Haven Outdoor Protective Balm Is Here! And I Tested It on a Moab Hike So You Didn't Have To.
If you've been following along for a while, you know I don't launch a product until I've used it in real conditions, and genuinely believe in what it does. So when I tell you the Haven Outdoor Protective Balm is launching on May 26, I'm not saying it from behind a desk. I'm saying it from the trail.
Last week I was in Moab, Utah — red rock, full sun, and the kind of heat that reminds you very quickly that you are not in charge out here. I brought Haven with me on a full day hike, and I want to walk you through exactly how it performed, what I packed, and why this balm is the product I've been wanting to make for a long time.
Why I Made Haven in the First Place
There is a gap in the natural outdoor skincare space that has bothered me for years. Most bug repellents are either loaded with DEET and synthetic chemicals, or they're "natural" options that smell overwhelming and wear off within thirty minutes. Neither felt right for someone who spends real time outside and cares about what goes on their skin.
Haven is my answer to that gap. I designed it as a 2-in-1 protective formula that does more than just deter common pests like mosquitoes, black flies, ticks, and ants. While it creates a breathable barrier to protect your skin during your time outside, it also works to calm and soothe your skin after bites or irritations have already happened.
It's completely DEET-free and made with naturally derived ingredients that support the skin barrier instead of stripping it. It isn't a spray or a liquid—it’s a concentrated balm that stays put, even when you're sweating, to protect and calm your skin through every part of the hike.
The Hike: Full Sun, Real Sweat, and Reapplying Every Hour
Moab in May is no joke. We were on the trail for hours in direct sun, and I was sweating consistently from the first mile. This was not a casual walk — this was the kind of hike where you feel it the next day.
I reapplied Haven at least every hour, and here is what I noticed:
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It went back on easily even over sweaty skin. The balm format means you're not fighting with a spray or trying to rub in a lotion mid-trail. You warm it between your fingers and press it in.
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The bugs stayed away. We were in an area with mosquitoes and other insects, and I did not get a single bite on the areas where I had applied Haven consistently.
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It didn't feel heavy or greasy between applications. This was the thing I was most curious about — whether layering it over sweat would feel uncomfortable. It didn't. It absorbed cleanly and I forgot it was there until it was time to reapply.
My skin felt protected, not coated. There's a difference, and Haven lands on the right side of it.
Everything I Packed — The Full Hike Kit
I get asked about what I bring on hikes constantly, so I'm linking everything here. Some of these are Emogene products, some are just the things I genuinely reach for every time I'm outside for a full day.
The Emogene & Co. Essentials
These three came with me in my backpack and I used all of them on the trail:
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Haven Outdoor Protective Balm — Because the bugs in Utah act like the bugs in Tennessee. We reapplied this about every hour since we were sweating a lot, and it held up exactly how I hoped.
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Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF — Sun protection and an airbrushed face, even in the desert
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All Purpose Healer Balm — I keep this in my pack for everything. For dry lips, small cuts, and the blisters my hiking shoes pretend they didn’t cause.
The Rest of the Kit (linked on LTK)
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Nalgene Water Bottle — If I drop it off a cliff, it’ll probably survive. Also, essential in that kind of dry heat.
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Blue Lizard Sunscreen — For my chest and shoulders before I turn into a rotisserie chicken.
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That's It Fruit Bar — Simple, real ingredients, easy to eat on the move.
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Portable Phone Charger — Essential if you're using your phone for trail maps and photos.
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Becojadde Hiking Backpack — A 15L pack with plenty of storage compartments to keep things organized. It carries weight beautifully and keeps my essentials easy to reach without digging.
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Salomon Hiking Shoes — Reliable traction for the slick red rocks of Moab. These are stable and breathable for the longest miles.
Why Right Now Is the Perfect Time for Haven
We are heading into the heart of outdoor season. Memorial Day weekend, summer travel, camping trips, trail runs, backyard evenings that stretch past sunset. These are exactly the conditions Haven was made for.
Bugs are most active from late spring through early fall, and this is the window where most people either reach for something chemical-heavy or just deal with the bites. Haven gives you a third option — a concentrated balm that you can feel good about applying on yourself, your kids, and anyone else in your group.
The Haven Outdoor Protective Balm is now live! If you've been waiting for a natural option that actually holds up in real outdoor conditions, this is it. Shop Haven here!
A More Thoughtful Way to Be Outside
I've spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to take care of your skin while also being present in the outdoors. The goal was never to create a product that makes you feel like you're wearing armor. It was to create something that works quietly in the background so you can focus on the trail, the view, and the people you're with.
Haven is that product. I tested it in one of the most demanding outdoor environments I know, and it delivered.
