11 Lightweight Gel Moisturisers To Keep Your Skin Glowing All Summer

AD info | Some of the products listed in this post are gifted but this does not change the way I feel about them. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.

I’m a huge advocate of switching up your skincare routine depending on the season. I have combination skin which is usually very dry in the winter and oily in the summer. This means that the lotions and creams I use when the weather is cold tend to be a bit too rich for my already dewy summer skin. But, even with the oiliness, I don’t want to cut moisturising out of my routine completely!

It’s a common misconception that oily skin doesn’t need any more moisture – excess sebum production can actually be a sign of dehydration! So, when summer arrives, don’t skip moisturiser altogether, simply switch up your routine to deal with the heat and humidity.

Even those with dry skin might want a break from their thick winter creams. And, just because a moisturiser is lightweight, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to keep your skin hydrated!

Here are my top gel moisturiser recommendations for all skin types this summer…

1. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Cream

SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella Cream is ideal if you’re looking for something light, but you also don’t want to compromise on hydration. The texture is somewhere between a gel and a lotion, so it feels instantly cooling when you apply it. It absorbs relatively quickly and, though it looks pretty dewy immediately after application, this does dry down to more of a skin-like finish (with a tiny bit of tackiness).

This cream is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients like centella asiatica, panthenol, adenosine and madecassoside which make it particularly suited to sensitive or reactive skin types. It also contains shea butter, betaine and ceramide NP to moisturise and protect the skin.

2. Skin Proud Sorbet Skin Everday Jelly Moisturiser

Not only does Skin Proud’s Sorbet Skin have the cutest packaging, it’s an amazing oil-free moisturiser for summer. This starts off as a gel but it quickly takes on a water-like consistency as it’s rubbed into the skin. The finish, once dried, is silky and soft. If you want a moisturiser that leaves your skin smooth but not shiny, this is it!

This contains four different forms of hyaluronic acid so you know it’s going to be hydrating. Having said that, I feel like combination and oily skin types will get on with this best – dry skin may need just a tad more moisture.

Sorbet Skin is fragranced, which may not work for really sensitive skin, but I don’t think it’s too heady or overpowering. I actually quite like the fresh, floral scent!

3. COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream

If you’re already a fan of COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, why not give the All in One Cream a try too? This has runny, gel consistency that is super unique – most moisturisers don’t tend to be quite as viscous as this one!

I love how gentle this cream is. The ingredients list is short and you can tell that nothing in here is surplus to requirement. Betaine, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin and panthenol all help soothe and moisturise the skin, while snail mucin (the key ingredient) also promotes wound healing and collagen production.

The only downside is that the dry down time is quite long, so it’s not the most convenient moisturiser to use if you’re in a hurry!

4. Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream

Byoma is all about barrier-boosting skincare that doesn’t contain harsh, stripping actives, so it’s no surprise that their Moisturising Gel Cream is a super gentle formula that keeps your skin barrier working at its best. Lightweight, fragrance-free and oil-free, this is a moisturiser that’ll suit most skin types.

Formulated with a bunch of skin-conditioning ingredients, like niacinamide, ceramide NP and panthenol, this gel cream locks in moisture and reduces inflammation. If you want something that fends of dryness and flakiness, even in the warmer seasons, this Byoma moisturiser is certainly worth a try.

5. One Trick Ponies 24/7 Moisturiser

If citrus scents are your thing, you might want to add the One Trick Ponies 24/7 Moisturiser to your beauty wish list. This smells zesty and fresh… but that’s not the only great thing about it. It contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter, soybean oil and squalene to support and protect the skin barrier, as well as humectants such as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to draw moisture in.

Like the SKIN1004 cream, this has a gel-lotion texture which gives it that super lightweight feel on the skin. Though this is a 24/7 moisturiser, I particularly like to use it in the morning as it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated all day, and my makeup sits so well on top.

