Lightweight Skin Care Products You Need to Use This Summer

With warmer days and nights ahead—or perhaps already in full-swing— it’s time to pack up those heavy winter face creams and start thinking about lightweight products you can replace your arsenal with. Don’t know what to reach for? Don’t fret. We rounded up eight light and airy skin care products—from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands—to get you through the warm season, ahead. Behold: Your new go-to products for summer’s too-hot days!

FACE MIST

If you’re not already on the facial-mist bandwagon, summer is the perfect time to hop on board. Not only do these mists feel refreshing on a hot summer day, they also help hydrate dry skin! Midday skin boost, anyone? Best of all, there are plenty of different face mists out there to cater to a wide range of skin needs. One of our favorites is Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water. It boasts a unique blend of fifteen rare minerals, and can help protect the skin against environmental aggressors and visible signs of aging.

Editor’s note: The summer humidity can make my face look incredibly greasy, so I like to carry around a pack of blotting papers to touch up my skin mid-day. After the papers absorb my complexion’s excess shine, I follow up with a spritz of facial mist for a natural-looking glow. 

MOISTURIZER

During the steamy summer months, we like to trade in our thick face creams for products that are lightweight yet hydrating, such as water-based moisturizers. If you’re unfamiliar with water-based products, a few things to note: they’re typically gel or liquid consistency, and they often feel feather-light on the skin. L’Oreal Paris’ Hydra Genius Liquid Moisturizer for Normal/Dry Skin is a liquid formula that’s formulated with aloe water and three types of hyaluronic acid to quench the skin with moisture and keep it locked in all day long. Immediately, skin will feel plumped, hydrated and more supple.

Want to try a full water-based skincare routine? We’re giving you the how-to here.

COOLING FACE MASK

It’s just as important to keep on top of your skin care routine during summer as it is during any other season, but when it’s incredibly warm outside the thought of a thick clay mask may not be the most appealing. When the weather’s hotter than hot, reach for a cooling, refreshing gel mask instead! SkinCeuticals’ Phyto Corrective Masque is formulated with active botanicals of cucumber, thyme and olive, a calming dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid, and can help restore hydration and a radiant-looking complexion. Use it in any one of three ways: as a leave-on, rinse-off, or overnight mask. Apply a generous coat of the formula to freshly-washed skin and rinse after 10-15 minutes, or leave on overnight.

SUNSCREEN

Sunscreens come in all different shapes and sizes, but for summer we like to reach for one that’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and offers Broad Spectrum protection,  like Kiehl’s Super Fluid Mineral Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50+. This non-comedogenic formula is lightweight enough for use on sensitive and acne-prone skin, and is lightly tinted to enhance the skin’s natural tone! Ultra-sheer and virtually weightless, this mineral sunscreen will leave the skin with a matte finish. Be sure to reapply at least every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating and take other sun protection measures.

BB CREAM

Looking for a lighter alternative to your favorite foundation? Try a BB cream. They can offer sheer, lightweight coverage, and many are made with hydrating ingredients and even SPF! Lancome Bienfait Teinte BB Cream formula is enriched with antioxidants, Vitamin E and B5, offers Broad Spectrum SPF 30, and can help even the look of your complexion while providing all-day moisture. Choose from seven shades.

VITAMIN C SERUM

Antioxidants are an important addition to any skin care routine. One of our favorites? Vitamin C! When paired with a Broad Spectrum SPF daily, antioxidants can help provide the skin with an extra line of defense against harm. Try SkinCeutical’s C E Ferulic. The serum is formulated with—yup, you guessed it—vitamin C and can help protect the skin from skin-damaging free radicals.

To learn more about why antioxidants and SPF are two peas in a skincare pod, read this!

EYE CREAM

The eyes may be windows into the soul, but the eye contour also happens to be one of the top areas of skin where typical signs of aging first begin to appear. As such, be sure to give this area the extra TLC it deserves. In addition to covering up with a hat and UV-safe sunglasses, apply a daily eye cream. Better yet, an eye cream with Broad Spectrum SPF like SkinCeutical’s Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50.  The formula helps enhance the skin’s tone while providing Broad Spectrum SPF 50 protection for the eye contour. Plus, its non-migrating formula helps prevent irritation in this delicate area. To learn more about how to find the perfect eye cream for you, read our guide here.

ESSENCE

Essence is applied after toner and before serum, and actually resembles a unique union of the two products. While its liquid texture is similar to that of a toner, its formula is similar to that of a serum, just typically a bit less concentrated. Essences prime the skin for the application of serums, similar to the way makeup primers prep the face for foundation and concealer.

Kiehl’s Iris Extract Activating Essence Treatment helps nourish the skin and provides anti-aging benefits. The formula—with iris floretina root extract, sodium hyaluronate, and LHA—is tested to visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, dullness, and rough texture over time for skin that looks smoother and more radiant.  

Want to learn more about why this Korean beauty favorite belongs in your summer skin care arsenal? We break down the basics of essences, here!