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There is a thin line between dewy and greasy. And that line is called “the best moisturizer for summer”. Even though you have the ring light of the gods for amazing selfies for a whole season, you’ve got sweat and oil glands working against you. So, you’ll be dealing with oily, congested skin, and occasional breakouts. Additionally, all that lying around by the pool has the potential to dehydrate your skin.
The good news is that humidity is going to help, a lot! Then again, what works great for your skin might not work for your hair, but that’s a talk for another time. With a little help from the humidity and a lot from the best summer moisturizers, you’re going to be able to replenish your skin. Read on to see how.
We all know that hyaluronic acid is one of the best humectants for the skin. But most people don’t know that it has a certain condition of its own to work at an optimum level. And that’s humidity. Hyaluronic acid attracts water from the air. But it does that only when there’s enough humidity in the air.
When it’s not the case, hyaluronic acid draws water from the deeper layers of the skin to the surface. It literally has the potential to dehydrate your skin from within. But with the summer humidity, you’ll be able to make the most of this magic ingredient.
That’s why the best moisturizers for summer contain a good amount of hyaluronic acid along with several other hydration boosters. After all, moisturizing is one of the most important steps in a good summer skincare routine. Ahead are the most lightweight moisturizers that won’t smother your skin during the summer weather.
The Best Moisturizers For Summer
Find below the best moisturizers for summer.
1. Fenty Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30
Out of respect for the people who are struggling the most during this season, we’d like to start with the best moisturizer for summer for oily skin types. The words “glowing” and “dewy” have somewhat different connotations for you guys, but we’ve got you covered.
When the sweat glands overwork during the summer, it’s difficult to worry about hydration. It gets so annoying that you kind of want to let the skin dehydrate and dry out for a second. But the thing is it doesn’t work that way. Dehydration causes more oil production in oily skin.
So, don’t even think about it. Instead, slather your face with this oil-free moisturizer that smells like heaven. It’s got everything you need! It’s non-comedogenic and formulated with vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, to soften the appearance of pores.
It also packs hyaluronic acid and aloe to boost moisture. And it has SPF 30 with an invisible finish! Besides freshening up your complexion and plumping up your skin, it completely hides the smell of chlorine from the pool. Just saying.
Key Ingredients: Sunscreen, niacinamide, melon extract
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, protects, brightens
Skin Type: All skin types, especially oily
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Oil-free, cruelty-free, vegan, also comes in fragrance-free
2. Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 72H Lipid-Replenishing Hydrator Moisturizer
For dry skin types, you still don’t want to go for heavy creams that you can’t get enough of during the winter. Even if you want to hydrate and moisturize, an occlusive moisturizer will still feel heavy on the skin under the sun.
Having said that, you should definitely consider a thicker moisturizer for your nighttime routine. This summer moisturizer is perfect for dry skin types. Besides helping the skin suck the water out of the air into your skin with hyaluronic acid, it has aloe and Centella Asiatica to soothe and nourish.
And it’s oil-free, so it won’t clog pores or cause acne. And even though it’s oil-free, it’s a tad bit richer than a basic gel cream for increasing moisture. So, drink up because all this helps to repair the impaired skin barrier so that your skin retains moisture for longer.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe, Centella Asiatica
Key Benefits: Hydrates without clogging, soothes
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination
Size: 1.7oz/50 ml
Other Features: Oil-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free
3. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM With SPF 30
Speaking of an impaired skin barrier, some people are still into creamy moisturizers that aren’t too heavy but aren’t in a gel texture either. Because a more creamy texture has more room for some ingredients that don’t hold well in a gel texture. And one of those ingredients is ceramides, which are incredibly helpful in restoring the skin barrier.
In addition to hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this oil-free moisturizer comes with ceramides to strengthen the skin so that it keeps the water in. And the best part is it has SPF 30 so that you don’t have to wear a layer of sunscreen on your moisturizer. Needless to say, if you somehow damaged your skin barrier, be extra liberal about SPF during the summer.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
Key Benefits: Repairs skin barrier, provides sun protection
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 3 oz/89 ml
Other Features: Oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
If you’re gifted with a normal skin type, I’m honestly curious about what you’re doing with all that money you save from not spending on skincare products. Life is much simpler for you and so is your summer moisturizer. To keep your skin hydrated and prevent the sun from drying it out, a basic gel moisturizer like this one helps you maintain your skin’s status quo.
It is so lightweight that it’s basically air. It absorbs into the skin in just about 30 seconds. It’s almost a hyaluronic acid serum that ensures your skin keeps looking hydrated, smooth, and plump. And normal. And what do you know? It’s super budget-friendly.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
Key Benefits: Hydrates, plumps
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz
Other Features: Oil-free, non-comedogenic
5. Ole Henriksen C-Rush Vitamin C Gel Moisturizer
When you want to take that extra step, the first step being your SPF, to guard against sunspots, an oil-free vitamin C moisturizer like this is your second line of defense. Again, the first is your SPF. Instead of layering up a thousand coats of antioxidant serums to protect the skin against free radicals, this summer moisturizer is charged enough to care for your skin and light enough to let it breathe.
