Makeup expert Val Garland shares step-by-step routine to prevent skin dehydration on long-haul flights

Makeup artist and BBC Glow Up judge Val Garland on Wednesday published a step-by-step routine for preventing skin dehydration during long-haul flights, advising travelers to prioritise hydration, use a dry sheet mask before landing and apply a light, targeted makeup refresh in the minutes before arrival.

Garland, who has worked with clients including Lady Gaga and Rihanna, posted the short tutorial on her Instagram account @thevalgarland and filmed the sequence at Heathrow Airport as part of Heathrow and World Duty Free’s “Redefine Your Beauty” campaign ahead of London Fashion Week. In the clip, she told viewers: "Today, we're going on a long-haul flight. That means you need to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate."

Garland’s routine begins with a targeted moisturising step and a brief facial massage. She said she applies Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum and follows with Estée Lauder DayWear to lock in moisture, then tops up hydration during the flight with products such as Elemis Superfood Delish. She recommended massaging serums into the skin to improve absorption and counteract the drying effects of low cabin humidity, recycled air and travel-related stress.

About 30 minutes before landing, Garland demonstrated using a dry sheet mask, the Instant Magic Dry Sheet Mask from Charlotte Tilbury, which she described as a no-mess option that can be left on for about 15 minutes before removing and preparing for makeup. After the mask, she advised a brief makeup application starting roughly 10 minutes before landing.

For the arrival-ready makeup, Garland recommended applying concealer only where needed, blending upwards and outwards for a lifting effect, and using fingers to warm and work the product into the skin. She used the Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Foundation Stick to reinforce a hydrated glow, and suggested a multiuse lipstick approach — applying a single shade to lips, cheeks and eyelids — followed by gloss on the cheekbone, eyelid and lips to impart a runway-style sheen. For lashes she applied MAC Stack Mascara and finished the look with a spritz of her preferred fragrance, Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt.

Heathrow has partnered with Garland to curate the routine as part of promotional activity across the airport’s four terminals. The airport and World Duty Free said the campaign includes immersive experiences, exclusive retail offers and beauty masterclasses from multiple brands, and will run until Oct. 5. London Fashion Week begins Sept. 18.

Dermatologists and skin-care experts have long cautioned that cabin air typically has very low relative humidity, which can accelerate water loss from the skin’s surface and disrupt the skin barrier. Travel-focused hydration strategies commonly recommended by skin specialists include drinking water, using emollient creams or serums before and during flight, minimising alcohol and caffeine intake, and applying barrier-repair moisturisers on arrival when possible. Garland’s tutorial focuses on topical steps and quick makeup techniques designed to restore a fresh, dewy appearance after extended travel.

Garland’s video frames the regimen as practical and time-efficient, emphasising product layering, targeted touch-ups and a brief, non-messy in-flight mask option. The routine is presented as an adjunct to broader travel hygiene and hydration practices rather than a medical treatment; passengers with specific skin conditions are advised to consult a dermatologist for personalised guidance.