BBC make-up artist shares ultimate airport beauty routine to look fresh-faced after flying

We all know when travelling it can tackle a toll on our skin, but one renowned makeup artist has shared her top tips for keeping your makeup in place while flying.

Air travel is punishing on skin, with all the recycled air, low humidity and disrupted sleep,it can leave passengers with dehydrated, dull and stressed skin. Ordinary makeup rarely survives the journey.

So London Fashion Weekmakeup artist Val Garland has created the definitive airport look, designed for long haul travel and her curated routine is built to combat these effects, combining skin restoring techniques with bold touches.

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Val, who has painted faces of some of the world's biggest stars including Lady Gaga and Rihanna has worked with Heathrow Airport to create the go-to beauty look designed to withstand the stress of long haul flights and early morning departures while looking runway-ready.

First she recommends using Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (£84), a cult-classic primer infused with glow-boosting vitamins and hydration heroes.Enriched with hyaluronic acid, shea butter and a blend of vitamins B5, C and E, the nourishing cream envelops skin a daily dose of hydration, helping to reveal a softer, smoother surface.

Next, for any tired long-haul passenger, Val hails the Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Hollywood Skin Secrets Immediate Eye Revival Patches (£58). These brightening effect eye patches hydrate, smooth the appearance of fine lines, de-puff the look of eye bags and reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Val told Daily Mirror: “Start as you mean to go on. Kick things off with a good layer of hydration – it’s all about the skincare. To do this, use a lightweight serum and moisturiser, but make sure to apply mid-flight to allow time to settle into the skin and keep the face hydrated from the get-go.”

Another of Val’s go-to’s for travelling is the Estee Lauder Daywear Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant 24H Moisturiser Crème SPF 15 (£36). The Super Anti-Oxidant Complex DayWear helps safeguard skin with advanced broad-spectrum sunscreen and our best UVA defense which makes it perfect for flying.

She noted: “The focus here is on massaging the skincare in correctly – just a short lymphatic sequence mid-flight will keep the skin de-puffed, lifted, and alive throughout. Application is key. now and then will keep your hydration levels up – think of it as a drink of water, but for the face.”

For those who are trying to cover up dark circles or blemishes, the expert recommends Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer (£30), and Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer glow Tint Foundation Stick (£35).

However, she urged people to wait till only 10 minutes before landing to start on your make-up. “By this point your skin should be feeling fresh and now it’s your time to shine!” But said to keep it natural.

“Keeping the look tonal, clean and modern will give your face a natural look when stepping off the plane, and will ensure the products don’t feel too heavy on the face.”

Nancy Stewart, Head of Duty Free, Luxury, Fashion and Shopping Services at Heathrow, comments: “Heathrow is proud to offer one of the most extensive beauty selections in the world, giving passengers access to exclusive products and expert advice.

“Working with Val Garland to create a look that is both travel smart and fashion-forward showcases how Heathrow is not only a gateway to destinations worldwide, but also a beauty destination in itself.”

The initiative was inspired by the rise of ‘Get Ready With Me’ airport videos on TikTok, featuring people’s favourite looks for air travel. Garland designed The Heathrow Look to be the definitive version of this trend.