It has a combination of different forms of vitamin C to ensure stability, and hyaluronic acid + collagen to increase hydration and moisture. It gives the skin enough water to let you glow by the pool, minus the freckles. And it smells amazing!
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, brightens, protects from daily skin aggressors
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Vegan, cruelty-free
6. Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Oil-Free Moisture Cushion
Most of us take a break from using exfoliating ingredients during the winter. The mere thought of putting a hydroxy acid product on a dry, winter face is just too cringy. But during the summer, products with chemical exfoliants ensure that your pores aren’t clogged and those clogs aren’t causing any breakouts. This is as challenging for oily skin as it is for combination skin.
If you want to skip the exfoliating pads and get yourself a lightweight moisturizer that also keeps the skin looking 100, this is the perfect one for combination skin. It hydrates with hyaluronic acid, boosts it up with amino acids, and keeps the sebum in check with glycolic + lactic acid. Constant but gentle exfoliation combined with constant replenishment leaves the skin juicy, plump, and fresh.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe, algae, lactic acid
Key Benefits: Hydrates, plumps fine lines, smoothes skin
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free
7. First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream
This is hands down one of the best moisturizers for summer for all skin types. Because it’s infused with minerals and antioxidants that are neither irritating nor comedogenic. It has coconut water, which is brimming with fatty acids to restore the skin barrier to eliminate dehydration.
It also has soothing and brightening antioxidants like green tea and licorice extract. Hyaluronic acid + coconut juice is going to keep the skin hydrated without leaving it sticky or oily. Plus, all those nutrients are going to work hard to smooth out and soften the skin.
Key Ingredients: Coconut water, licorice extract, coffee extract, green tea
Key Benefits: Freshens up skin, infuses it with antioxidants
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Cruelty-free, vegan
8. Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer
Similarly, this is another lightweight summer moisturizer that’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive ones. And it’s great for anyone who needs just a bit of a hydration boost but not the greasy, sticky after-feel. It’s a gel cream as light as air. And it contains these micro-particles that burst as you blend the moisturizer into the skin.
The best part is that it has a cooling, refreshing effect on the skin, which is great for that sweaty, summer weather. Its minimal formula contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and forest yeast extract. If you have mature skin or fine lines, you’re going to love this plumping formula.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, forest yeast extract
Key Benefits: Hydrates, cools, and soothes skin
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.6 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Hypoallergenic, paraben-free
9. Dermalogica Calm Water Gel Moisturizer
This is a non-irritating and super soothing water cream for sensitive skin types. It has a blend of hyaluronic acid in different molecular sizes to ensure hydration on all possible levels for the skin. It also has aloe and vitamin-rich apple extract to enhance moisture.
The anti-inflammatory prickly pear extract soothes irritation, itching, and redness on sensitive skin. The summer moisturizer is an overall skin fire-extinguisher for people who are suffering from rosacea flare-ups under the sun.
Key Ingredients: Aloe, hyaluronic acid, apple extract
Key Benefits: Increases moisture, soothes irritation
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Other Features: Cruelty-free, vegan
10. Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Moisturizer
Formulated with antioxidant-rich watermelon extract, this oil-free gel moisturizer is your non-greasy and superlight form of free radical defense against wrinkle-forming sun rays. Watermelon is, in fact, something you want in your diet as well as in your skincare during the summer. Because it is incredibly replenishing.
Besides hyaluronic acid for hydration, it packs licorice root extract that has calming and brightening effects on the skin. This is helpful in evening out the skin tone and lighting up the natural radiance on the skin, leaving it feeling bouncy all summer. The cream sinks into the skin and brings about softness and suppleness to your complexion. No grease, no stickiness whatsoever!
Key Ingredients: Watermelon extract, peony extract, amino acids, hyaluronic acid
Key Benefits: Hydrates without a heavy feel, helps with signs of aging
Skin Type: All skin types, especially combination, acne-prone
Size: 2 oz/60 ml
Other Features: Oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free
11. Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
Last but absolutely not least, here is another one of the best moisturizers for the summer. Belif Aqua Bomb is the ultimate water cream for dehydrated skin and the ultimate weightless moisturizer for the bikini season. Whatever Korean magic these guys do with botanical extracts, it’s working.
The star ingredient of the moisturizer, lady’s mantle, is a free radical scavenger and it’s also anti-bacterial ( 1 – 2 ). Additional antioxidants include calendula and oat kernel extract. The hydration and moisture come through glycerin and squalane. With its rich but equally light texture, it’s an overall multi-tasking moisturizer light enough to use in the summer and also works great under your foundation.
Key Ingredients: Lady’s mantle, vitamin B5, oat kernel extract
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, softens, protects against free radicals
Skin Type: All skin types
Size: 1.68 oz/50 ml
So these are some of the best moisturizers you can comfortably use in the summer. If you need an extra hand or something more practical, try face mists. And we’ve got you. Check out these amazing face mists for dry skin. And if you’re prone to acne, you can try these face mists for oily skin for lightweight hydration.
