Gina is one awesome Canadian.  She is a Biochemist, a Master of Science, and drives a boat during the summer.  She is a beauty expert and will soon be a registered dietician.  I told you she was awesome. You can find her blog at Fixations of a Canadian Twentysomething. Thanks again for helping out, Gina!

I was recently asked to write a blog post about moisturizers that are light enough for summer, and also stay put in the heat. I’m sure that I’m not alone in changing up my moisturizers between winter and summer. I have very dry skin, which gets rough and flaky in the winter. I do my best to slather on creamy moisturizers every day & night to keep my moisture right where I want it! ☺

In the summer though, when it’s too hot and humid to add thick layers to my skin, I stick to a few light, yet effective, moisturizers. They stay put, they don’t add extra oil to the skin and they let skin breathe! Here are my favourites:

Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion

This moisturizer is a miracle cure! I don’t use it often, because I’m paranoid that my skin will get used to it. Then when I need its magic, my skin won’t react, so I use it sparingly. When my skin gets weird chemical burn-type patches on it, I use this moisturizer and it heals mega fast! It’s light, it kind of smells like dill pickle chips, and it WORKS. If you have crazy skin and you like dill pickles…this will be wonderful for you.

LUSH Cosmetics Imperialis Moisturizer

This is a great one for itchy/red/sensitive/dry skin. It’s got lavender in it (among other wonderful things) and kind of smells like baby powder. It is so light, and so refreshing. My face is naturally quite VASCULAR (as in, I always look like I’m blushing or sunburnt), and this stuff seems to calm things down. My redness is reduced and any itchiness is soothed.

Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin Moisturizer (with cotton extract)

I got this moisturizer to try as part of a product review program, and I’m still working through it. It’s a really great moisturizer. Very light, with almost no scent at all, and it doesn’t make my skin react. It doesn’t provide mega moisture, but I’m finding that it’s really nice for summer.

LUSH Cosmetics Full of Grace serum (heaviest thing I put on my face, at night or under moisturizer)

I just started using this serum bar and it is LOVELY. You just melt the bar in your hands a little bit, and rub the serum on your face. During the winter I use a heavy cream at night, but this is perfect for hot, humid nights! It soothes, relaxes and softens skin. It’s also light enough to be a base for another moisturizer!

LUSH Cosmetics Gorgeous Moisturizer

This is definitely a LUXURY moisturizer. I was fortunate to have a sample once, and it was the best-smelling, most lovely, skin-perfecting moisturizer I have ever tried. It’s about $80, and apparently is the same moisturizer Princess Di used… and I know why! ☺ If I could afford it, THIS would be IT. No substitutions, no exceptions.
Some day. ☺

Caudalie Serum & Hydrating Sherbet

I tried samples of these that came in my May Glymm Box, and they were actually so nice. Very light, with the most DELICIOUS scents, and my skin was so ridiculously soft each morning after using them. If they were ~$40 each, I would already own them. I would actually buy them just to smell them! Yum! ☺

Aside from daily moisturizers, I find that certain facial treatments are a must in the summer!

Due to excessive sun or wind exposure, especially on the water, my skin can get VERY unhappy in the summer. During these times I like to use a LUSH Cosmetics face mask. I use Oatifix to hydrate parched skin, and Cosmetic Catastrophe to soothe & calm redness from sunburns.

There are other masks of course, for oily skin, but these are the ones I use. I also like the Mask of Magnaminty, which is a minty LUSH mask that is extremely refreshing on hot hot days.

As for moisturizers to AVOID in the summer, there aren’t many that I’ve disliked, but here are the few I have in mind:

Any heavy cream, or “night cream”! The Green Beaver night cream I use in the winter, which is super thick, would probably suffocate me right now. There are also a few LUSH moisturizers that are heavier, such as Celestial or Cosmetic Lad, that I stay away from in the humid summer months. Makes me sweat just thinking about them…

In the past I’ve also had bad experiences with the Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizer (SO smelly! Like chemicals! And far too greasy) and Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer (too gummy/elastic-y, which freaked me out). I stay away from these. They feel like big ol’ greasy masks.

Now, which moisturizers do you love for summer? If you have oily skin, please share! I have no useful info for oily skin types. Also, if you have dry skin, please share! I want to learn about more products!

Since it’s summer though, no matter what moisturizers you use, SPF is a must throughout the day! I just started using the Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Water-Light Daily Face Sunscreen with SPF 60 and I love it. It is so light, has almost no scent (definitely no “sunscreen” scent), applies easily and is a great base for makeup! I’m really impressed with it and it’s small enough to carry around all the time. So no excuses!

Have a fantastic day everyone! For more stuff to read about skincare, nutrition, and froofy beauty stuff, come on over to my blog at Fixations of a Canadian Twentysomething! I’m always happy to take suggestions for topics!

Xoxo

Gina