Camping: My “Skin Care”

My “home” for the weekend

After getting home from a weekend of camping and hiking and having fun with friends, I have some honest words to share with you, with an appropriate resolution. As always, good skin care wins in the end!

Full disclosure: During the entire camping weekend I did not do my usual facial routine—not even close! I got to the campground from an event after midnight and climbed into my tent. Did I wash my face—no! Did I wash my face the next morning before going on a hike—no! I forgive myself these things knowing I would take care of my skin when I got home, which I did.

Once I returned home, I got everything out of my car, into my condo, and either into the washing machine or refrigerator or trash or recycling bin and finally took a heavenly bath! I had fallen—slid, really—into deep mud on a hike earlier in the day and just needed a good soak in the tub after a long weekend of hikes and camping. Once all my “things” were taken care of, it was time for me! 

First, I gommaged my face, then got into the nice warm tub and proceeded to do my favorite thing after a camping trip: I used exfoliating gloves with my favorite peppermint liquid soap, and I scrub-a-dub-dubbed my body back to normal!

I gommaged because it gets rid of lots of surface dead skin and grabs onto dirt and debris nestled in the pores (it’s a gel), which was definitely needed after camping and not cleansing. The exfoliation gloves are great to exfoliate all the dirt and grime and sunscreen off the old bod after not being near a shower for a few days. Simply put, I was just helping to get my skin back in shape after a few days of neglect.

After getting my photos on the computer and posting a few on my FaceBook page, I relaxed with a beautiful glass of wine, put everything away from the trip that was ready to be put away, folded camping laundry, caught up on emails, then finally and happily went to sleep in my own bed. Good night!

The moral of this story is: If you can’t (or just don’t) do your normal facial routine due to circumstances beyond your control, be sure to make up for it and give yourself a thorough cleansing (and hopefully a good exfoliation) once you have the chance. All, then, will be forgiven!

For more information, see:

• Returning to an old favorite—Exfoliation Gloves
• What IS Gommage
• Camping & Your Skin: The Essentials

Mount of the Holy Cross seen from the Shrine Ridge trail

Cleansing Quick Tip

If you don’t have time or are too tired to cleanse your skin at night, before you put toothpaste on your toothbrush, put cleanser on your face. Brush your teeth and then you’ll have to take the cleanser off! Realistically, washing your face only takes a few seconds.

For more articles on cleaning your face, see:

• True or False: You only need to wash your face at night
• How to wash your face—things you may not know
• Advanced steps for cleansing