Sun protection

While camping, odds are you’ll be spending the majority of your days outdoors, so it’s vital to shield your skin from sun damage.

• Whenever possible, cover up with clothing and try to stay in the shade during peak sun hours — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• For both face and body, use products with SPF 30, and reapply every two hours — more often if you’re swimming or perspiring. For the face, try Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream, which defends skin against both UVA and UVB rays. For the body, try a non-greasy formula that also provides broad spectrum protection.
• For on-the-go sun protection while hiking, sunscreen packets with UVA/UVB protection are ideal. Try MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Packettes.

Irritating insects

Mosquitoes. With 2,700 species of mosquitoes, it’s no wonder we feel like these insects are everywhere! Mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus and encephalitis.

• Never leave home without mosquito repellent that contains the ingredient NN-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET). In addition to applying repellent on exposed skin, remember to spray it on your clothes to keep mosquitoes from getting through to the skin (but don’t spray skin under clothing).
• Though this one is often missed, choosing the right wardrobe is an essential component to avoiding mosquito bites. First, avoid bright or dark-colored clothing. Instead wear earthy shades, which help you blend in. Try to keep yourself covered up by wearing long-sleeve shirts, pants and long socks whenever possible.
• Leave perfume, cologne, heavily scented shampoos and other strong-smelling products at home. In general, if you also wear the right clothes, mosquitoes will have to work harder if they can’t smell or see your skin.
• Other things you can do: Mosquitoes love to feed during dusk and dawn, so keep your activities to a minimum during these times. Because mosquitoes also love bodies of water, especially stagnant water, get a campsite away from a lake or stream. It might save you a few bites in the end.
• If you do get bit, wash the area with soap and water. And make sure to pack an over-the-counter cortisone cream to alleviate itching.

Ticks. "Ticks are small, insect-like animals that live in woodlands or in mixed shrub and grassland environments," according to Ball State University. Most are very tiny — about the size of a pinhead. Around the world, you’ll find over 850 different types of ticks that carry more than 30 different major diseases including tick paralysis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever and the more widely known Lyme Disease.

• Wear light-colored clothing with tight stitching so you can easily notice ticks and prevent them from getting to your skin. Try to keep as much of your body covered as possible. Also, tuck your pant legs into your socks and your top (shirt, sweater or jacket) into your pants.
• Wash your clothes as soon as you can after being in the woods to get rid of lingering ticks.
• Don’t stray too far from the main trails, and always sit on a chair, bench or blanket.
• Check yourself and your friends for ticks on skin and clothes as often as possible. Pay particular attention to the scalp, behind the ears, back and any area that would be tough for a person to see on her own.

First aid

It’s essential to have a good first aid kit while camping. You don’t need to rush out and buy an expensive kit; you probably already have most of the items required for a good one. For instance, a basic kit includes bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads and adhesive tape, scissors and antibacterial ointment. The American Red Cross provides the following checklist on its Web site for assembling a comprehensive, yet inexpensive, first aid kit.

• (20) Adhesive bandages, various sizes.


• (1) 5" x 9" sterile dressing.


• (1) Conforming roller gauze bandage.


• (2) Triangular bandages.


• (2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads.


• (2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads.


• (1) Roll 3" cohesive bandage.


• (6) Antiseptic wipes.


• (2) Pair large medical grade non-latex gloves.


• Adhesive tape, 2" width.


• Antibacterial ointment.


• Cold pack.


• Scissors (small, personal).


• Tweezers.


• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield.

Beauty routine

Just because you’re enjoying the outdoors doesn’t mean you should leave your skincare regimen at home, or on the other hand, lug around your entire vanity. To keep your skin happy and healthy, consider double-duty products, which will save you time and space.

See also:

Skincare on the Go: How to Look Great While Traveling

Anti-bacterial...Good or Bad?

SPF: What You Need to Know