Q: I'm worried about looking like a fright after a long-haul flight. What can I do to look human when I disembark?

A: You have to be more vigilant with your pre-flight preparations. I advise a thorough cleansing and moisturising routine no more than an hour before the flight. This is to ensure your skin is optimally prepped for flying travel conditions such as dry cabin air and fitful bouts of sleep.

After cleansing your face, use a scrub to get rid of as much dead skin as possible in order not to add to the feeling of flakiness and dryness once you are airborne.

I like how Burt's Bees Peach And Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub ($18, from Sephora) leaves skin feeling plump and smooth. It smells great too.

Then, use a deep-cleansing mask such as Origins' Clear Improvement charcoal mask ($45) to purge your pores of impurities. This also makes your skin more receptive when you follow up with either your regular moisturiser or a moisturising mask such as Origins' Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask ($56). This provides long-lasting hydration that is perfect for long flights.

If you are prone to dryness and are on a long flight of more than eight hours, consider perking up your skin before landing with a hydrating sheet mask like Neutrogena's Hydro Boost mask ($31.50, from all major personal care stores).

A good eye cream that dispels dark circles and puffiness is also a must-have - try Kiehl's Eye Alert ($45).

Then dust on some blush, slick on some lipgloss and hope for the best.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.