8 Of The Best New Lightweight Moisturisers To Try This Summer
Jacqueline Kilikita
If the thick, luxurious moisturiser you relied on to keep dry skin at bay in the colder months is suddenly breaking you out or making you look more sweaty than dewy, it's time to switch things up.
Whatever your skin type, summer often calls for silky, featherlight textures that quench skin but won't block pores or contribute to excess oiliness. Thanks to brands such as Elemis and Starface, the new season moisturisers do exactly that, and much more.
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From aloe vera to soothe redness and reduce scarring over time to magnesium and zinc, which prevent shine and clogged skin, each ingredient in this summer's latest launches is tailored to protecting and improving skin in the warmer weather. Of course, if you're venturing outside or working by a window, it pays to invest in a separate sunscreen to shield against UVA and UVB rays, especially as recent studies have concluded that moisturiser which contains a little sunscreen is much less effective than a targeted sunscreen.
Ahead, discover eight game-changing new lightweight moisturisers that'll transform your skin this summer.
The star ingredient in Elemis' dewy skin moisturiser is kombucha – yes, the green tea drink taking over your Instagram feed. It hydrates at a deeper level, plumping out fine lines and making skin appear dewy. The added illuminating minerals blur blemishes and redness as they reflect the light, so you can skip the foundation and highlighter.
There's a reason why Starface's Moisture On Mars is one of the most googled moisturisers right now. Soothing aloe vera, redness-reducing sage leaf and oil-controlling zinc make it the perfect addition to any acne skincare routine. It's also fragrance-free, absorbs instantly and leaves skin matte to the touch.
If you have oily or combination skin, give this a go. It moisturises without leaving behind a sticky residue and makes skin feel fresh. The main ingredient is ginger, which gives it a strong zing. If you're after something a little less stimulating to the senses, click to the next slide...
Nivea's natural moisturiser includes aloe vera for calming skin exposed to the elements and glycerin, a buzzy ingredient which locks in moisture and helps to reduce redness. The texture is airy, not thick, and skin feels soft to the touch.
Beauty editors with oily, acne-prone skin love this non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) moisturiser, which occupies a cosy space between a gel and a cream. It can be used on its own but it's so light that you can accompany it with SPF during the day and it won't pill or slip and slide around.
If you'd rather invest in a 2-in-1 daytime moisturiser, make it this one. High factor SPF 50 and a handful of peptides (essentially proteins) shield and repair skin instantly and over time. The formula isn't at all heavy or greasy and it sinks in fast. Remember to apply a little to your lips and eyelids for better protection against the sun.
Beauty Pie Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF 50 Sunscreen + Primer, $45.00 Buy
This is like a tidal wave for thirsty summer skin. It delivers moisture to areas that need it the most, thanks to a heavy helping of hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Shea butter makes it ideal for those whose skin is on the drier side.
This SPF moisturiser is perfect for those who prefer to use just one product in the morning. The chemical sunscreen absorbs UVA and UVB rays, while niacinamide (otherwise known as vitamin B3) calms redness and minimises excess oil production and the appearance of pores.