If you’re not careful, the wear and tear of frequent travel soon becomes apparent not just on your briefcase, but also on your body. An expanding waistline, poor posture and deteriorating skin are the most common adverse effects the road warrior faces – unless preventive action is taken. The maintenance of skin – an important and somewhat undervalued external organ – is neglected by most, even when not travelling. However, for those who spend even short lengths of time flying off on business trips, extra care must be taken, says Dr Johnny Chan, chief of division of dermatology at The University of Hong Kong.
“The effects of dehydration and irritation [of being in a dry, pressurised aircraft] take only a short time to occur. Often, people become symptomatic within one to two hours of takeoff. Inside the plane, the environment of low humidity within a pressurised cabin imposes bad influences on our skin. In general, skin will appear dry and flaky. Very often, facial skin will be prone to developing irritant contact dermatitis, which may present itself as redness, itchiness or a burning sensation.”
The poor sleep quality that commonly accompanies air travel makes this even worse, Dr Chan says, since it impairs blood circulation to the skin and causes abnormal skin cell turnover. Finally, all this is exacerbated by the cramped conditions on board an aircraft, making regular application of moisturisers difficult and further jeopardising proper skin hydration.
But fear not – there are ways to minimise the effects of in-air skin stress, the best being to apply a moisturiser regularly. Below, we highlight some top brands that have been put to the test by the Business Traveller team.
Tester: Alex Andersson
Tester’s skin type: Oily and prone to pimples – despite being well beyond adolescence.
Brand: La Prairie (www.shoplaprairie.com)
Product: Cellular power serum
Main ingredients: Giant Knotweed, Blue Microalgae and Heart Leaf Globe Daisy
The promise: The product uses natural ingredients to prevent skin degeneration, based on the science of skin cell development, and promises that you will “never look your age again”. The plant-infused complex claims to tap into the skin’s natural antioxidant self-defence network, stimulating the expression of thioredoxins and glutathione in particular. This reboots the skin’s internal systems to trick it into working harder to defend itself against damage, thereby more effectively preventing both environmental and genetic effects becoming visible over time.
Results: Having used it for about a month, morning and night, I have noticed improved skin radiance. The pale-blue gel glides onto the skin with ease, and dries quickly. Immediately after application the skin feels refreshed but quite taut, rather than moisturised – though this botox-esque by-product wears off after about five minutes. Given the US$475 price tag (for a 50ml bottle) and the volume of supporting scientific theories and research the brand trumpets about its formula, I was, to be honest, expecting something closer to a miracle to occur on the surface of my skin. Overall, my face appears brighter, however blemishes, puffiness and fine lines persist despite the miracle results touted by La Prairie’s dedicated following. Perhaps my skin is not the most suitable for this product, but part of me also thinks that the transformation others feel may well be down to a different scientific theory... namely, the placebo effect.
Recommended for: People who prefer a gel to an indulgent cream-based moisturiser, and those with enough financial clout to invest in what is essentially emotional support for those unwilling to age.
Rating out of 10: 7.5
Tester: Graeme Park
Tester’s skin type: Very dry and very sensitive.
Brand: Aesop (www.aesop.com)
Product: Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Hydrator
Main ingredients: White Tea, Panthenol, Willow herb
The promise: Fortifies skin against urban pollution and leaves it feeling hydrated, protected and nourished.
Results: Excellent, in a word. I suffer from a cruel combination of extremely sensitive skin and an unfortunately dry, flaky complexion. The list of ingredients to which I am typically allergic includes lanolin, which is made from sheep’s wool and found in almost all moisturisers; menthol, which burns my skin almost on contact; and tea-tree oil, a substance which is claimed to have mythical calming properties but has an almost identical, but longer lasting, burning reaction to menthol. All of these ingredients are also deemed to be “natural” so I take even the most well-meaning promise of a gentle moisturising experience with a pinch of salt, scouring the label for any sign of regular offenders before application.
I can usually tell within seconds if a moisturiser is going to cause a negative reaction, but it normally takes upwards of a week before I know if it’s actually going to work. From my first use of the Aesop product, the results were good. There was no burning and the product was just the right consistency to hold onto the skin. Similarly, after a few minutes, there was no oily residue and my skin looked less flaky and dry. Although hopeful, I was still surprised when, a few hours later, my skin was still in good condition. I applied the moisturiser twice a day and my skin remained consistently clear. My wife also commented that the fragrance,
a slightly spicy aroma, was particularly nice.
