FLYING

Q. I’m off on a long haul flight shortly and always get off the plane with dry skin, break outs, limp hair and jet lag for days.  What do you suggest?
A. The short answer to everything is hydration.  First hydrate your body from inside.  Sip lots of water through the flight.  The tea and coffee is usually pretty grim so pass on that.  The odd fruit juice (with no added sugar or sweetener) is fine but not too many.  Preferably don’t touch alcohol or mixer drinks (coke etc).

Second, hydrate your skin on the outside.  We can’t do better than signpost you to Dr Sam Bunting’s blog, posted on 25 November at which details her in-plane ‘kit’.

Basically, she advises the following: once the seatbelt sign is off, clean your face (we always take make-up off in the departure lounge loo, which is easier actually).  Always use non-comedogenic products: that means they won’t clog pores, encouraging blackheads and spots.  To us, non-comedogenic always means no mineral oils and petrochemicals like paraffinum liquidum.  Dr Sam gives product suggestions and we like products from Liz Earle’s Naturally Active Skincare range.

For swiping clean on the go, we are fans of Faith in Nature facial wipes and also the recently launched Nivea Pure Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes.

Then apply a light moisturiser.  Repeat every three hours or so on long hauls.  Don’t forget your hands and cuticles.

Our secret weapon is to take our own feather pillow, on practically every form of transport we want to sleep on, plus a good eye mask, cushy soft bed socks and a shawl.  A few drops of lavender essential oil (take a phial with you) can help you drift off and combat any unpleasant whiffs.

The hair issue is a problem.  Hopefully, you can wash it pretty soon the other end.  If you can’t, don’t put too much conditioner in before you go, also go light on the styling products, twist it up if possible, and take a scarf or hat for coming off the plane and getting to your destination.  Some pundits recommend using a dry shampoo (like Batiste) just before getting off but given the usual loo queues, we think this is pretty unrealistic.  You could use it at your hotel/wherever if you haven’t got time to wash ‘n blow dry.

Facewise: before you land, cleanse again, apply moisturiser and then a light foundation or – in our case – a tinted BB cream.  Lots of good ones around including Yves Rocher Sublime skin BB cream 6 in 1, Dior Hydra Life BB Crème SPF30 and Estée Lauder DayWear Antioxidant Beauty Benefit Crème, SPF35.

And for jetlag?  Well, we are devotees of homoeopathic remedies so we consult one of the homoeopathic pharmacies, such as Ainsworths (www.ainsworths.com, tel 01883 340 332), Helios (www.helios.co.uk, tel: 01892 537254) or Nelsons (www.nelsonspharmacy.com, 020 7079 1288) – and discuss what we need.

• Faith in Nature facial wipes at www.victoriahealth.com/£3.60 – buy here

• Nivea Pure Natural Facial Cleansing Wipes at www.superdrug.com/£3.05 for 25 – buy here

• Yves Rocher Sublime skin BB cream 6 in 1 at www.yves-rocher.com/£9.50 for 50 ml – buy here

• Dior Hydra Life BB Crème SPF30 at www.johnlewis.com/£36.90for 50 ml – buy here

• Estée Lauder DayWear Antioxidant Beauty Benefit Crème, SPF35 at www.boots.com/£32 for 30 ml – buy here