Keeping our skin healthy, happy and comfortable can be difficult at the best of times… when we’re hiking and camping it can be next to impossible. A little morning sun on your skin does wonders for your mood and your body clock – but once that UV Index climbs, protection matters. Changes in climate and exposure to sun and wind can leave your skin feeling dry, sore and burnt – especially if you don’t take your hiking skincare seriously!
Wild Women are experts at hiking skincare, and we’ve pulled together our favourite products, from the bougie to the basic, to keep you feeling soothed, supple and safe in the great outdoors.
A Hat You Love to Wear
Sun protection is always the best way to keep your skin protected from sun exposure and harmful UV rays. Whether you prefer a wide brimmed, legionnarie-style, bucket or cap, the hat you love to wear is far better than no hat at all, so find one that suits you.
Let’s talk about SPF, baby!
Gone are the days of sticky, gloopy, white-cast-y, horrible sunscreens. We’re in a new era of delicious, moisturising, glowy, look-like-a-primer skinscreens (yep, it’s a combo of sunscreen and skincare), and we’re here for it. Once you’ve had your dose of gentle morning light, it’s time to suit up for the trail.
SHOP: Sunbutter SPF50 Water Resistant Reef Safe Sunscreen
If you’re hiking and swimming in the ocean, you know you need a reef-safe option, right? Plenty of sunscreens are terrible for the reef… but not this one! Sunbutter is a zinc-based formula that’s safe for sensitive skin, and the planet. From the recycled tins to the solar-powered factory, everything about this brand is light on the earth, so you can stay protected now and into the future.
SHOP: Mother SPF Natural Mineral Sunscreen
Founder Tandia grew up on the WA coast and studied marine biology before her mum’s second melanoma diagnosis sent her looking for a sunscreen that was genuinely clean – and it came up empty. Four years of research later, Mother SPF launched Australia’s first 100% mineral, Australian-made sunscreen to meet the world’s toughest testing standards, with naturally derived, biocompatible ingredients and none of the silicones, parabens, synthetic preservatives or fragrance you’ll find in a lot of sunscreens. It’s an easy one to stash in your pack, your car and your first-aid kit – good for sensitive skin, and good for the reef too.
Face-and-Body Moisturiser
We’re all about eschewing makeup when we’re out in the wilderness, but you don’t want to skip your moisturiser in your hiking skincare kit. It has to be super nourishing and hydrating to ward off any dry, cracked skin that threatens after a day in the bush.
You can take separate products for face and body, but we prefer one that does both #packlite.
Here are some of our favourites.
SHOP: Moogoo Udder Cream
It’s not fancy, it’s not fragranced, but girl, it does the job. Slap it on anywhere you feel dry and tight for hydrated, soft skin in no time.
SHOP: Weleda Skin Food
If you love a thick, thick, thiiiiiiick balmy cream, give this one a go. All natural and super hydrating… it’s a cult beauty product for a reason.
SHOP: Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm
It’s designed as a hand cream, but this balm is Di’s favourite for face, neck and body too. It soaks in like a dream and smells like heaven.
SHOP: Happy Skincare ‘Over The Moon’ Rich Repair Cream
This one’s a Wild Women team favourite. It’s the perfect size for camping and is deeply moisturising so you can chuck it on at night and you’ll be good to go for your sunrise hike.
Optional Nice-to-Haves
SHOP: Face Halo
Makeup wipes, begone! Face Halo is your new hiking BFF. They are essentially a reusable makeup pad, made with “HaloTech” fibres that sweep away anything on your cute little face. You don’t need makeup remover or micellar water – just wet them and wipe.
These are a game changer for removing dirt, sunscreen and any bush debris from your lovely mug before snuggling down in your sleeping bag.
SHOP: No Pong Deodorant Paste
If you haven’t made the move to deodorant paste yet… make haste, you heathen! Yes, it takes a little while to get used to rubbing goop under your armpits, but we are yet to find a better non-antiperspirant that genuinely stops the stank.
Why do we recommend it for hiking skincare? It’s super compact, you can share it with your mates (unlike roll-on, which feels weird to share) and it’s made of ingredients that won’t poison the water if you bathe in a stream. Plus, it now comes in plastic-free tin… winning!
SHOP: Zambuk Herbal Ointment
We’ve put this in the nice-to-have category, but honestly, we’d never hike without it. Or camp. Or live, really – there’s a pot in the bedside drawer and every bag in this house.
It’s a South African ointment that smells a bit weird (camphor?) and is marketed for various minor skin ailments. But it’s our go-to for mozzie bites. It’s the only thing that stops them itching. If you’re one of the unlucky people mozzies love (hello, we feel you), this will change your life – and that’s not even an exaggeration.
SHOP: Moogoo Udder Cream Lip Balm
If you get dry lips at home, you’ll get them worse in the wild. This one’s natural, nourishing and does the job without any of the questionable stuff – no more to say.
A Lil Something Special
Whether you’re a lippy gal, love a mascara or are all about the hair, we always recommend you add a little some extra to your hiking skincare routine that may not be essential, but will make you feel pampered.
Here are our indulgent products.
SHOP: Go-To Face Hero
This dreamy face oil smells like summer and feels like a thousand baby angels caressing your face. Seriously, this is one of my fave products of all time, so you bet it’s coming with us into the bush. Go-To also do travel-size minis, so you can get teensy, hiking size products. I am sold!
SHOP: Aveda Shampoweder Dry Shampoo
Most of you will already know the horrors of hiking hair. By 2pm on day one, your hair is a greasy, sweaty, hat-f*cked (that is the official term) mess.
This cheeky little dry shampoo is the ideal fix. Leave the bulky aerosols at home and sprinkle this powder puff onto your cute roots and voilà! Camping and chic! Who would have thought?
SHOP: Merit Creamy Flush Balm
If you’re not quite ready to ditch the makeup completely, may we recommend this lovely, multi-use balm? Use it as a lip, cheek and eyeshadow all in one, on those days hiking when you want a little flush of colour.
Want more awesome tips? Try Underwire, G-Strings And Lace: Underwear to Avoid While Hiking.
