Notice the weather change? Yes, the heat is on and sun rays are out. If you’re anything like us, the last thing you want to do is slather heavy and sticky cream all over your face. By midday, all the perspiration and oil on your face would have given you the shiniest skin you could ever have, and no one wants that, right?
Yet you can’t forego the face cream because a good moisturiser is crucial for soft and radiant skin. For that to happen, you need your daily dose of hyaluronic acid (for the uninitiated, this gel-like molecule holds 1,000 times its weight in water). To put it simply, it seals moisture in, hydrating your skin thoroughly.
So does that mean you have to power through the rich creams and just stay in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible? No. Fortunately for us, there are hydrating gel moisturisers out there that contains hyaluronic acid and they feel oh-so-cooling on the face. Plus, you can pat some over your makeup at any point of the day to freshen up and keep your skin hydrated. To help you out in your decision process, we’ve put together a list of gel moisturisers that are lightweight and hydrating – perfect for our hot and humid weather.
This gel cream from Kiehl’s works synergistically with our natural oils to reduce shine, leaving your skin more even-toned and fresh to the touch. Non-greasy and easily absorbable, it promises to balance the skin’s barrier, ultimately locking in moisture for deep hydration.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream, $49
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
Known for its cutting edge skincare technology, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is one of the brand’s bestsellers. Spiked with vitamin B5 to nourish your skin and hyaluronic acid to seal in moisture, it leaves the skin more supple and smooth without clogging up pores.
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, $75.80 from Lazada
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
Formulated with a soothing botanical complex, this Multi-Solution gel works hard for you – it promises to address problems due to stress and external aggressors. Gently pat it onto your face whenever, even with makeup on. Light and suitable for all skin types, including breakout-prone skin, Shiseido’s Ibuki Multi-Solution gel is dewy and feels really refreshing on the face.
Shiseido Ibuki Multi-Solution gel, $57
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
Freshen up your day with this Aqua Gel Oil-Free Moisturiser from Nars. Enriched with ingredients that improve water retention and skin tone, it hydrates and fortifies dehydrated skin, lending you a firmer and more radiant complexion.
Nars Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturiser, $85 from Tangs
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
Lancome’s new Energie De Vie line cares for you with a burst of anti-fatigue hydration. The Smoothing & Glow Liquid Care is a lightweight lotion that’s easily absorbed and nourishes your skin thoroughly with a suite of active ingredients. Filled with antioxidants, this acts as an anti-pollution shield as well, leaving you with a smoother and illuminated complexion.
Lancome Energie De Vie The Smoothing & Glow Liquid Care, $160 from Sephora
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
A gentler and more eco-friendly line by Dior, the Hydra Life Fresh Hydration Sorbet Cream is formulated with mauve and haberlea leaf, both of which are said to moisturise and strengthen the skin’s natural defenses. We love the celadon blue creme-gel texture, which is ultra lightweight, easy to apply and very hydrating.
Dior Hydra Life Fresh Hydration Sorbet Cream, $85.40 from Lazada
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
A contemporary reworking of the iconic Creme De La Mer, this cooling gel version contains a concentrated dose of the brand’s popular nutrient-rich Miracle Broth. Delivering the same radiance, renewal and suppleness as the original version, this subtly scented salve applies on fresh and light with a velvety finish, making it the ideal moisturiser for warm-weather days.
La Mer Gel De La Mer, $290 from Tangs
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
A gel cream that feels incredibly light on the face, Laneige’s Water Bank Gel Cream is a cooling rescue cream that soothes sensitive skin. Infused with a soothing mineral water, this K-Beauty favourite delivers long-lasting hydration for that coveted Korean glow.
Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream, $38.90 from Lazada
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
The first-ever cream with so-called micro-droplets of camellia extract, Chanel’s new Hydra Beauty Micro Creme helps in fortifying, replenishing and hydrating the face all day, every day. The camellia flower extract delivers intense moisturisation while the blue ginger extract acts as an antioxidant that offers up protection from free radical damage, so your skin stays as soft and plump for as long as possible.
Chanel Hydra Beaute Micro Cream, $136
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out
Is your complexion looking too tired and dull? Then let it breathe in new life with Philosophy’s Take A Deep Breath gel cream. Oil-free and oxygenating, it is formulated to help restore and freshen up dull complexions. It’s said to contain an exclusive clean-air technology that strengthens the skin’s barrier, leaving it fresher, healthier and better able to defend itself against damaging free radicals.
Philosophy Take A Deep Breath Oil-Free Oxygenating Gel Cream, $54 from Sephora
READ MORE: Soothe your stressed out skin with the power of flowers and staycation packages you should check out