6. Facetheory Supergel Oil-free Moisturiser

Like Skin Proud’s Sorbet Skin, Facetheory’s Supergel Moisturiser is another oil-free option that is perfectly suited to combination-oily skin types. This is SUPER lightweight. It honestly just feels like you’re massaging a gel-type serum into the skin, rather than a moisturiser.

This is unscented so it’s great for sensitive skin. It also contains soothing ingredients – such as green tea, chamomile extract and aloe vera – that you don’t always find in products geared towards oily skin. Add salicylic acid, lactic acid and niacinamide into the mix and you’ve got a moisturiser that hydrates and brightens while also fighting blemishes.

Looking for something with even more complexion-enhancing power? The new Supergel+ version contains all these good things, as well as prebiotics (to minimise pores and balance the skin’s microbiome) and increased salicylic acid (to control congestion).

7. Dermatica Soothing Centella Gel Moisturiser

Dermatica designed their Soothing Centella Gel Moisturiser specifically for acne-prone skin. It works in conjunction with your personalised treatment plan (if you have one), but can also be used as a stand-alone product if you’re just looking for a moisturiser that’s lightweight and won’t break you out.

This is chock full of skin-identical ingredients – such as ceramides, squalane and cholesterol – that keep the skin hydrated and healthy. It also contains centella asiatica and panthenol which have anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

If you’re interested in giving this one a try, use my code THESUMMERSTUDY2 for 10% off.

8. Innisfree Jeju Cherry Blossom Jelly Cream

If you want something that feels almost weightless on the skin, Innisfree’s Jeju Cherry Blossom Jelly Cream has you covered. This isn’t as hydrating as some of the other gel moisturisers on this list, but it leaves your face looking dewy and fresh nonetheless. This has a bouncy, watery texture which feels cool and refreshing, and absorbs into the skin effortlessly.

With ingredients like niacinamide, betaine and vitamin E, this jelly cream keeps the skin looking bright and radiant. If you’re looking for that sought-after glass-skin finish, this moisturiser is definitely one way to achieve it. It also makes a great primer because it leaves a slight tacky feel to the face.

9. Skin Proud Frozen Over Gel-to-Ice Hydrator

Summer weather calls for skincare that cools, hydrates and refreshes – nothing does this better than Skin Proud’s Frozen Over Hydrator! At room temperature, this is a clear, gel moisturiser, not too dissimilar to Innisfree’s Jelly Cream (if not a bit thicker). But pop this in the freezer for a couple of hours, and it takes on a really unique ‘slushy’ consistency which makes it even more soothing.

This moisturiser contains three different forms of hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated, as well as classic anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera and allantoin. Freezing it for a little bit only adds to its benefits. When in its icy state, this cooling gel helps de-puff the skin and reduce swelling.

10. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream

Not to be mistaken for the Madagascar Centella Cream (the names are VERY similar!), SKIN1004’s Soothing Cream is a beige, gel moisturiser that’s been formulated to help repair the skin barrier. This contains loads of skin-identical ingredients – cholesterol, phytosphingosine and ceramides EOP, AP and NP (to name just a few) – so it’s a really great choice for sensitive, easily irritated skin.

This has a pretty similar texture and finish to the other SKIN1004 centella moisturiser. Despite being described as creams, both are actually lightweight gels that offer lots of hydration and dewiness. If you’re after a gel moisturiser that’ll give your skin a healthy glow and your moisture barrier a boost, you can’t go wrong with this one.

11. Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream

For the ultimate moisture barrier repair product, look no further than Skinfix’s Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream. The clue is very much in the name here, this gel moisturiser helps to strengthen the skin barrier and increase hydration. With soothing ingredients like squalane, allantoin and hyaluronic acid, and the inclusion of sebum-controlling zinc PCA, it’s no wonder that this is loved by all skin types.

This is a really versatile product, so I get use out of it no matter the season. In summer this is hydrating enough to wear as a moisturiser alone, and in winter I tend to apply this underneath a thicker cream for an extra bit of protection against the elements.

So, there you have it – my top lightweight, gel moisturisers for summer. Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments.