All of us need hydration and tons of water in summer; our skin also needs to be hydrated in the right way. Drinking water is the first and most important way of hydrating your body, but the best moisturizers for summer can help a lot in maintaining healthy and youthful skin. We know that everyone has preferences in what to put on their face and skin. Bearing in mind some considerations such as skin type, sensitivity, budget, and special preferences towards some brand names, deciding on the best moisturizer might take a while.
We spent months trying different moisturizers for different skin types. We went for the most popular brand names, and also some of the new ones we believe have a promising future. After testing all these products, we made this list of the top moisturizers bearing in mind the different needs of different people. So, if you’re still confused and want a better moisturizer than what you’re using now, this list is for you.
Table of contents
- Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich
- Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
- Moon Juice Cosmic Cream
- TATCHA The Water Cream
- Dr. Jart Ceramidin Liquid Serum
- Peter Thomas Roth | Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
- Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
- Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
- La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Ultra Soothing Repair Face Moisturizer
- Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
- Olay Hydrating Regenerist Cream
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
- Our Verdict!
- How To Choose The Best Moisturizers for Summer Vacation?
- Why should I use moisturizers in summer?
- How many times should I moisturize my face?
- How should I apply a moisturizer?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich
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If you don’t know who Dr. Barbara is, you better get an idea before deciding on whether to buy one of her products or not. Dr. Barbara is a German dermatologist who calls for natural skin treatments, and Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Rich is one of those treatments. This cream is quite expensive; it’s the most pricey product we have tried, but let’s give you an idea about its ingredients which might justify the price. The main active ingredient in this cream is purslane, a natural antioxidant with vast effects in preventing aging and keeping the skin nourished and full of life. Since the philosophy of this brand is to maintain a healthy complexion without any surgeries, this cream is designed to prevent wrinkles, eye lines, and all signs of aging. It’s also a great moisturizer with an instant effect we have noticed immediately.
Pros
- It’s one of the best options for aging
- The main ingredient is a strong natural antioxidant
- It’s very hydrating
Cons
- It’s very expensive
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Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
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Sometimes, the design of the product is what attracts us first to try the product. This was the case with Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream. However, it wasn’t the design only that made us include this moisturizer on this list. We got it, tried it, and here are the results.
The product is more of a lotion, not a heavy cream. This texture is our favorite, especially for applying to the face, because it doesn’t leave any residue. The main ingredient of the product is TFC8 which is a combination of amino acids and vitamins that work together to rejuvenate the skin and give it a healthy appearance. About the packaging, it’s so unique, but we didn’t like the idea that it’s too expensive just for luxurious packaging.
“Anytime we get this moisturizer out of the bag to use, we got lots of questions about it and requests for a feedback. We think they did a great job in the design which seems to be a winning card.”
WOW Travel
Pros
- The moisturizer has a unique formula
- Its texture is perfect
- The design is very attractive
Cons
- It isn’t worth the expensive price
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Moon Juice Cosmic Cream
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Aging requires special care to maintain skin nourishment and vividness. As we found many products saying they’re suitable for elder women, not all of them provided us with what this age stage requires. We kept searching until we found Moon Juice Cosmic Cream with collagen protecting effect. This feature differs from artificially added collagen because it helps maintain natural collagen and prevent its loss, thus keeping your skin healthy and youthful. Further, the cream has Hyaluronic Acid ingredients that maintain water and keep your skin hydrated. The cream has other ingredients that are all useful for the skin. The whole process of manufacturing this cream is cruelty-free, which is another reason to love the cream. By the way, younger women can also use this cream; it isn’t only for oldies.
Pros
- It maintains natural collagen
- It’s cruelty-free, with no animal products
- The cream is suitable for old women
Cons
- It has an irritating smell
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TATCHA The Water Cream
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TATCHA The Water Cream is one of our favorites, considering the quality of the product itself and the packaging. Starting with the product, it’s a lightweight moisturizer; we didn’t actually feel it on our skin. It’s a real water cream that aims to hydrate and moisturize the skin without leaving your face greasy and too oily. Moreover, the ingredients are mostly derived from natural botanicals such as lilies and wild roses. They tried to limit the use of harmful chemicals as much as possible. You won’t find sulfates, parabens, or alcohol. For the best results, you might buy this cream with the tonic and deep cleanser from the same brand so you have a complete routine. You may check if this cream is suitable for your skin or not through TATCHA’s official website.
