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Road testing the best skincare for jet lag recovery

Words by Christina Karras

Bon voyage, jet lag.

If you’ve been lucky enough to jet off on a holiday or are simply recovering from a recent red-eye, touching down from a flight can leave your skin in all sorts.

Hydration is key, but certain formulas can give your skin an added boost and aid in post-flight recovery. Here are some of the best (and not so best).

Brand: Summer Fridays
Name: Jet Lag Mask
From: mecca.com.au
Price: $73

Intended to give tired, out-of-sync skin some much-needed TLC, the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask has a rich consistency, designed to be lathered onto skin for 10 minutes. It does include a combination of peppermint and citrus oils, meaning it is best avoided by sensitive skin types. The formula settled into my skin well, albeit with some minor tingling. However, five minutes in and keen to check on my newly-hydrating skin, I found my face had flared up in small patches around my eyes, where the skin is most sensitive. To those with tricky or even slightly sensitive skin, this one might not be for you.

Rating: 2/5

Brand: The Inkey List
Name: Caffeine Eye Serum
From: sephora.com.au
Price: $18

Flights can leave your eyes feeling puffy and looking tired, particularly after a red-eye. The Inkey List’s eye serum is made to target those dark circles and eliminate fine lines, with caffeine as the hero ingredient. Using an anti-inflammatory antioxidant derived from coffee, the serum noticeably helped to de-puff my eyes. It’s a really nice texture that melts easily into the skin and soothes the area around the eyes, altogether helping me look and feel more awake. There was no real improvement in dark circles, however, that might happen with repeated use.

Rating: 3/5

Brand: Tatcha
Name: The Satin Skin Mist
From: mecca.com.au
Price: $73

Made with Okinawa clay and a blend of Japanese superfoods, this face mist promises to balance your skin, minimise oils and refine skin texture. Tatcha is known for its attention to detail, and the packaging here is luxurious and feels expensive – which is good news considering the price point. The metal spray bottle allows for a really pleasant fine mist, unlike some plastic bottles that produce chunky spritzes. Designed for normal to oily skin, the mist left my face feeling fresh and hydrated, and settled into my skin with no sticky residue. It’s a great little pick-me-up post air travel.

Rating: 4/5

Brand: Trilogy
Name: Age-Proof Overnight Mask
From: trilogyproducts.com/au
Price: $44.95

Despite the reference to age in the product name, this mask is ideal for anyone in need of deep hydration. It left my skin feeling plump and even rescued some dry, flaky spots. On application, the mask goes on smooth and white, before drying clear into the skin. I woke up with a hydrated glow. Overall verdict: it feels like a mini facial in a tub that works its magic overnight.

Rating: 5/5

Brand: La Roche-Posay
Name: Thermal Spring Water
From: laroche-posay.com.au
Price: $11.99

This huge bottle of spring water boasts natural antioxidant properties through mineral and trace elements, to help soothe sensitive skin. The formula is also prebiotic and promises to help rebalance the skin’s microbiome. It felt a little too watery on first spritz, however was quickly absorbed into my skin. Ultimately, it left my face feeling smooth while also helping to mattify its texture.

Rating: 4/5

This article was originally published in Fashion Journal 190. You can read it here.

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