This Backcountry Skin-Care Routine Is Cheap, Lightweight, and Straightforward

I’ve tried to dial in my outdoor skin-care routine many times over the years—half-hearted, half-baked attempts at sweat removal: A face wipe here, a splash from the Nalgene there. It was my tenure as a backcountry caretaker with Vermont’s Green Mountain Club that inspired this concerted technical overhaul. As a caretaker, my primary responsibilities were trail and privy maintenance. GMC maintains over 70 lovingly constructed, notably hand-emptied backcountry toilets. Depending on the week, I was the fortunate steward of one to three of these honorable facilities.

Long story short, human poop can spur even the most complacent outdoorswoman to great sanitary heights. At GMC, I lived in a tent and hauled materials into the field via backpack, so I needed to find affordable, lightweight products. After months of trial and error, I can confidently promote the carefully selected skin-care regimen below.

At a Glance

• Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes ($3)
• Hand Sanitizer Clear Gel ($1)
• Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($4)
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($3)
• Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen 50 SPF ($11)

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes (84 Count)

$3 at Walmart $3 at Target

I opt for baby wipes over their face-specific counterparts because they’re cheaper and come in larger quantities. Sure, other wipes might sport “purifying” technologies, but the central purpose of this step is to remove dirt and physical debris from your hands and face, not to waterlog your pores. I usually use two baby wipes during this stage—one for my face and one for my paws— and more if the day has proved particularly grimy. These Pampers wipes are clinically proven to be gentle enough for a baby’s butt (they’re alcohol, paraben, and latex-free), and that’s good enough for my face.

Hand Sanitizer Clear Gel (2 fl oz)

$1 at Target

In this Covid-adjacent era, you can get hand sanitizer to fit just about any description, dimension, or scent. Citrus grove? For sure. Eucalyptus Spearmint? Absolutely. For backcountry purposes though, I stick to the classics. A mini Purell or any of its off-brand relatives will do. Clean hands are the key to a clean face. This one comes in at a lovely $1.19 for two ounces.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water (3.4 fl oz)

$4 at Amazon

Micellar water—a gloriously pre-packaged purified water-cleansing agent combo—is a phenomenal backcountry hack. You don’t have to waste fuel getting a pot of water boiling, and Garnier’s is available in squeezy 3.4 fl oz containers. Adorable. I use reusable makeup remover pads and a dash of this stuff after my initial baby wipe and hand sanitizer steps for a squeaky-clean finish. These Pinowu pads are a great bang for your buck (16 for less than $8) and they’re machine washable (though I wash them by hand, which works just as well).

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion (2 fl oz)

$3 at Target $3 at Walmart

I like Cetaphil’s moisturizer because it’s fragrance-free (minimizes critter temptation) and non-comedogenic. Non-comedogenic products are explicitly designed without common pore-blocking ingredients, which reduces breakout risk. I used to skip moisturizer in the backcountry, relegating it to my list of nonessentials. Little did I know: moisturizer acts as a shield. This part of your skin-care routine protects the work you’ve done thus far and expands its overnight potency by boosting your skin’s natural barrier. Remember, a stronger skin barrier equals fewer zits.

Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen 50 SPF (3 fl oz)

$11 at Walmart $11 at Amazon

I opt for Neutrogena’s Clear Face 50 SPF as the last step in my morning backcountry skin-care routine. Its non-comedogenic, oil-free formula feels light on my face, rubs in quickly, and keeps oily skin at bay. Not only does sunscreen prevent skin cancer, but it also reduces signs of premature aging, minimizes hyperpigmentation, and keeps your lovely visage resilient, hydrated, and therefore (more or less) acne-free. As my beloved Wilderness First Responder instructor, Eric, once told me: “One sure sign of outdoor incompetence is sunburn. Don’t be a moron. Put it on!”