Ask Belle: Light Moisturizer Recommendations
Jun 15, 2015
Hi Belle,
I’ve never worn moisturizer before. I know, I know, but I didn’t need it until I moved from humid South Carolina to Oklahoma. I’ve picked up a few samples but everything is so heavy. Do you know of something light?
Thanks for your help! Mel
Lightness is in the eye of the buyer. The best thing you can do is exactly what you’ve been doing, sampling. But let me see if I can guide your search.
My favorite light moisturizers come from the drugstore. I like Say Yes to Tomatoes Daily Treatment. I’m also a fan of Yes to Blueberries Daily Repairing Moisturizer.
If you’re looking for something in a higher price point, Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation is the best sheer moisturizer on the market (in my opinion). A few of my friends are also big fans of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer.
Another option is to use just a couple of drops of light Argan Oil. Josie Maran makes a light version of her Argan Oil. She also offers a daily moisturizer infused with Argan.
If readers have other recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments.
I live and die by Olay’s Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid. It wakes my face up in the mornings, and it moisturizes my face at night. At under $10/bottle, you have no excuse not to try it!
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is the only one light enough that I don’t break out. Hydrating without an ounce of stickiness or heaviness, leaves your skin totally matte: https://www.sephora.com/dramatically-different-moisturizing-gel-P122900
Amen! Just the right amount of moisture.
One of my favorite light ones is Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer. It has a little SPF in it, but very lightweight and doesn’t sweat off. I have sensitive skin and this does not bother it at all.
If you don’t like wearing moisturizer because it feels so heavy I recommend getting something that has SPF in it already – one less thing to wear.
This doesn’t have SPF but I looooooove Origins’ GinZing. It’s gel-like in its consistency. I wore it under my wedding makeup (don’t want SPF making me look ghostly). I wear Origins’ VitaZing daily, for the SPF. It’s heavier but worth it for the protection.
I like the new Neutrogena Hydor Boost Gel Cream. It smells beautiful and it makes my skin feel dewy. I have oily skin and only use it when my skin is parched from environmental impact, but it’s a total skin quencher.
I’m a longtime Neutrogena user. I currently use their Oil-Free Moisture with SPF 35 in summer which is lighter, then switch to Healthy Defense with SPF 50 in winter which I need with the colder, drier air.
Try the DDF moisture dew. Really nice-moisturizing but not heavy at all.
My dermatologist recommends Cerave cleanser and moisturizer from the drugstore, and you can layer whichever SPF product you want on top of that!
Definitely go with a gel moisturizer like the Origins ginzing or the Neutrogena Hydra boost.
I really like Cerave PM and get it on Amazon. I like it because it’s light, doesn’t have sunscreen (the AM one has sunscreen in it) and doesn’t have a lot of stuff to react with my sensitive skin.
Jumping on the gel bandwagon as well. Clinique moisture surge and Ole Henrickson nurture me (smells amazing, like oranges) are all heavy in terms of providing moisture but feel super lightweight on the skin and absorb quickly.
+1 for Clinique Moisture Surge (light pink…don’t let them sell you on the heavier light purple formula). I hate the feel of moisturizers but this is light, makes my skin look and feel good, doesn’t make me break out, and one little tub lasts for months and months. No SPF but I’d rather wear that separately anyways. I’m guessing they have samples at the Clinique counter.
I second Trace on the Clinique Moisture Surge – it is totally non-greasy and seems to go straight into the skin.
I like Garnier’s gel moisturizer. I also like Clinique’s Stay-Matte Hydrator. I have super oily skin (like teenage boy oily) and those are the only two things I’ve ever used that don’t make it worse.
I use pure Argan oil as my only moisturizer (I get it at Whole Foods). My skin always feels so soft and it’s the only way I can moisturize at night without breaking out
I’ve been using La Fresh Eco-Beauty’s Good Day moisturizer after I got it in an Ipsy bag and fell in love. Light, smells good, and doesn’t make me break out.
I use bareMinerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for Combination Skin, which I love. I also second the DDF Moisturizing Dew for something ultra lightweight.