Product Review: Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream

Summertime skincare always brings, for me, a particular challenge. How do I continue to keep my skin moisturized and hydrated but without feeling greasy in the hot weather? As someone with naturally dry and dehydration-prone skin, skipping hydration steps and even foregoing the step of finishing my routine off with an occlusive cream is not not an option I have long-term. However, wearing creams on the face in the heat often makes me skin feel heavy clogged up whether or not a breakout appears or doesn't.

Enter , the perfect hybrid solution (housed in the most beautiful pink, satiny product I've ever seen): Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream. I have tried other thin, water-based "gel cream" moisturizers in the past. But this is something truly stand-out.

Packed with a combination of amino acids (something that I'm learning is a regular feature across a lot of Summer Fridays' products and ceramides, the Cloud Dew Gel cream's primary strength is its ability to simultaneously penetrate and to help build up and protect the skin's barrier. This means more protected skin from inflammation and more resilience towards environmental stressors and changes, but it ultimately translates too skin that feels so soft and smooth, yet fresh and breathable. That said, though it is incredibly wispy and lightweight to the touch somehow my skin, even when its most parched of dry spells, manages not to slurp up the cream within minutes, leaving me feel thirsty mere minutes after applying. I am not sure what technology or key ingredient could be responsible for this, but as someone who has experimented with many lighterweight moisturizers for summer use-- and has even quite enjoyed a few-- this is not a phenomena I have ever come across before.

As for its key ingredients, in addition to the amino complex and ceramides, the cream is fairly straightforward with lightweight hydrators including the all-powerful humectant hylauronic acid (in the form of sodium hyluronate) and a small amount of Vitamin C and mineral ingredients such as copper ferment for adding antioxidants to the skin. The cream also contains a small amount of pineapple fruit extract, which is said to add some brightness and, I feel, contributes to the overall smoothing effect and finish of the cream, that, when used in the day is lovely to put makeup overtop of, and at night, leaves you waking up with glowier skin right out of bed. Unlike in other products, though, I don't find the pineapple extract to be particularly resurfacing or exfoliating the way pineapple ENZYMES would be in breaking down dead skin cells. But I think this is a great option for brightening up the skin without using a stronger exfoliation product, which my skin, and I think most people's skin, can become sensitized too if they are used too frequently.

Overall, the Cloud Dew Oil-free Gel Cream from Summer Fridays has been both a treat to use and an answer to a real skin need for me., But whether you have dry skin or not, I think this product is worth a try, especially during the hot months or if you live in a hot or muggy climate year-round. Summer Fridays is continuing to be a favorite and trusted skincare line for me, and this is another winner to add to the list. You can find it at Sephora at certain stores and online for $42 USD.