The 10 Best Gel Moisturizers Are Saving My Oily Skin This Summer
My skin barrier is rejoicing right now.
I just got microneedling for the first time and am in the flaky portion of the healing process, so I’ve been slathering all the deeply hydrating lotions and potions that I can find onto my face. However, once my skin is properly healed, I will be going back to my tried and true favorite products to mooisturize and soothe my skin. That means it's time to bust out the best gel moisturizers for summer that are also suitable for acne-prone skin.
As someone with oily skin but who simultaneously loves a good, intentional glow, I’ve had to be pretty strategic with the moisturizers that I use, as well as when I use them. That means opting for thicker, more emollient formulas in the winter when the dry air sucks the life out of every inch of my skin, but scaling back in the summer when my skin naturally produces more sebum. This is where my favorite gel moisturizers come into play. Not only do these formulas provide a hit of moisture to keep my skin barrier in check, but they don’t feel super heavy on the skin, which is key to surviving a hot, humid New York summer. Even better, they’re a fantastic option for acne-prone skin types, as many gel moisturizers tend to also be oil-free, which is one less potentially pore-clogging ingredient in your beauty routine.
With that being said, don’t mistake these lightweight formulas for being ineffective—they’re anything but. “While heavier moisturizers are thicker and have more occlusive ingredients, lightweight moisturizers have more humectants," Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD, previously told Marie Claire. These are water-attracting substances that pull moisture into the skin by drawing it from the air or deeper layers of the skin. When shopping for gel moisturizers, look for words like glycerin, urea, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides on the ingredient lists to ensure your skin will receive adequate moisture.
Of course, there are a few gel moisturizers that I swear by, and I have curated a list of them for your perusal below. Whether you’re in the same oily-skinned boat or are simply looking for a lightweight moisturizer for your hot-weather beauty routine, keep reading for the best gel moisturizers that will have you wondering why you didn’t try them sooner.
Tatcha is one of my favorite skin care brands, and part of the reason is that there is something in the line for everyone. I obsess over the Dewy Skin cream every winter, and like clockwork, every spring and summer, I switch over to the Water Cream. This formula soaks into my skin quickly and easily, and makeup goes on perfectly when I use it as skin prep.
No one knows acneic skin like Sofie Pavitt, so of course, the brand came out with its own gel moisturizer, adorably named Skin Jelly. A few pumps cover my entire face in a veil of moisture, and speaking of my previously-mentioned microneedled skin, I’ve used this formula to help calm my irritation, and it’s been doing wonders to help address the extra sensitivity .
This is one of the first high-end moisturizers that I ever used, gel or otherwise, and it’s still one of my favorites. Everything from the super hygienic pump packaging to the hyaluronic acid-rich formula made this moisturizer a dream to use4 and now that I’m writing this, I’m definitely going to put it back into my rotation.
Biossance is one of my favorite brands for sensitive skin, and this moisturizer is largely a part of the reason why. Compared to some of the other formulas on this skin, this one feels a little more emollient, likely due to ingredients like squalene, glycerin, and allatonin. Still, it doesn’t clog the pores like some richer moisturizers tend to, so if you want the richness of a thick, oil-based moisturizer without all the pore clogging, pick this up.
Byoma is one of my favorite acne-safe brands (seriously, this glass skin mask is incredible), so it was no surprise that I fell in love with the Acne Control Moisturizer when I first tried it. Not only is the massive bottle a fabulous bang for your buck, but the formula is packed with ceramides, salicylic acid, glycerin, and more, which you wouldn’t even be able to tell because of how featherlight it feels on the face.
If you want a gel moisturizer specifically to help with acne, Peace Out is one of my favorite brands. Salicylic acid and niacinamide combine to gently exfoliate and minimize the appearance of pores, plus it comes with a small applicator to keep the jar of product germ-free.
One of the most cosmetically elegant brands out there, Ranavat, has a pore-refining moisturizer that would please even the biggest luxury-beauty obsessive. A combination of humectants and floral acids refines and hydrates the skin, while Ashwagandha helps to soothe irritation. Even better, all of these ingredients are housed in the chicest glass bottle known to man. A win-win if you ask me.
Any fan of a French pharmacy knows and loves Avène, and I am here to double down on why everyone is obsessed with this brand. The cream-in-gel formula features ingredients like hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides, both of which are praised for providing deep hydration and anti-aging benefits to the skin. The best part about this cream is that it can also be used as a face mask—just apply a thicker layer and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, or overnight, if you’d like.
If you want a gel moisturizer that leaves you matte, La Roche-Posay has you covered. The Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer has all of the skin-loving ingredients that we already know and love, like ceramides and niacinamide, but when you’re done with your skin-care routine, your skin won’t be extremely dewy. It’s fabulous for skin prep before doing a full makeup routine, and I’ve even used it as a spot touch-up in a pinch, and it took my shine away instantly.
For less than six dollars, The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan can seriously hold its weight against the other formulas on this list. A little goes a long way, so err on the side of caution when applying so that you don’t use too much at once, but once you feel the texture of this moisturizer on your skin, you’ll never want to be without it again.
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Meet the Expert
Dr. Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and content creator.
