Swapping winter-appropriate skincare for alternatives better suited to summer has been an absolute game-changer. I didn't realize how weighed down I felt—literally and figuratively—until I cleaned out my medicine cabinet. So long, heavy moisturizing creams. Goodbye, thick serums. See you later, rich cleansers. Instead I'm relying on hydrating mists and lightweight gel textures, which have the added bonus of feeling extra refreshing if you store them in the fridge. Full disclaimer: Some of these products were provided to me as samples, while some of them were purchased. Now that that's out of the way, read on for the summer skincare essentials I'll be rocking for the next couple of months!
Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly ($36 at London Drugs)
Summer heat usually means more sweat and oilier skin, making it a great time to swap out a heavy moisturizer for a light one. Clinique's Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is oil-free and has a lightweight texture halfway between water and jelly, while the formula's 24-hour hydration and Clean Shield Technology purport to lock in moisture and filter out pollution. I love how refreshing this moisturizer feels when you first apply it—particularly in the mornings—and the anti-pollution benefits are great in a season where the air might contain anything from urban smog to wildfire smoke. $36 for a giant 125 ml pump bottle is pretty reasonable. If your summer beauty budget only allows for one skincare swap, this is it.
My tips with this moisturizer? First, stick to one pump of product for your face and neck; too much and you'll feel it sit on top of your skin in a sticky film. Second, instead of rubbing or spreading the moisturizer around on your face, spread it across clean hands and gently press the product into skin. That way, the moisturizer's slippery water-jelly consistency is less likely to disturb any toners, essences, or serums you've already applied.
Juice Beauty Prebiotix Viola + Kumaru Hydrating Gel Moisturizer ($73)
Juice Beauty's green apple peel helped me achieve an otherworldly glow before our wedding, so you can imagine my excitement at being able to try their recently launched Prebiotix Viola + Kumaru Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. The specs are impressive from a green beauty perspective. Viola flower, chia, and coconut extract are supposed to protect skin and lock in moisture. Fermented kumaru promises to boost luminescence, while fermented American bamboo smooths skin and provides an antioxidant boost. The formula is also vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free. I haven't noticed any out-of-this-world results from using this moisturizer, but I adore its texture. This is a non-greasy, quick-absorbing gel that doesn't pill or leave behind a sticky residue. I've mainly been using it at night; when I wake up my skin always looks refreshed and more even-toned. It doesn't pill or leave behind a sticky residue, and has an "expensive natural spa" scent to it that's just heavenly. In other words, this moisturizer is a true sensory delight in every way.
Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel ($71)
Biossance has been on my radar for a while as a natural skincare brand to try, but I didn't have the opportunity until recently when I found myself out of eye cream and scanning the aisles at my local Sephora. This cool-to-the-touch eye gel feels refreshing immediately upon application and is light, quick-absorbing, and non-greasy (so you know it won't clog pores and give you milia). Peptides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid are supposed to nourish and brighten, moisturize, and hydrate respectively. Aside from a bevy of impressive-sounding natural extracts, the formula also has a touch of dimethicone crosspolymer for a silkier texture and caffeine to help de-puff. Only time will tell if this is a Holy Grail eye cream, but for now I like it a lot.
If you haven't checked out my post on this affordable, up-and-coming Parisian natural skincare brand, do it now. Suffice to say the antioxidant serum, micellar water, and gel cleanser have all become part of my daily routine.
Trader Joe's Rose Water Facial Toner
I'm all for a natural beauty find, and when it's under $10 and available at the grocery store even better! I have no idea if this is still in stock at Trader Joe's as I bought it a while ago. What I do know is this is a lightweight blended rosewater mist that hydrates and tones. Best of all, it doesn't leave any film or residue no matter how many times you spritz throughout the day. I like using this as a calming toner mornings and evenings; the nozzle produces a fine enough mist that I don't need to use cotton pads at all.
Korres H2Rose Hydrating Face Mist ($44 at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Another hydrating rosewater face mist, this time with a slightly higher price tag and an added function. The nozzle on the Korres H2Rose Mist doesn't produce as fine a mist as the Trader Joe's version, so I have to spray it further away from my face and sort of "lean into" the mist, and it leaves behind a slightly sticky film. For these reasons I haven't been using it as much. However, the Korres H2Rose Mist is excellent for lightly setting summer makeup without the use of powder or silicones.
Now, at this point sharp-eyed readers may have noticed that I didn't discuss the Milkshake leave-in conditioner shown in the first photo, nor did I talk about sunscreens. Both are coming up in later posts. Until then, enjoy the summer!
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