I’m extremely happy to have been introduced to the product. The results have been so good that I am considering switching to the brand full time. At US$65 for a 60ml bottle, though, it is not cheap. That being said, after nearly three weeks, I’ve yet to make a significant dent in the contents. Just don’t lose it.
Recommended for: Sensitive flakes and the neurotic.
Rating out of 10: 8 – the price knocks off a point.
Tester: Reggie Ho
Tester’s skin type: I have a combination skin – after washing my face, it feels very dry and itchy initially, and the T-zone (forehead and nose) soon becomes greasy. If I don’t moisturise my skin, it will suffer from breakouts.
Brand: Kiehl’s (www.kiehls.com)
Product: Facial Fuel – Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men
Main ingredients: Vitamin C and E, chestnut extract and soy.
The promise: Uplifts fatigued skin, helps skin resist the effects of environmental stress and produces an invigorated appearance.
Results: I put it on after washing my face thoroughly – which often results in my skin being very dry and tight – and there was an immediate feeling of relief. Unlike many other moisturisers, it did not feel at all greasy and my skin absorbed the product well. Often my nose starts looking shiny quite quickly, but with this moisturiser I didn’t have that issue. I also liked the citrus scent (from lemon and orange extracts), which added to my refreshment. A 75ml bottle costs US$25.
Recommended for: It works very well for me in general and is suitable for skin that needs some moisturising even when the weather is moderate or humid. For those with extra dry skin and in low humidity, some might find this product too light, but because it is absorbed very well by the skin and feels very clean, you don’t need to worry about it being messy when reapplying throughout the day.
Rating out of 10: 9
Product: Ultra Facial Cream – “Greenland First Ascent” 24-Hour, Everyday Hydrating Formula
Main ingredients: Extracts of Glacial Glycoproteins, Antarcticine and Imperata Cylindrica.
The promise: Leaves skin comfortable and visibly well balanced, particularly in harsh weather conditions.
Results: I applied this after washing my face with facial soap, and it took a minute or so of massaging for my skin to take the product in. Once it had been absorbed, my skin felt very soft. It did feel slightly too heavy for my skin type, however. The fragrance was neutral and mild.
Recommended for: Probably not suitable for climates like Singapore’s or Hong Kong’s, unless one has very dry skin. It is, however, great for use before going to sleep in an air-conditioned environment. A 50ml bottle of this product will set you back US$26.50.
Rating out of 10: 7
Tester: Margie T Logarta
Tester’s skin type: Oily in the T-zone, normal elsewhere around the face.
Brand: L’Oreal Paris (www.loreal.com)
Product: Revitalift Triple Power Deep-Acting Moisturizer
Ingredients: Pro-xylane, a powerful anti-ageing molecule to stimulate and strengthen skin fibres, fragmented hyaluronic acid which penetrates deeper to repair and correct the appearance of wrinkles, and LHA which gently exfoliates to reveal smooth and even skin tone.
The promise: The product’s unique selling proposition is that it was designed to improve on the fractional CO2 laser treatment – the new-generation, anti-age laser recognised by the medical community for its anti-wrinkle effectiveness and positive effects on skin quality. With regular use over four weeks, skin is expected to show a reduction in wrinkles as well as firmer and fuller skin.
Results: Much as I wanted to believe the cream would work wonders on my mature skin, I was disappointed with the way it felt heavy on my face and somewhat difficult to spread around evenly. In fact, the product proved such a chore to use that I stopped using it after a week and returned to my old regimen. Also, with summer in Hong Kong coming on, the product’s greasy sensation was oppressive.
Perhaps the Revitalift Laser X3 is not meant for those with a semi-oily complexion like mine. My personal preference remains moisturisers that are almost liquid to the touch, and this product was too viscous. One thing I can say in the cream’s favour – it’s fragrance is pleasing. The price tag for a 50ml bottle is US$24.99.
Recommended for: More effective for those with a regular and normal complexion.
Rating out of 10: 6.5
