My Best Beauty Secret

Me: Messy bun, no makeup, scaly feet in Oahu.

When you live (or decide to start living) an outdoor-loving lifestyle, there are certain things you have to give up and wrinkle-free skin, smooth feet, immaculate hair and manicured nails are all on the list. Maintaining your beauty routine is just unrealistic when you're camping out on a beach in Hawaii with no mirrors, downpours and back-to-basics pluming!

That's not to say I don't try my best to look presentable when I'm back in civilization. I still trim my hair, put on mascara and pluck my brows—I am a girl, after all. There are even certain things I bring with me on the trail, like facial wipes and lip balm.

But my ultimate beauty secret? Stop caring so much about what you look like. Chances are the people you're with out there are the ones who love you no matter what, and the reason you're out there is to experience something new and test your limits. You're out there to reconnect with nature and remember what's important, and let me tell you this right now: What you look like is NOT.

So let it all go when you lace up your boots or put on your bikini—let your hair get frizzy or tie it up in a bun or braid. Wear sunscreen but don't obsess over it if you get a sunglass tan line. No one wants to worry about runny mascara when you spot a rope swing, and you can fix it all up on Monday (if it really comes down to it, there's always that lip balm in your back pocket).