5 Skincare Essentials every Fisherwoman needs to be using

I’ve spent lots of time on the water, but I didn’t always think about protecting my skin. As I’m getting older, I’m more cautious about making sure my skin is shielded from the harsh, ageing elements that you’re frequently exposed to while working on the water. Keep reading to learn some of my favourite ways to stay safe on the ocean.

1. Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 50+

The number one (and most obvious) thing you can do to protect your skin is wear a high SPF and reapply it often. I recommend an Oil-Free Sunscreen with an SPF 50+ (at minimum). Make sure to bring it in your lunch box so you can give yourself another layer mid-day. The ocean spray can wash away sunscreen, especially on a rough day. Neutrogena makes some great oil-free sunscreens, and I also like using MAC SPF 50 Face Protect Lotion. I love the smell of Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens for the beach but I’m not a fan of scented lotion for the face.

2. Caffeine Eye Creme

I don’t know about you, but I’m not good at getting up at 4AM.

An eye cream designed for daytime use with caffeine will help de-puff eyes and literally make your eyes feel more “awake”.

MAC Vibrancy Eye Primer $42

This is my very favourite eye cream for daytime use. After I wash my face, I apply this right away, even if I’m not wearing makeup that day. There is both caffeine & Vitamin C to immediately brighten and de-puff eyes for a more radiant, awakened look. This eye cream has an ingredient that helps strengthen the blood vessels in the skin under the eyes over time, reducing the look of dark circles. This eye cream also helps to brighten the under eye area over time and with continued use it will reduce puffiness, bags, fine lines, and wrinkles. Vibrancy Eye primer is a morning hero <3

Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream $14

This eye cream can be found at any drugstore or supermarket and has several benefits. The caffeine and rice peptides help to de-puff & brighten tired eyes. This cream also has added retinol, so it will smooth fine lines over time with consistent use.

I also really love using MAC Fast Response Eye Cream and Garnier Eye roller, both containing added caffeine.

3. SPF Lip Balm

This is something almost everyone overlooks but its super important for skin care. The skin on the lips is one of the thinnest on the face, and it is extra susceptible to sun damage. Using a lip balm with an SPF protects lips from the sun & from the elements, and will help keep them moisturized and plump. My absolute favourite lip balm was MAC Sun Tint SPF 20, but it was discontinued years ago. Nivea makes an SPF 30 Lip Balm that should be available just about anywhere. Gas stations, convenience stores, etc. Nice and easy to grab. Costs maybe $3?

4. Sunglasses/Hat

Accessories are important when fishing. They serve several purposes:

Protect from sun
Keep hair out of eyes
Stay warmer in the frigid June temperatures of the Northern Atlantic
Add some pizazz to your giant green oil gear

… Interesting note about fishing accessories: You’ll need to be prepared for both scorching sun and possible snow. The weather when you leave the wharf has nothing to do with the weather you’ll experience throughout the day.

5. Moisture Serum & Hydrating Mist

After being exposed to the suns reflection from waves and hit in the face by salt spray every day, your skin might be a bit dry. A moisture serum is going to give your skin an extra drink of water & hydration. The difference between a serum and a moisturizer is that a serum delivers intense moisture and hydration, but doesn’t contain the emollient products you need to lock that added moisture into the skin. I use moisture serum after my shower when I get out of the boat & then put on my regular moisturizer after. This is especially important if you get sunburnt (like I always do on the first couple of days).

I also like to keep a hydrating mist in the fridge to cool down my skin after a hot day on the water. My favourite hydrating mist is MAC Fix+. This product is a cult favourite that has so many uses, but many people forget about using it as skin care and generally just use it as a makeup setting spray. Fix+ is amazing for skin that is dry, irritated, and parched. It contains soothing ingredients like chamomile, cucumber, and green tea to calm and revive tired thirsty skin. I spray it on before adding moisturizer or serum to lock in an extra layer of hydration for my skin.

Beach & Boat Extras

If you’re boating rather than working on a commercial vessel, feel free to add some extras to make it an easy daytime look.

1. Bronzer

Bronzer is such a versatile and easy product to carry in a travel makeup kit. It allows you to create shadows on the face or body anywhere you’d like to. Some of my favourite ways to use bronzer:

Contour the cheeks
As an eyeshadow crease colour
Contour the nose
Add colour to the chest
Darkening up any light patches from tan lines

2. Waterproof Mascara

If you’re not a lash extension wearer and you feel like your eyes could use a little more drama, a waterproof mascara is a good addition to your beauty-on-the-water kit. Depending on how straight your lashes are, you may need to curl lashes first. I haven’t found a waterproof mascara I love yet. Maybe you’ve got some recommendations for me? If you have a waterproof mascara you love, share it in the comment section so I have some new ones to try! 😀

3. Lipliner

Lipliner takes your gloss or lip balm look up a notch. Liner adds colour, shape, and definition to the lips. Make sure to really blend your lips together after you apply your liner, then apply your gloss or balm. Apply liner again to blend the shape and give more colour, then blend lips again. This gives a really smooth transition between lipliner and the more sheer looking gloss/balm, and it will blend the colour of the lip liner all over the lips so you don’t just have a ring of colour around the lips. Choose a natural colour of lipliner in either a nudish or pinkish tone for the most flattering, beachy look.

4. Eye Brow Styler or Waterproof Brow Mascara

Well groomed brows make a big difference in how a face looks, especially if you’re not wearing a lot of makeup. How you groom your brows will depend on your starting point.

If your brows are thin & sparse, you will need to fill them in with a pencil to give shape and add fullness where there is none.
If you have thick, full brows, you will need to tame them down using a brow mascara with some staying power. This will fill in gaps & hold brows in place all day.

5. Highlighter

Depending on where you’re boating & how glamourous you want to look, highlighter is a really easy way to give your overall look a glow. I use highlighter on my cheeks, under my brows, on the inner corners of my eye

On the top of cheek bones
Inner Corner of the eye
Below the brows
On the cupids bow (above lips)
Pressed onto lip balm
On the eyelid instead of shadow

I hope you enjoyed some of my best suggestions for healthy skin on the water 😀 Do you have any fishing essentials you never leave the wharf without? Share them in the comment section below, along with your waterproof mascara recommendations you’ve got for me!