Inflight Beauty Insider: Dr Barbara Sturm

What is your failsafe beauty and skincare routine for all the flights you frequently take around the world?

I generally make sure to have my MC1 Cream (customised blood plasma cream) and a Molecular Cosmetics Discovery Set with me—which includes a Face Cream Women (20 ml), Cleanser (50 ml), Ampoule (2ml), Facial Scrub (20 ml), Eye Cream (5 ml), and Anti-Aging Body Cream (50 ml)—because the sizes are all airport security-friendly and I have everything I need to pamper my skin during the flight. I typically use the Deep Hydrating Face Mask after long flights to restore deep hydration to my skin and to soothe any irritations.

What are a few tricks and products that keep skin looking and feeling hydrated yet flawless throughout a flight?

The air in the plane is very dry and depending on how long the flight is and during which time, I use the products as I need them. One of my favourites is the Anti-Aging Body Cream, because it instantly gets absorbed into the skin and takes away the dry feeling on my arms and legs. If I sleep during a flight, I make sure to wash my face with the Cleanser before applying the hyaluronic ampoule and the MC1 cream (or the Face Cream if I pack my MC1 away in my suitcase). Another tip: keep the window shades down! A large, long-term Harvard study has just shown flight attendants to be four times more prone to skin and other cancers.

What are your five favourite in-flight travel-sized products under 100ml from your collection

I made sure that all my travel sized products are below 100 ml so my customers wouldn’t have any problems at security and could take them all inside the aeroplane with them. My products are like my children—it’s impossible to choose—but the most important two products for a flight are my Calming Serum or Anti-Aging Serum (to restore both deeper moisture reservoirs and provide surface moisture) and the Face Cream, simply because it will protect barrier function, moisturize and nourish the skin.

Both serum and face cream contains Purslane, a nutritious compound that has been shown in dozens of clinical trials to calm the skin, promote anti-ageing by stimulating the telomerase, and possesses potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and antibacterial properties.

Shop Dr Barbara Sturm’s collection on Net-a-Porter.

Dervla Louli

Founder

Dervla Louli is the Founder of wellness travel portal CompareRetreats.com and a Digital Editorial Consultant based in Hong Kong. She was formerly the Digital Editor of Hong Kong Tatler, the Director of Integrated Content at Edipresse Media Asia and the Managing Editor of Sassy Media Group. She has moderated events at The British Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong University and Swire Hotels, and was the youngest panel member invited to speak at the Goldman Sachs' International Luxury Conference in 2013. She is a member of the Global Shaper Community, part of the World Economic Forum and a certified yoga teacher.