The Best Summer Moisturisers For Every Skin Type

Your skin care routine should change as the seasons change too! Have you switched your moisturiser to something more summer-friendly yet?

Summer means sunshine, swimsuits, sandals and a new skin care routine! It’s a season that requires you to change your daily skin care to products that are more lightweight, and where less really means more.

We reckon moisturiser is the most crucial product to switch during summer. Regardless of your skin type, moisturisers are important to help lock in hydration along with all the benefits of your other skin care products like essences, serums or ampoules used prior. In the summer, the key is to pick a moisturiser that is lightweight, breathable, and won’t overwhelm your skin in the heat and humidity.

Related article: 7 Ways to Transition Your Skin Care Routine for Summer

Here, we've selected some of our favourite lightweight summer moisturisers for every skin type. Read on to know your perfect match!

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin and think you can go moisturiser-free, think again! During summer, we tend to engage in more outdoor activities that break down the skin barrier—like swimming, for example. If you skip moisturiser, your oil glands will actually become hyperactive and overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of hydration. The key is to find the right moisturiser for your skin type, preferably a lightweight lotion with calming ingredients for summer.

Check out I'm From's Mugwort Cream, which is made with 73.55% mugwort extract to soothe and moisturise irritated, red or troubled skin, without leaving any stickiness or heaviness behind. Rich in minerals and vitamins, Korean mugwort is known for its ability to restore youthful skin, and its amazing calming and detoxifying properties. This cream also has a watery-butter texture that feels lightweight, but not to the point where it disappears completely from your skin after application.  

Another moisturiser we would recommend with that unique in-between-gel-and-cream texture is the Klairs Fundamental Water Gel Cream. Formulated with 63.7% Jeju Green Tea Water and Panthenol, this unique moisturiser will provide deep hydration with a lightweight finish that's perfect for babes with oily skin.

Normal Skin

If you tend to have a balanced complexion but just veer on the shinier side in the warmer months, try a lightweight moisturiser with brightening or anti-wrinkle properties.

Innisfree’s Jeju Cherry Blossom Jelly Cream is packed with antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory cherry blossom extract to deliver a massive amount of hydration to skin, while helping with irritated skin, uneven skin tone, and dark spots. Revitalisation is this moisturiser’s aim, and it will work well under your makeup and sunscreen.

Pro tip: Pop this moisturiser in the fridge when it’s hot outside. You’ll love the feeling of a cold moisturising gel that’s extra icy!

Dry Skin

Looking for a moisturiser that can help boost moisture without suffocating your skin? Sick of seeing only gel moisturiser recommendations for summer? Meet Klairs' Rich Moist Soothing Cream! Packed full of nourishing ingredients like beta-glucan, jojoba oil, and ceramides to protect the skin and keep it healthy, this cream will keep dry skin moisturised without feeling too greasy or heavy.

Related article: Do's and Dont's for Dry Skin

Combination Skin

This fickle skin type needs a moisturiser that can help balance the skin, providing moisture in dry zones like the cheeks, and balancing excess sebum in areas like the T-zone. Look for a lightweight moisturiser that can be layered, like the COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion, which contains 70% Birch Sap to effectively restore moisture and maintain your skin's hydration level.

Sensitive Skin 

Benton's best-selling Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel not only hydrates, but also helps soothe the skin, making it the perfect summer moisturiser for sensitive skin! Aloe is a great calming ingredient for summer, especially if your skin is suffering from sun exposure. Its second star ingredient, propolis, is a powerful moisturising ingredient that’s also anti-bacterial.