Pros
- The cream offers a lightweight moisturizer
- It has a very nice scent
- The packaging looks high-quality and attractive
Cons
- It might not be very hydrating for dry skin
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Dr. Jart Ceramidin Liquid Serum
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One of our reviewers doesn’t like the feeling of any creams or products with heavy texture on her face. Yet, she wanted to moisturize her skin, so it was a kind of a problem until we found Dr. Jart Ceramidin Liquid Serum. This moisturizer is a liquid toner; it’s applied using a cotton pad to distribute the product all over the face. Since it has a liquid formula, we didn’t feel the texture on our faces after a minute or two of applying the product. Another feature of liquid moisturizers is that they’re weightless on the skin. You can easily wear your makeup directly after applying this toner without waiting for the skin to absorb the product. We believe this moisturizer is one of the perfect moisturizers for travel. It won’t take up much space in the bag, and it’s a quick option for on-the-go outings.
Pros
- The cream is too light on the face
- It’s sold at an affordable price
- It’s suitable for travelers
Cons
- It might not offer enough hydration for dry skin
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Peter Thomas Roth | Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
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If you don’t like applying a moisturizer every day, there is a solution. Peter Thomas Roth | Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream promises to keep your skin hydrated for up to 72 hours. This is the longest effect of any moisturizer you might get. We wanted to test this particular feature, so we applied the moisturizer and left it for two days without any other products. It worked as promised, but one of our reviewers with oily skin didn’t feel so much comfortable with this moisturizer on her face. So, our test ended up recommending this product for normal and dry skin. Next, we wanted to test it as a makeup primer.
We did so, and the cloudy texture made it so easily absorbed by the skin. This will be a great option for summer days as a base under sunscreens. If you want to know more about the ingredients and the effects of each ingredient, watch this YouTube review video by Sarah Kwak.
Pros
- It has a large portion of hyaluronic acid for hydration
- The texture is great for normal and combination skin
- It has a long-lasting effect
Cons
- It isn’t the best for oily skin
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Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
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Made of essential oils and ceramides, Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream is one of the heavy moisturizers we tried that offers immediate hydration and soothing effects to the skin once applied. The product has the same texture as whipped cream. It might feel greasy or heavy for some people, but we liked it for the deep moisturization effect. Also, the formula doesn’t have any artificial fragrances, silicone, alcohol, or any harmful chemicals. Thus, it’s a safe option for sensitive skin. Although it’s a bit heavy, our skin could absorb all of the product, but it took a while. The results we got are worth waiting for, so give it a try if you don’t mind feeling cream on your face for a couple of minutes.
Pros
- It’s made of oils and ceramides
- It doesn’t have any harmful products or chemicals
- There is no scent for this product
Cons
- It might feel greasy on oily or combination skin
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Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream
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For healthy buddies who always go for the greens, Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream is their perfect moisturizer. This cream is made of kale, spinach, and green tea. It has many of the greens you love, so your skin will thank you for such a formula. As the name suggests, it’s a moisturizing cream for providing a youthful lively complexion to all skin types. Aside from the green ingredients, the cream also has vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid, and other active ingredients for healthy skin. We became fans of this moisturizer once we knew it’s also vegan and eco-friendly. We also loved its texture because it isn’t greasy and weightless for a light base on the face before applying makeup.
Pros
- It’s suitable for all skin types
- The formula has many natural green products
- It’s lightweight
Cons
- It’s a bit pricey for the pack size
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La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Ultra Soothing Repair Face Moisturizer
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Best for sensitive skin. Who has never heard of La Roche-Posay before? This brand has countless face and skincare products any woman might need. Since we were interested in moisturizers, we could browse many of their products and ended up with this La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Ultra Soothing Repair Face Moisturizer. We chose this one for people with sensitive skin because the formula is especially for such skin types.
The main function of the product is to moisturize; we found it excelling in its main task. It didn’t take too much time to show the results. If you have redness or itchiness, this moisturizer will do magic in a couple of days. The cream is very effective and moisturizing even for people with normal skin. You can find this cream everywhere, whether online or offline. It’s one of the best moisturizers at Walmart, Amazon, and most of the known marketplaces.
Pros
- It’s very suitable for sensitive skin
- The brand name is known for its quality products
- It’s free from most harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients
Cons
- The pump mechanism sometimes fails
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Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
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Best value for money. Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream is a very common option if you don’t like taking risks and trying new moisturizers not already tested and recommended by others. Although we had to try everything ourselves, we knew before trying that this cream will be one of our top favorites. It was one of the few products we all approved and liked. One of the reasons we became fans of the cream is that it’s packed with plant-based ingredients that really benefit the skin. Another reason is the bottle, which made it easier to use the cream and put it in our bag and use it whenever and wherever we want. We were also shocked with the price as we expected a more expensive product considering the ingredients.
