MissLJBeauty

Spending a lot of time outdoors is brilliant for your mental health, but your skin definitely notices it.

Between mountain biking, walking the dogs and generally being outside in all weather, my skin deals with wind, cold air, sweat and sun exposure most weeks. I spend a lot of time outdoors riding and walking, and that combination of wind exposure, changing temperatures and sun can really affect your skin barrier.

Over the years I’ve learned that keeping skin happy when you live an outdoor lifestyle isn’t about having a huge complicated routine. It’s about using the right products, supporting your skin barrier and protecting your skin properly.

Here’s the skincare routine I’m currently using in 2026.

Why Outdoor Activity Can Be Hard on Your Skin

If you spend a lot of time outdoors you’ll probably notice your skin behaving differently compared to people who spend most of their time indoors.

Wind exposure can dry the skin out very quickly, colder temperatures can weaken the skin barrier, and sweat combined with SPF can sometimes lead to congestion if you’re not cleansing properly.

When you add mountain biking into the mix, you also get dust, dirt and constant airflow across your face. Over time that can leave skin feeling dehydrated or slightly irritated if you don’t support it properly.

Because of that I try to focus on three key things in my routine:

• gentle cleansing
• hydration and barrier support
• daily sun protection

Keeping those three areas balanced has made the biggest difference to how my skin feels.

My Morning Skincare Routine

In the morning I keep things fairly simple because the main goal is hydration and protection.

Most days I start with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. I’ve used this cleanser for a long time because it’s gentle, supports the skin barrier and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. When your skin is exposed to wind and weather regularly, harsh cleansers can make things worse.

If I’m travelling I often take the Fenty Skin Total Cleans’r, which is another cleanser I really enjoy using. Recently I’ve also been testing the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser, which feels very lightweight and fresh on the skin.

After cleansing I usually apply a hydrating serum. At the moment I’ve been using The Inkey List PDRN Serum, which I’ve been testing for hydration and skin repair. It’s a really interesting formula that focuses on supporting the skin barrier and improving overall skin condition. After cleansing I usually apply a hydrating serum. Recently I shared my full experience in my Inkey List PDRN Serum review.

I’m also slowly reintroducing tretinoin back into my routine after dealing with a skin rash flare up caused by allergies earlier this year. Because of that I’m currently being quite careful to support my skin barrier with gentle, hydrating products rather than overloading my skin with actives.

Next comes moisturiser, which helps lock in hydration and keep the skin barrier healthy.

The Most Important Step: SPF

If there’s one step I never skip, it’s sunscreen.

The SPF I reach for most often is Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF50+. It’s one of those sunscreens that just works really well for daily use. It’s lightweight, comfortable under makeup and doesn’t leave a heavy or greasy feeling on the skin.

Because it sits so nicely on the skin it’s easy to apply every day, which is really the most important thing when it comes to sun protection.

When I know I’m heading out mountain biking or walking for a few hours, I make sure to apply my SPF before doing my makeup so it has time to settle properly.

Even in the UK, sun protection matters. Cloudy days can still expose your skin to UV damage, and when you’re outdoors regularly that exposure builds up over time. 

I’ve also written a full Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF review after testing it for daily wear.

Lip Protection Outdoors

One thing people often forget is that your lips can burn just as easily as the rest of your face.

When I’m out riding or walking for long periods, I always make sure to apply a lip treatment or protective balm. Wind and sun exposure can leave lips extremely dry and sore if you don’t protect them properly.

It’s a small step but it makes a huge difference to overall comfort when you’re outside for hours.

My Evening Skincare Routine

Evenings are when I focus more on repair and recovery.

After a day outdoors my skin often feels like it needs a bit of extra care, especially if I’ve been riding or spending long periods outside.

I start with a gentle cleanse to remove sunscreen, sweat and any dirt from the day. Proper cleansing is really important because SPF and outdoor exposure can build up on the skin.

After cleansing I apply a serum depending on what my skin needs at the time. Hydrating and barrier-supporting formulas tend to work best for me, especially when my skin has been exposed to wind or colder weather.

Then I follow with a moisturiser to lock everything in overnight.

If my skin feels particularly dry or irritated, I sometimes apply CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment to drier areas to help support the skin barrier while I sleep. It’s one of those products that lasts ages but is incredibly useful to have in your routine.

Supporting Your Skin Barrier

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from years of outdoor activity is that your skin barrier is everything.

When your barrier is healthy your skin feels comfortable, hydrated and balanced. But when it becomes weakened by wind, sun or overuse of active ingredients, it can quickly become dry or sensitive.

That’s why I focus on gentle cleansing, hydration and barrier repair rather than constantly switching products.

Keeping the skin calm and supported usually leads to better results than using lots of strong treatments.

Body Care for Outdoor Skin

When people talk about skincare routines, the focus is usually on the face. But when you spend a lot of time outdoors, your body skin needs attention too.

Mountain biking and long walks mean my arms, neck and sometimes legs are exposed to wind, sun and changing temperatures. Over time that can leave skin feeling dry or slightly rough if you don’t look after it properly.

Just like with facial skincare, I try to keep things fairly simple.

In the shower I usually use a gentle body wash that doesn’t strip the skin. After showering I always apply a moisturising body cream to help restore hydration and keep the skin feeling comfortable.

One body product I’ve been really enjoying recently is Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Lotion. It’s lightweight, hydrating and leaves the skin feeling soft without feeling sticky, which is great if you’re getting dressed quickly after a shower.

Hydrating the body regularly makes a noticeable difference, especially if you’re outdoors often where wind and weather can dry the skin out much faster than you realise.

And just like with facial skincare, SPF matters for the body too, particularly on areas like the shoulders, neck and chest if they’re exposed to the sun.

Why My Skin Needs a Different Routine

My skin routine has changed quite a bit over the years because my lifestyle isn’t exactly gentle on my skin.

I spend a lot of time outdoors mountain biking, walking the dogs and generally being active outside. That means my skin is constantly dealing with wind, sweat, cold air and sun exposure. If you ride regularly you’ll know that feeling of getting back from a ride and realising your face feels a bit tight or dehydrated from the wind.

For a long time I tried using lots of active ingredients thinking that would solve everything, but I eventually realised that what my skin really needed was support for the skin barrier.

When you’re outdoors a lot your skin can become irritated quite easily. Wind exposure alone can dry the skin out quickly, and if you add sweat, sunscreen and changing weather conditions into the mix it can be quite a lot for your skin to deal with.

Earlier this year I actually had a bit of a skin rash flare up caused by allergies, which forced me to slow down and simplify my routine again. It was a good reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do for your skin is keep things gentle and consistent rather than constantly adding new products.

Now I focus on hydration, barrier repair and reliable sun protection rather than complicated routines.

Final Thoughts

My skincare routine changes slightly depending on the season and what my skin needs at the time, but the overall approach stays the same.

Keep things simple, support the skin barrier and protect your skin with SPF every day.

Spending time outdoors is one of the best things you can do for your wellbeing, and with the right skincare routine your skin can stay healthy alongside an active lifestyle.

Written by Laura Martin – qualified makeup artist, skincare specialist, mountain bike athlete and award-winning UK beauty and lifestyle blogger behind MissLJBeauty with over 15 years of experience testing skincare in real outdoor environments.