In-flight skincare has become incredibly popular recently, with influencers everywhere urging you to ditch makeup on aircraft and instead pack numerous face masks to use while travelling. You’ve probably witnessed endless videos of people opening their costly sheet masks and likely pondered what their fellow passengers must think as they indulge in self-care publicly, and whether it’s an annoying thing to do.
Nevertheless, Stranded On Honeymoon Island’s Mae Hunter has revealed the revolting reasons she would never use face masks during a flight – and she might just alter your perspective about bringing skincare on your next overseas journey.
Mae, recognised on the island for being frank and amusing, said she needed “to rant quickly”.
“In-flight sheet masks? Cute for the [Insta]gram but terrible for your skin,” she wrote as part of her caption. Mae said she “appreciates people wanting to look after their skin,” but felt compelled to reveal the reasons why it may be causing more damage than benefit.
WARNING: The following video contains offensive language.
Mae even went so far as to declare applying a sheet mask while on an aircraft “is the worst and stupidest thing that you can do”.
1. Bacteria
She said: “There’s actually more fecal matter found on tray tables and in the pockets than on the toilet flush button. Let that just sink in.”
Mae revealed she has a “cross contamination fear” so will sanitise everything before settling into her seat. However, she declared she would “never dream” of touching her face on a plane.
“Your pores are open, they’re more vulnerable, your hands are dirty, and you just recycle in everyone’s coughs, everyone’s,” she explained, visibly cringing on camera at the mere thought.
She acknowledged that some people might argue their hands were clean after washing them in the toilet – but Mae pointed out you then go and touch the button to exit, and handle your seatbelt upon returning to your seat.
In the caption, she penned: “Planes = Bacteria Buffets. Tray tables, seats, vents, all crawling with germs. Touching your face mid-flight? Big mistake. Your pores are open, the air’s recycled, and breakouts are boarding with you.”
2. Cabin humidity
Mae described the humidity on a plane as being “like the Sahara,” noting in her caption that it ranges anywhere between 10% and 20%.
She argued due to this, your skincare routine won’t deliver any benefits.
“You’re using a sheet mask because you want hydration, but because the air on a plane is so dry, it’s sucking out the moisture of the product anyway, so it’s wasting the product,” she elaborated.
What’s worse, she claimed, is that it’s simultaneously drawing moisture from your own skin.
She stated: “So you are literally gonna land drier than when you got on.
“Congrats, you’ve just done reverse skincare,” she penned in the caption.
3. Recycled air
Mae confessed she’s constantly wary of people who cough on a plane because she’s anxious about falling ill – a fear many will empathise with.
She explained if you’re wearing a “sticky mask on,” all the unpleasant grime that might be present could then be transferred to your face, which is far from ideal.
Mae penned: “Dust, microbacteria, and fibres floating around, and your mask just traps them in. You’re not hydrating, you’re marinating in plane air.”
4. It will stress your skin barrier
Mae stated being at high altitude and active ingredients such as vitamin C or niacinamide in a face mask do not make a good combination.
This is due to the fact that “your skin barrier is already stressed by the altitude pressure,” so the ingredients can “cause a bad reaction” such as “redness, irritation, and mid-air regret”.
What should you do instead?
Mae suggests applying “a really thick barrier cream” instead, using a hydrating mist, staying hydrated throughout the flight by “sipping water,” and saving the sheet mask for when you’re all clean at the hotel.
“Wait until you’re showered and settled at your hotel for that sheet-mask moment – your skin (and the people in row 17) will thank you,” she wrote.
