Best Moisturizer For Summer

Summer is here, and with the hot weather, it’s crucial to find the best moisturizer for your skin. Whether you have acne-prone skin, combination skin, or sensitive skin, the right moisturizer can help maintain your skin’s moisture barrier and keep it hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. Here are some of the key ingredients to look for in the best moisturizers for summer and provide you with some top picks to consider for your skincare routine.

Key Ingredients for the Best Moisturizer for Summer

1. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help brighten the skin, even out skin tone, and protect against harmful UV rays. Look for moisturizers that contain stabilized vitamin C for added skin benefits.

2. Salicylic Acid

For those with acne-prone skin, incorporating a moisturizer with salicylic acid can help control oil production, unclog pores, and prevent breakouts. It is an excellent ingredient for regulating excess oil during the summer months.

3. Shea Butter

Shea butter is a natural ingredient that provides intense hydration without clogging pores. It is great for soothing and nourishing the skin, making it an ideal choice for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin.

4. Green Tea

Green tea is known for its soothing properties and helps protect the skin against free radicals. It is a great option for those with sensitive skin types and can also help reduce redness and inflammation.

5. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating powerhouse that attracts and retains moisture in the skin. It is an excellent ingredient for maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier and preventing water loss, making it ideal for all skin types.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural ingredient that provides soothing and calming effects to the skin. It also helps hydrate the skin without leaving behind a greasy residue, making it perfect for hot summer days.

7. Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) known for its exfoliating properties. It helps remove dead skin cells and promotes a smoother, more radiant complexion. Incorporating a moisturizer with glycolic acid can help address skin concerns such as dark spots and uneven skin tone.

Top Picks for the Best Moisturizer for Summer

Cult Classic Moisturizer

This fragrance-free formula is suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin. It contains key ingredients like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to address various skin concerns and provide the right amount of hydration.

Lightweight Gel Moisturizer

Perfect for oily skin types, this gel moisturizer helps control excess oil production and provides a matte finish. It is non-comedogenic and contains green tea extract, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B to replenish the skin with much-needed hydration.

Water Cream

Ideal for combination skin, this water-based moisturizer is lightweight, non-greasy, and quickly absorbed by the skin. It contains botanical extracts, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera to soothe and hydrate the skin without clogging pores.

1. Tatcha The Water Cream: A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that provides hydration and leaves the skin with a non-greasy, velvety finish.
2. Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb: This gel-cream formula is designed to provide intense hydration while being suitable for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin.
3. Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream: This moisturizer is formulated to supply long-lasting moisture and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: An affordable drugstore option that offers lightweight hydration with hyaluronic acid, suitable for all skin types.
5. Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator: A gel-cream moisturizer that claims to keep the skin hydrated for up to 72 hours, even after washing your face.
6. Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Water Cream: A whipped, lightweight moisturizer that helps improve the skin’s texture and promotes a radiant complexion.
7. Challans de Paris Creme de Aqua: This hydrating lotion is perfect for summer, with its light texture that won’t leave you feeling sticky or greasy. You’ll feel truly pampered by its blend of nourishing ingredients like sea minerals, hyaluronic acid, and provitamin B5.

Hydrating Facial Cream:

For those with dry or dehydrated skin, a rich cream with ceramides, amino acids, and shea butter is a great option. It helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier and provides long-lasting hydration, leaving the skin feeling nourished and supple.

Oil-Free Matte Moisturizer

If you have oily skin or struggle with an oily T-zone during the summer months, consider an oil-free moisturizer with a lightweight formula. Look for key ingredients like glycolic acid and vitamin C to address skin concerns while reducing excess oil production.

1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Daily Face Moisturizer: Specifically designed for oily skin, this moisturizer helps control shine and reduces the appearance of large pores.
2. Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 45: This moisturizer not only provides a matte finish but also contains SPF 45, making it suitable for daily sun protection.
3. Cetaphil PRO Oil Absorbing Moisturizer: A lightweight moisturizer that helps control excess oil while providing hydration to the skin.
4. First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Oil-Free Mattifying Gel: Formulated to control oil and shine, this gel moisturizer also contains willow bark extract to help improve the appearance of pores.
5. Paula’s Choice RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50: This multitasking moisturizer not only offers a matte finish but also provides broad-spectrum sun protection with SPF 50.
6. Dermalogica Oil-Free Matte SPF 30: A 2-in-1 product that combines oil control and sun protection in a lightweight, matte-finish formula.

The best moisturizer for summer should provide the right balance of hydration, lightness, and protection against harmful UV rays. Choose a moisturizer with key ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid, shea butter, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to address your skin concerns and keep your skin healthy and radiant throughout the summer season while preserving your skin’s moisture barrier.

How to Keep Your Skin Naturally Moisturized

Moisturizing regularly, especially during the winter months, can prevent the itching and flaking caused by dry skin and help prevent signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles. You can avoid purchasing commercial moisturizers, which are often full of chemicals and fillers, by making your own moisturizers from all-natural items, many of which you may have in your home already. The oils and fats in many foods nourish the skin when you apply them topically. Many food and plant-based oils, such as jojoba and grapeseed oil, are also sold commercially and can be applied directly to the skin or mixed into moisturizers.

Mix Up a Facial Mask

Combine 2 tbsp. of plain yogurt, 1 tbsp. of honey and 1 tbsp. to 2 tbsp. of cool, cooked oatmeal.
Apply the mixture to your face and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Rinse off the mask.

Treat Skin With Moisturizing Oil

Shower or bathe before applying the moisturizing oil. After bathing is the best time to do this because your skin is clean and your pores are open from the water’s heat. You may also exfoliate at this time to remove any loose dry skin.

1. Dry your skin with a soft, clean towel.
2. Massage one to two dime-size drops of argan, macadamia nut, emu, almond, jojoba, or grapeseed oil into your skin immediately after drying.
3. Wait one to two minutes for the oil to absorb into your skin before dressing.

Make Lotion Bars

Mix 1/4 cup beeswax, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1/4 cup vegetable shortening in a double boiler or bowl set over a pot of simmering water. You can adjust the size or number of lotion bars this recipe makes by the amount of ingredients you use, but use equal portions at all times.

Stir until the ingredients are melted and well combined. If you would like to scent your lotion bar, add a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender or rosemary, to the mixture. Alternatively, you can add 1 tsp. of moisturizing oil, such as jojoba or coconut for an extra luxurious lotion bar.

Remove the mixture from the heat.

Pour the mixture into molds, such as cupcake pans, small (palm-size or smaller) cake or bread pans, or clean yogurt cups.

Allow the bars to cool until hardened.

Turn the molds upside-down to release the lotion bars. If you have difficulty, tap the molds gently, run a butter knife around the edges, or sit them in warm water for a few moments. Repeat as necessary until the lotion bars release from the molds.

Rub a bar between your hands to warm it and moisturize as needed.

Tips & Warnings

You can purchase beeswax at some craft stores, from your local beekeeper or online.

Add a few drops of vitamin E oil to your moisturizing regimen. Vitamin E oil may soften skin and improve its appearance with repeated use. Some potential benefits include sunburn relief, scar and stretch mark minimization. Moisturized skin starts from the inside, so stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Don’t apply anything to your skin that you know you could not eat. That is to say, if you’re allergic to almonds or avocados, do not use them as topical moisturizers. You may have an allergic reaction when the food comes in contact with your skin.

If your skin is sensitive or if your skin dryness is accompanied by redness or a rash, consult a doctor or dermatologist before applying oils or other skin treatments.