“Come with me on the longest flight on Earth,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss in a recent video. If you don’t know anything about Idriss’ channel and love all things skincare, where have you been? Idriss normally comes to us from her bathroom on a Saturday morning where she chats about everything from retinol tips and tricks, approved ways to boost collagen, and the Korea skin booster salmon sperm facial. On this occasion, she’s offering advice on giving yourself an in-flight facial while on the grueling 19-hour flight from New York to Singapore.
Photo: Dr. Shereene Idriss
How to Do an In-Flight Facial According to a Leading Board-Certified Dermatologist
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If you are new to her content, you might find yourself stuck in a hole. Her debunking and explainer videos, in particular, are worth losing a few hours of an afternoon over. Even if you’ve been using retinol like me for some time, I’m sure there are things you can learn from her layering tutorial or nighttime routine. She’s also very honest about cosmetic procedures, which is refreshing. And to top it off, Idriss is not only highly intelligent, she’s hilarious.
Her company has a new-ish range of products (some mentioned below). They have only just started shipping to the UK, so I’m yet to try these out, but I’ve heard cooing over the depuffer.
Start by exfoliating, says Idriss. Even if you’re boarding a flight sans makeup, you’ll need to clean off the gunk from pollution and the airport. Now, she cleans her face with micellar water (like she does at home) in another in-flight video. But to make things a little easier, she uses an exfoliating wipe here. I’ve written about TSA-approved products, including wipes, before for flights. Neither of us is a fan of using these when not traveling. They are not great for the environment, but they do the job in a pinch.
Next, Idriss uses one of her favorite products, SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion. The active ingredient of this toner is pitera. Pitera is a yeast-derived filtrate that contains over 50 essential vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids. These components help regulate the skin’s natural functions, promoting a more radiant and youthful complexion. This lotion isn’t cheap. To help you get bang for your buck, Idriss suggests using an affordable mister she purchased on Amazon. You’ll also see her use this device in her bathroom at home, and if you want to start using this toner and don’t have Kardashian money, I highly recommend investing in one of these.
She then de-puffs with her roll-on serum. The Depuffer works by targeting the root causes of puffiness and under-eye circles. Caffeine helps to reduce blood flow to the under-eye area, while hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin. Niacinamide helps to improve skin tone and texture, reducing the appearance of dark circles. Matrixyl 3000 stimulates collagen production, improving skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Idriss uses this all over her face, including her jawline and neck. And if you are struggling with loose skin on your neck, or even if you’re in your 20s and not there yet, you must watch her deep-dive into how to get rid of sagging jowls. It’s never too early to start taking care of that area in particular.
Next up is her Major Fade Hyper Serum for that instant glow. This serum works by targeting the root causes of hyperpigmentation. Tranexamic acid helps to reduce melanin production, while niacinamide and kojic acid can also help to lighten dark spots. Glycolic acid helps to exfoliate the skin and improve skin texture. For more information on how your skin tone ages you more than fine lines and wrinkles, check out Idriss’ video on how your age does not define your skin type.
She then did an in-flight experiment with a CO2Lift carboxy gel mask. “If we’re being bougie, let’s be bougie to the max,” Idriss says. My bank balance would not thank me for trying this mask out, but it looks hella fun. It works by utilizing the principle of carboxytherapy, a non-invasive procedure that injects carbon dioxide into the skin, stimulating blood flow and oxygenation. But there are no injections here. It mimics the effects of carboxytherapy by delivering carbon dioxide to the skin through a gel-based mask. The best part? You get to mix it, and who does not like a DIY facial mask, especially when you’ve got time to kill on a 19-hour flight?
Idriss finishes off with cult-favorite Clarins Cryo-Flash. “Not only is it cooling, but it smells like a spa and loves my skin,” says Idriss. This might be another of those products that you put on your Black Friday list cause it’s spendy. But, in its defense, one pot will last you a good while. It uses a cooling effect to constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling, resulting in a more refreshed and alert appearance. 