When it came to planning our summer vacation, I envisioned something that would include sand, cocktails, and a tan. My other half, however, yearned for nature, a crackling fire and hiking boots. As you might know, being in a relationship means that you have to compromise. So, we ended up going camping at the Baltic sea for a week.

As luck would have it, we chose the coldest and rainiest week August had to offer this year. I am a total beginner when it comes to sleeping outdoors and felt a little uncomfortable the first few days. The close beach and the beautiful woods surrounding us made up for the lack of sun and the stormy winds. My boyfriend is a total outdoor fan so I didn’t have to bring a tent or any other camping equipment. I did pack quite a bit of skincare and beauty bits, which I am really thankful for now that I have learned that camping isn’t easy, especially not on your skin.

If you plan on going hiking or camping this year, I have a few essentials and tips for you that will make the whole trip a lot more fun. Especially if you are like me and usually enjoy the indoors and the comfort of your own home (including the dozens of little potions in your bathroom).

1.Go bare!

Ok, I don’t mean by this that you should go to a camping ground that features nudism. But I do recommend leaving most of your makeup stash at home. Give your skin a time out from all the heavy duty foundations and mascara! I just brought my ILIA Radiant Translucent powder. It comes in a super practical tube with an integrated brush, which you just twist up and apply. Plus it offers SPF 20, something which you can never have enough of. Especially when you spend your day outdoors. The powder is so tiny and weighs practically nothing so I kept it in the front pocket of my backpack and applied it whenever I felt I was getting shiny.

2. Keeping Bugs at Bay

Bugs and mosquitoes are probably the number one reason why I haven’t been camping before. I just seem to have a magnet for them. I was bitten three times while arriving at the camping grounds, but a little miracle spray bottle kept my skin bug bite free after that. Eco by Sonya just recently launched an Outdoor Spray, which not only smells of grapefruit and basil (a match made in heaven), but actually really works. Another major plus is that your skin does not feel sticky afterward but absorbs the spray rather quickly. If I had to pick one product to come with me on my next outdoor adventure, it’s definitely going to be this one!

3. Bring your Konjac

Yes, bring that little sponge with you. It’s the easiest and healthiest way to cleanse your face morning and night. You don’t need to bring any extra cleanser or scrub and you can just hang it up to dry with your other wet clothes. I opted for the green tea Konjac this time and it did a superb job at calming my sensitive skin. My boyfriend wondered if he could also use it to wash the dishes. I didn’t let him steal my Konjac to test this out, but I’m guessing it could work?

4. Keeping everything sanitary

Depending on where you camp, you might not have easy access to running water or soap. Which is why I packed Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Hand Sanitizer. It comes in a spray bottle and you can easily sanitize your hands, cutlery or small surfaces. It’s especially handy when you are sitting down to eat but don’t have a sink nearby. The smell is subtle but fades rather quickly so anyone who isn’t a fan of lavender won’t mind. Oh and BTW, did you know that Taylor Swift is apparently a huge fan too? She recently mentioned that she keeps the small bottle with her when she goes out with her friends. Whenever they go to the restroom to freshen up and there is a long line at the sink, she just sprays everyone’s hands and they are good to go.

Are you a huge fan of the outdoors? What is your number one essential when you go camping? Let us know in the comments below.