10 Summer Skin Saviors
written by Alice Hause
Just the mention of "summer" conjures up idyllic images of boats anchored on lakes, turquoise-colored oceans, and colorful beach umbrellas dotting long stretches of fine-grained sand. Things are easy. Life is carefree. The goal is relaxation, and judging from my Instagram feed, everyone is clued in and working towards this goal. Everyone, that is, except my skin. It is currently in the throes of a full-blown eczema flare-up, requiring care that seeks simplicity with some specialized products that target and soothe. In other words, the opposite of easy and relaxed.
On the bright side, my summer skin needs are a reminder that skincare routines aren't a one-size-fits-all type of thing you can put on autopilot for 365 days. With every season, we must adjust. The higher temperatures and humidity this time of year can cause more sebum production, which can mean oilier skin, clogged pores, and more irritation and breakouts. And, because summer skin holds on to moisture better, rich moisturizers that hydrate and protect skin against the winter elements may prove too heavy for summertime use and exacerbate the issues mentioned above.
The products highlighted below are summer skin saviors. These moisturizers provide intense hydration without leaving a heavy or greasy feeling. They also contain ingredients that soothe and calm inflammation (my personal saviors!) and even offer a quick cooling fix for summer hot flashes (extra applause for multi-tasking!).
Skinfix Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream
A barrier cream that somehow treats oiliness and dryness while refining the look of pores, reducing excess oil and shine, and supporting the skin’s moisture barrier. Everyone in my household can attest that this gel cream manages to be light enough for acne-prone early-twenties skin yet also hydrating enough for those of us prone to eczema flare-ups (hello!). Your skin will look hydrated and glowing, but never greasy.
Covey Last But Not Least Moisturizer
This two-in-one moisturizer and eye cream is packed with super ingredients to hydrate and nourish. Our editorial director, Stacey (who's in her early forties), swears that she can hear her "skin gulp this moisturizer" when she applies it in the morning. "The gel cream is super light, whipped, and pillowy, yet it quenches my parched complexion with emollient moisture, even on the driest summer days in Montana, where I spend most of July)," she says. "It leaves my skin bouncy before I apply sunscreen—and I love how it has no fillers or fragrances." The fact that it also contains caffeine and green tea to help with dark circles makes this a must-try product for me.
One of my personal hero products. On days when my skin is so irritated that even water stings, I'll use this daily facial spray in place of a cleanser. It instantly soothes and preps my skin for the other products. I keep a travel-size in my makeup bag to use post-workout if I can't wash my skin right away. A side note: I love that the founder of Tower28 suffers from eczema and formulated all her brand's products with a special eye for sensitive skin.
Iris & Romeo The Reset Luminous Hyaluronic Serum Spray
Our founder, Nada, has mentioned this product countless times. This three-in-one hybrid plumps and hydrates on a whole new level—literally! With four different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, it works above and below the skin's surface to give you powerful, 24-hour hydration and noticeably smoother skin. For Nada (who's in her fifties), this is one of her summer skin obsessions. She says she never goes to bed without dousing her face with four spritzes—and she totes a bottle around for an instant cool down and dose of hydration.
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
This skincare brand flies under the radar. Maybe because you can find it at Target? Or does the non-descript packaging blend in with the other offerings? Whatever the reason, please don't sleep on this brand. Hyaluronic acid and five key ceramides hydrate the skin and help it retain its moisture. It's both rich and lightweight, and my skin feels hydrated immediately. It's gentle enough to use on my eczema patches without any stinging or irritation. And if that's not enough, it's great under makeup, too.
This face and body mist soothes, softens, and calms sensitive skin. Its mineral properties help soften and restore the skin's natural barrier and reduce visible redness. I use this when my skin feels dry or irritated or if I need a little moisture boost. If I need an extra dose of hydration, I'll spray this on and apply moisturizer while my skin is still damp. On long flights, the travel size is a skin savior.
Dieux Air Angel Collagen & Peptide Hydrating Gel Cream
I'm looking forward to trying this gel cream, which is powered by ceramides, amino acids, and moisture complexes. (Plus, I love Dieux's eye cream.) This gel cream is supposed to provide hydration and barrier reinforcement with special attention to those with sensitive skin and who live in warm, humid climates. In addition, a big part of the Dieux brand is transparency, so you can view an entire ingredient breakdown—including dosages—on the website.
Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair
First of all, don't let the name fool you. I use this cream morning, night, and anytime in between. I don't know if it's the Japanese Indigo Extract or ceramides, but the formulation offers a cooling relief the second it touches your skin. I reach for it when my skin needs a little TLC. I usually don't buy extras of my moisturizers because I rotate between quite a few of them so it might take me a bit to get through an entire bottle. But this is the one exception. I always have an extra on hand in case I run out.
My social feeds were flooded with this product when it was first introduced. I had friends who immediately tried it and became product evangelists—so of course, I had to try it. The Cream is their lightweight moisturizer formulated for combination to oilier skin. The product is powered by their patented TFC8 (which has a host of benefits outlined on their website), which I believe justifies the high price point for this product. (Yes, it's pricey!) Now, do I like it? Yes, absolutely. It was lightweight, yet my skin felt hydrated and had a nice glow. And it was amazing under makeup—everything from tinted moisturizer to foundation to blush went on smoothly with no piling. That being said, will I continue buying this? Probably not. The benefits for me just don't justify the high price point, especially when you put this product up against others listed here.
Water creams are perfect for summer skin because they're usually oil-free and, have a gel-like texture and are full of hydrating humectants to seal in and retain moisture. This moisturizer is a household favorite that's so good, and we use it year-round. It provides intense hydration to the skin while also being lightweight so your skin looks dewy and never greasy. It clarifies and refines skin with pure Japanese botanicals and proprietary Hadasei-3, a ferment of Japanese superfoods that plumps skin, protects it from skin-aging stressors, and decreases the appearance of pores. And don't worry, it looks great under makeup.
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