Spending the better part of winter shielding ourselves from the icy breeze and rampant rain, there’s no doubt that the imminent arrival of summer has us feeling rather, well, excited.
The arrival of warmer weather down under brings both long days sunbathing by the sea and balmy nights sipping cocktails, but it’s not just the climate that requires a freshen-up.
As the sun amps up its strength, it makes sense that our focus shift toward protecting our skin from the harsh environment. Aside from the obvious SPF requirements, many forget to look to their moisturiser for protection.
Keeping your SPF sweat-free, a thinner and lighter formula keeps moisture locked in without overwhelming the pores during a sweaty summer—the precise reason why sticking to a winter moisturiser has likely added a few pimples to your complexion.
There are a plethora of moisturisers on the market, however, that can make it somewhat tricky to narrow down the must-haves.
Luckily, switching up your moisturiser doesn’t need to be difficult, since we’ve done all the hard work for you. Below, we’ve rounded up the best summer moisturisers in Australia right now.
Best Moisturisers For Summer
Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream is an aromatic soothing moisturiser which combines essential oils to restore youthful vitality and suppleness to dehydrated, ageing skin. Especially formulated for sensitive, dry or dehydrated skin, Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream is also suitable for treatment of Rosacea and Eczema affected skin.
Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly by Clinique
Boasting a 24-hour hydrator, Clinique’s Hydrating Jelly locks in the moisture and strengthens skin’s moisture barrier, all while improving resiliency. Its unique water-jelly texture feels fresh, and penetrates the skin quickly. With an oil-free formula, the product is non-sticky, leaves no residue and ensures skin is smooth, strong and healthy.
$62 at Adore Beauty.
Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream by Kiehl’s
Weightless and water-based, this cream packs a powerful punch! A true multi-tasker, it’s formulated with calendula herbal-extract to help even skin tone and boost radiance, while also working to calm irritation and redness.
$69 from Kiehl’s
Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream by Youth To The People
Formulated with a proprietary superfood extract blend of kale, spinach, and green tea, it helps to fight free radicals, and cross-linked hyaluronic acid to replenish and strengthen skin barrier function for healthy-looking skin. The lightweight moisturiser works best for combination and oily skin.
$90 at Sephora.
Calm Water Gel by Dermalogica
Suitable for all skin types (including sensitive skin), this highly absorbent gel moisturiser is perfect for giving your skin some much-needed H2O when the hotter months take over. It features hyaluronic acid, which works to lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration.
$79.30 at Adore Beauty.
Very Useful Face Cream by Go-To Skincare
Hydrating and lightweight, this daily moisturiser defends skin against premature ageing and boasts powerful antioxidants CoQ10, as well as amla berry—known to have 30x more antioxidants than oranges—and a plethora of replenishing oils and butters. Replenishing dry, dehydrated skin, it ensures your skin is thoroughly hydrated, supple, smooth and soft.
This lightweight moisturiser ensures the appearance of brighter, plumper, smoother and more youthful skin. Packed with Vitamin E and an array of breakthrough ingredients, Magic Cream Light offers 24 hours of powerful hydration with a satin finish and triple protection from blue light given off digital screens, as well as pollution and UVA rays. It offers a veil-like texture that is ultra hydrating and perfect for the summer months.
$149 at Charlotte Tilbury.
Water Drench Hydrating Moisturiser by Peter Thomas Roth
A potent moisturiser with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid that transforms atmospheric vapor into fresh, pure water. It also provides your skin with a continuous burst of intense hydration that lasts up to 72 hours. Packed with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, ProHyal+® and antioxidant-rich elderberry, the cream helps curb signs of ageing, with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles visibly reduced, leaving a silky, hydrated, and more youthful-looking complexion.
$85 at Sephora.
Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream by Aesop
Ideal for normal to oily and combination skin types, this ultra-light moisturiser is great for warm weather. Boasting a brilliant formula of top-notch ingredients, its potent hazel base is quickly absorbed, while the fresh, citrus scent cools and calms the skin.
$90 from Adore Beauty.
The Water Cream by Tatcha
Oil-free and vegan, Tatcha’s The Water Cream is a cult-favourite for a reason. Loaded with Japanese superfoods, the gel-like cream is lightweight, fast-absorbing and non-greasy to help reduce the appearance of pores all while transforming into an instantly dewy base for makeup.
$97 at MECCA.
Looking to save money on summer moisturiser? Check out our coupon codes for Sephora, Adore Beauty and more.