A walk in the fresh air can do wonders for your mental health, but have you ever wondered how being out in nature benefits your skin?
At organic UK beauty brand Green People, we love to get our steps in walking through the countryside.
Discover the surprising beauty benefits of walking in nature as we share our favourite Sussex walks.
Skin benefits of walking in nature
It's no secret that walking in the open air can benefit our mental health, but did you know that being out in nature could also benefit your skin? Here’s how:
- Better circulation: That hike up the hill will be all worth it when you know that walking in nature boosts your skin glow. How? Exercising enhances your circulation, giving skin a vitality boost of the oxygen and nutrients needed to look its radiant best.
- Lower stress levels: Stress causes inflammation and can aggravate some skin conditions, including psoriasis, dermatitis and acne. Calm your mind with a walk in nature and see if it has a calming effect on your skin.
- Toning: Want to tone up your cheekbones? Walking is also a great way to meet your daily 10,000-step target and is a key part of a healthy lifestyle.
- Vitamin D boost: Walking in nature exposes your skin to sunlight, which synthesises Vitamin D. A vital vitamin for good bone health and wellbeing, it is thought that those prone to eczema have low Vitamin D levels.
Of course, sunlight exposure can also harm your skin. Stay safe as you stroll and check out our 3 tips for protecting your skin while walking in nature.
3 tips for protecting your skin whilst walking in nature
ALWAYS APPLY SPF: Always protect against sunburn by applying sunscreen at least 20 minutes before your walk. Choose SPF15 for snowy winter walks and high-protect SPF30 for hot and sunny nature walks.
GUARD AGAINST BUG BITES: Ticks and biting insects can sting your skin. Repel them by applying our SPF with Natural Insect Repellent. Enriched with Citrepel®75 to protect against mosquitoes, midges, ticks and more for up to 4 hours –with just one application!
CARRY HAND WASH: Keep your hands soft and healthy when there’s no sink in sight, and carry our Quick Clean Hand Foam. Suitable for all the family, this refreshing foam wash is non-drying and can be used to wipe mud from your shoes, hands and face.
Shop walkers’ sunscreens
Packed with natural goodness from plants grown with respect for nature, our organic sunscreens are kind to your skin and kind to the earth.
6 stunning nature walks in Sussex
Is walking part of your organic lifestyle? Discover a new place to wander as we share our favourite walks in Sussex, the home of Green People.
BEST SUSSEX WALK FOR WILDLIFE
KNEPP ESTATE, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX
Our neighbours at the Knepp Estate bring the safari to Sussex! Take a walk through their rewilded land, and you'll soon be rewarded with spottings of deer, wild horses, pigs and an impressive flock of storks. The first to be bred in England for over 100 years! Pick the right time of year and you might also see a rare Purple Emperor butterfly.
Our HQ is based here, and part of our rent supports this incredible conservation project.
BEST SUSSEX WALK FOR AUTUMN COLOURS
SHEFFIELD PARK, UCKFIELD, WEST SUSSEX
There’s nowhere better in Sussex to see the seasons change than Sheffield Park. These Grade 1 listed landscape gardens have an impressive collection of Nyssa, Acer and Taxodiums trees, and when their leaves change in October, it creates a spectacular Autumn display you won’t want to miss.
BEST FOR FAMILIES
WAKEHURST PLACE, HAYWARDS HEATH, WEST SUSSEX
All the family will enjoy a walk at Wakehurst. The home of the Millenium Seed Bank, an educational Noah's arch that helps to protect plants from extinction, its family-friendly woodland walks, play areas, and restaurant make it the perfect spot for a summer picnic!
ASHDOWN FOREST, FOREST ROW, WEST SUSSEX
We also love Ashdown Forest, the home of Pooh Bear and his pals. Young walkers will love looking for the owl’s house in the trees, and you’re never too old for a game of pooh sticks on the bridge.
BEST SUSSEX WALK FOR BIRDS
ARUNDEL WETLAND CENTRE
Did you know that you can see pelicans in Sussex? You'll find many feathered friends at the Arundel Wetland Centre, just a stone's throw from the famous Arundel Castle and the historic town centre. A great day out for young families, you can view the birds on foot or board a boat to spot egrets and maybe even an eagle out and about in this Sussex sanctuary.
BEST SUSSEX WALKS FOR VIEWS
DEVIL'S DYKE
And we couldn’t leave out the Sussex Downs! Take a stroll up to Devil's Dyke at sunset, and as you get your steps in, you’ll be rewarded with unspoilt vistas of the Sussex countryside.
Walkers’ skin care essentials
We hope that you have enjoyed our Sussex walk suggestions. Wherever you explore, protect your skin with these walker’s skin care essentials.
Our UK customer care team is happy to help with questions about our natural and organic beauty products. Please call us on 01403 740350 or drop us a note at @GreenPeopleUK.
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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