rose extract, peptides, and 24K gold (sounds bougie I know..) to deeply hydrate, brighten, and smooth the skin.

Follow with another heavy spritz of Avène Thermal Water immediately after removing the mask.

4. The Targeted Tech

• PureLift Pro Plus: After masking, I use this EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) device to tone the facial architecture. You can actually see the muscles twitching during the session. It instantly lifts and wakes up the face, particularly around the eye area. More info here (use code CIANCONNOR for 10% off)

• LYMA Laser: Next, I move to the LYMA. By utilizing clinical cold laser technology to penetrate the deepest layers of tissue, the LYMA Laser stimulates cellular repair to firm, brighten, and smooth fine lines… effectively training your skin to act and look younger from the inside out. It takes about 30 minutes, but it has transformed my skin tone and texture over time. More info here

5. Active Serum Layering

• Angela Caglia Cell Forte Serum: A powerhouse blend of stem cells, peptides, and exosomes. It actively accelerates cellular repair to fade stubborn hyperpigmentation, restore lost volume, and deliver a visibly firmer, deeply luminous finish. It imparts an incredible radiance. More info here

• Cible Skin Skinbooster 1-LGVTY 7.5%: A heavy-hitting treatment that targets the biological root causes of aging…. soothing inflammation, rebalancing the skin’s microbiome, and boosting natural collagen synthesis. It keeps my skin barrier resilient against environmental stress.. a fabulous product from a very innovative brand. More info here

• Augustinus Bader The Vitamin C Serum: A splurge, admittedly. But the combination of advanced vitamin C with Bader’s TFC8 complex leaves the skin exceptionally bright and almost reflective. Best to buy when on sale… More info here

• Hino Peptide Rendez-Vous: This is an epic Italian brand I always stock up on when I’m in Italy. Powered by a high-performance blend of signal peptides and nutrient-dense botanicals, this serum deeply hydrates and stimulates collagen production to restore density and firm the skin. Get it at the pharmacy in Italy… More info here

• Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum: The cornerstone of my serum step. It packs several clinically proven peptides that reset cellular function, boost collagen and elastin, and repair the barrier for unmatched firmness and bounce. More info here (Use code CIAN20 for 20% off).

6. Eye Repair & Barrier Lock

• Cellcosmet CellLift Eye Contour Cream: This has quickly become one of my favorite eye creams to date, thanks to its cellular technology that actually delivers a visible, structural lift. It instantly plumps fine lines, erases fatigue, and restores density to the delicate under-eye zone. More info here

• Verdoie La Crème Hydratante (Beta-Glucan Mushroom Moisturizer): Founder Sonia Gailliez-Delepine (subscribe to her here- Sonia GD ) did an incredible job formulating this ultra-special moisturizer. The rich blend of beta-glucans and mushrooms gives the barrier deep, soothing hydration without a hint of heaviness, leaving the skin looking remarkably calm, less red, plump, and dewy. One of my favorite moisturizers… period - More info here

7. The Grand Finale

Skin Sanctuary Lab^TM L’Olio…. My pride and joy, and a formula I spent over a year refining. Crafted with cold-pressed Italian botanicals including rosehip, sea buckthorn, and squalane, L’Olio is a high-performance dry oil formulated to deeply repair the barrier, boost cellular turnover, and lock in lasting moisture.

It absorbs effortlessly into the tissue to even out skin tone and leave you with a supple, deeply nourished, and luminous finish. It serves as the ultimate final step to seal everything in for my in-flight and nightly routines and will be available in September :)

The Bottom Line…

I am well aware this routine is extensive and lengthly…. and you might looking fucking insane doing it, but I don’t care because it works. It relies on sound and researched skin science (as you come to expect from Skin Sanctuary): combining deep hydration, potent antioxidants, non-invasive technology, peptides, stem cells, and a protective lipid seal to completely neutralize the degrading effects of the dry cabin air.

Deploy even half of these steps on your next long flight, and your skin will thank you when you land. You’ll look photo ready for your vacation or work trip!

***Written from a VERY dyslexic mind… please forgive any typos***