Pros
- The cream is suitable for the face and body
- It’s full of active and useful natural ingredients
- The price is less than expected
Cons
- Some people are sensitive toward some of the ingredients
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First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
3
Best for dry skin. Suffering from itchy skin? Acne? Or dry skin? We were there before but not with First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. This moisturizer is truly a repair for any dry skin problems; you’ll feel it from the first few days of use. The cream has oatmeal in its ingredients which is known for its smoothing effect. The scent is shea, pear, or vanilla peach. We didn’t feel the scent was very strong, which is what we liked the most because we applied this cream to all our bodies.
Shea butter isn’t only for the scent in this cream but also for its additive moisturizing effect. You don’t even need to apply the cream to know how moisturizing it is; you can tell from its touch. The cream isn’t on the cheap side, but the pack is large enough to last for a long time. Also, we didn’t need to apply much of the product at once to cover the dry areas. The cream is already heavy and consistent.
Pros
- It’s suitable for sensitive skin
- The cream lasts for a long time
- The scent isn’t irritating
Cons
- It takes a longer time to get absorbed
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Olay Hydrating Regenerist Cream
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Best for all skin types. Olay Hydrating Regenerist Cream is mainly advertised as an anti-aging cream. When we looked at the formula, we found that, like most anti-aging creams, it’s designed to offer maximum hydration and protect the natural collagen in the skin so the complexion remains youthful and full of life. To see the results, we had to use the cream for a couple of weeks. We noticed an overall improvement in our skin, especially the fine lines under the eyes. The cream can be used during the day and night. It’s a saving option for women with tight budgets because you can use it as a day and a night cream. One product is just enough for a noticeable effect.
Pros
- The price is reasonable
- It’s suitable for all skin types
- The cream is made especially for aging
Cons
- It has some artificial chemicals in the formula
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
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If we’re to recommend just one product, it would be Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. This moisturizer is perfect for all seasons, not just the hot season. Its liquid base makes it suitable for all skin types as well. Even our reviewer with sensitive skin found it comfortable and hydrating. Since we’re more interested in summer creams, we believe the gel formula of this product is the best for a fresh cooling effect in summer. Further, we expected a high price for such a known brand with all the positive feedback on its products. Yet, we found the exact opposite; this moisturizer is one of the cheapest ever! We also loved how it lasts and keeps our skin hydrated for almost two days. For another honest review, watch this video from Skincare Cabinet.
Pros
- The gel formula has a cooling effect
- It’s quickly absorbed, but it keeps the skin hydrated for a long time
- The texture is weightless on the skin
Cons
- Some people didn’t like the fragrance
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Our Verdict!
We gave the top rank to Neutrogena Water Gel, but there are other options that are also ranked first regarding a specific criterion. So, if you’re looking for something special, check this list first.
- Best for dry skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
- Best value for money: Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
- Best for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Ultra Soothing Repair Face Moisturizer
- Best for all skin types: Olay Hydrating Regenerist Cream
How To Choose The Best Moisturizers for Summer Vacation?
Choosing a moisturizer needs special care because if you put the wrong product on your face, you might harm your skin. So, we listed below the three important features we consider when choosing a moisturizer for our personal use.
Skin type
We believe that all of you now know that people have different skin types, so it’s important to first know your own skin type. For oily skin, lighter moisturizers such as water gel moisturizers are more suitable. On the other side, dry skin needs something heavier and more moisturizing. Most products specify the type of skin that can use the moisturizer, so read this well before buying. Also, if your skin is sensitive, go for special products for sensitive skin.
Ingredients
We always recommend reading all the ingredients of any product you intend to buy to know if it suits you. We always go for natural products because we believe they have the least negative effects on any skin. Also, we love moisturizers with a degree of SPF to use in the morning without putting many products on our skin. Finally, vegan products and eco-friendly ones that don’t harm nature are also something we always seek.
Value for money
Some moisturizers are too expensive, and others are way cheaper. This isn’t always related to the quality or how effective they’re. In this feature, we always look for the value, not only the price. In other words, if the moisturizer has great ingredients and the bottle lasts for a long time, then it’s worth the money. Alternatively, cheaper products that don’t have any moisturizing effect aren’t worth a penny. Hence, you need to balance the price with the quality.
Why should I use moisturizers in summer?
You should use moisturizers in all seasons to keep your skin hydrated, nourished, and healthy. Moisturizers retain water in the skin and support skin barrier functions, so they’re necessary all the time.
How many times should I moisturize my face?
It depends on your skin type. Dry skin needs more moisturizing at least two times daily. Each product will have a recommended minimum time of use written on the pack.
How should I apply a moisturizer?
The most important thing is to have your skin clean before applying any product. Then, you can follow the instructions written on the bottle. Don’t apply too much of the product because your skin won’t be able to absorb all of this.