The Best Taiwanese and Japanese Beauty and Skincare Products to Take on Your Next Flight
Guest article by Alison Barretta from queenofwrongstyle.com.
Whether you consider yourself a “skincare addict” or not, I implore anyone who travels by plane to adopt an in-flight skincare routine for two reasons.
The first reason: the higher you are above sea level, the lower the humidity. A lack of moisture in the air increases your risk of dehydration. While consuming liters of H2O is helpful for keeping your body hydrated, bringing along a few nourishing beauty products in your carry-on will provide an extra line of defense for your skin.
The second reason: flying is uncomfortable and stressful (unless you’re living it up in business class). An in-flight skincare routine is the perfect way to pamper yourself and reduce those stress levels regardless of where in the plane you’re sitting.
My In-Flight Routine with Japanese and Taiwanese Beauty Products
1. Cleansing Powders for Travel
Don’t let the appearance fool you; these are not candy. These are Suisai Beauty Clear Powder pods. They’re no bigger than a thimble and were easy to throw into my TSA-approved carry-on bag.
Inside each Suisai pod is a super-fine powder. Just add water to transform it into a paste. I didn’t add much liquid, so I didn’t get foam as much as I did a cream. After massaging it into my skin for about 30 seconds, I rinsed then followed up with a favorite hydrating toner.
The Suisai Beauty Clear Powder has two key ingredients: hyaluronic acid (for added moisture and plumper skin) and lactic acid (an exfoliant). It also contains enzymes and amino acids to brighten and even skin tone.
Besides the convenience and novelty, I also found this powder cleanser to do an effective job of removing the light makeup I was wearing. There was a slight grainy texture to the paste but nothing too harsh. I appreciated the added exfoliation from the lactic acid, and my skin felt slightly softer.
Since this cleansing powder has an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) in lactic acid, it’s crucial that you apply sunscreen after washing your face if you’re traveling in daylight. Then again, sunscreen should be in your carry-on anyway if you’re flying while it’s light outside. (Don’t me like me and forget — I ended up wearing a courtesy blanket around my head for around the first two hours of my flight.)
Also, this powder cleanser contains alcohol. Make sure you’re generous in applying those hydrating products after rinsing as to not put your skin at a disadvantage while on the plane.
2. Sheet Masks for Travel
Midway through my flight, I slapped on a sheet mask while enjoying the robust in-flight entertainment options. Which did I choose? None other than the highly-coveted Annie’s Way Hyaluronic Acid + Seaweed Hydrating Sheet Mask.
Constructed of 100% silk, this ultra-thin mask made it seem as if I wasn’t wearing one at all. (Even my seatmate, an older gentleman, remarked on the incredible fit of this Annie’s Way mask!) It also provided a cooling sensation that was particularly satisfying.
In addition to the hyaluronic acid, the Annie’s Way mask also boasts:
- Seaweed extract (to prolong hydration)
- Red marine algae extract (to protect skin from environmental factors, like recycled air)
- Clary extract (to help lock-in moisture).I left this sheet mask on for about a half hour, removing it in time for dinner service. (While I very well could have left this mask on while I attempted to eat my pre-heated pasta dish, I wasn’t about to take any chances.) My skin was glowing and adequately hydrated, all in the span of an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
3. Sleeping Packs
I chose this mask for its balancing properties, which I thought would be good in an environment that is anything but. Key ingredients include:
- Oriental Beauty Tea (to balance moisture and oil)
- Peppermint extract (to minimize sebum production)
- Hyaluronic acid (to hydrate)
- Niacinamide (to minimize pores and wrinkles)
All I needed was a pea-sized amount to spread all over my face. The gel felt as cooling as it looked in the jar. I also appreciate that this mask wasn’t terribly sticky. I kept this 23.5N balancing mask on until I landed at my destination, where I quickly cleansed my face at the airport.
4. Heated Eye Mask
I rely on theKAO MegRhythm Hot Steam Lavender Eye Mask whenever I’m feeling sick or have a headache. It provides a soothing, comfortable sensation with a light scent that helps me feel better in no time at all.
Sleeping on airplanes is usually impossible for me, but I know I can benefit from some shut-eye when I’m flying across time zonesandan ocean. After I had completed my in-flight skincare routine, I gave my eyes a break from binge-watching shows and put on one of these heated eye masks.
It took a few moments but the heat and lavender from the eye mask eventually drew me into dreamland. The MegRhythm Eye Mask maintains a comfortable temperature of 104° F/40° C for up to 30 minutes.
I slept for about 45 minutes thanks to my seatmate nudging me while looking for his seatbelt. While I would have liked more shut-eye, I felt rather refreshed and my eyes much less weary. I also didn’t look like someone who barely got any sleep, which is certainly a win in my book.
The Results
Admittedly, I still had some slight dry patches when I disembarked the plane. However, for as much attention as I was giving my skin, I know skimped on the water intake. (Oops.) Still, I’ve flown without doing any sort of in-flight skincare routine in the past and suffered dearly for it — normally days after landing.
Although I had a tiny bit of dryness, my skin was much easier for me to maintain once I was on land. I’ve been at my destination for several days now and following a variation of my at-home routine, which has left my skin in good shape.
The efficacy and convenience of the Japanese and Taiwanese beauty products I brought on board afforded me the ability to sit back, relax, and enjoy my travels. I even educated my seatmate about the importance of in-flight skincare routines thanks to his interest in my super-sheer Annie’s Way sheet mask. (See? Skincare can help you bond with anyone, anywhere!)
How do you take care of your skin while you travel, whether by plane, train, or even boat? Share your routines with us in the comments.