Here’s my mundane beauty camping story. I’ll have enjoyed a wonderful camping holiday, ahh the open fields and starry skies, only to return with my skin displaying its displeasure with having been treated so badly, my body aching and covered in mud and my hair looking like, to paraphrase, ‘I’ve walked through a hedge backwards’ (*cackles* sometimes I have). Over the years, such appearances of my end-of-camping-self have got me thinking about self-care on the campsite and how, whilst I don’t mind looking dishevelled, the only reason I don’t stick to my regular routines is that I think it will be difficult. In all honesty, though, I think I’m making it out to be harder than it is.

To help myself out, share my tips and to ask you what your beauty camping essentials are, I have created a list of all the skincare and makeup products I will be packing for my next camping trip. So that you’re aware, I have not yet been on a ‘leave me in a random location in the desert a la Bear Grylls’ kind of camping trip yet so this is primarily for an actual ‘holiday’ camping trip rather than a ‘survival’ camping trip. I imagine the second list would be quite different.

I’m not sure if I mentioned I’m a list maker. Exciting I know. 2 weeks before a holiday the packing list comes out, I prepare and am then told by various do-gooders not to bring so much stuff and throughout the weeks slowly remove items that I most definitely ‘won’t’ need. I always make a new list for every holiday and then lose it. Clever I know. The point is, I start with most of my beauty products in the bag, they are simply removed as a result of not knowing what I’ll be doing every day. Will I be swimming in the lakes or battling my way across a treacherous cliff top? I could be sitting in the pub all weekend as a result of stumbling and accidentally pulling my toenail off, I just don’t know. That’s a true story btw. I inevitably get overwhelmed, even though all these scenarios would not really require any specific beauty products, so leave everything behind. Funnily enough, I’m exactly the same with clothes except the opposite thing happens in that I always end up with more clothes than listed. Anyway, I would like to pass on some advice in case you find yourself in a similar situation and are stuck for what to do: bring as little or as much as you like as long as it is likely to get used, you already use it at home and you are happy. Lists can always be changed accordingly for next time. Oh yes, this is a ‘No-Commitments Camping Beauty Essentials’ list to be updated as and when I feel. Here’s to good camping skin! Enjoy.

Amateur Tip: Empty travel pots are your friend, as are labels. 

My ‘No-Commitments’ Beauty Essentials For Camping Checklist

• Mirror
• Hairbrush, hair ties, hair clips; essentially all the hair accessories.
• Dry shampoo – (halo emoji)
• Skincare products – I’d probably stick to my basics on this which for me include my serum, moisturiser, a night oil and SPF.
• SPF for the body.
• Lip balm – as many as possible plus one in every pocket plus the ones that are already in there.
• Deodorant
• Body cream
• Tweezers and nail clippers
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and toothbrush head cap
• Makeup – Sticking to my basics for now of a tinted moisturiser, some kind of blusher and waterproof-budge-proof mascara. You do you.
• Eye makeup remover and cleanser – micellar water will save the day.
• Insect repellant and after sun. You know it’s going to happen.
• If there are showers – happy days: shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
• If there are no showers…baby wipes.
• Tiger Balm – for the aches, pains and scent.

Amateur Tip: Mosquitoes are attracted to many things and the heated debate about whose blood is more attractive to the nasty critters will always be a delightful debate. Here’s the thing though, if you don’t want to get bitten avoid wearing heavily fragranced beauty products. Some are inevitably unavoidable but perhaps think about leaving the Chanel No.5 at home.

Our beauty regimes are so personal and since we’ve spent so much time, or no time, building it to perfection there is no reason why it shouldn’t have a seat right next to us around the campfire.

What are your favourite beauty products to take camping?