By no means am I a “skincare snob.” While I appreciate a good, brightening vitamin C serum and the occasional peel, my skincare routine is fairly uncomplicated compared to those of the most diehard beauty buffs.

However, there is one product I simply won’t skimp on, and that’s moisturizer. When I’m not writing, I spend most of my time outside on the water (my partner is a professional fishing guide, so most days, I go straight from work to the boat). That said, days in the salt and the sun can wreak havoc on my skin, and I’ve found that—in addition to a derm-approved sunscreen, of course—a hydrating moisturizer is just something I can’t live without. And of all the one’s I’ve tried, Belif’s True Cream Aqua Bomb ($38) continues to reign as my supreme face cream.

TIP

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Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb — $22.00

The gentle moisturizer effectively hydrates your skin without feeling heavy.

I first fell in love with Belif’s cream back in 2019. I wasn’t on the hunt for one back then, but the minute I tried it (a gift from a friend), I became an instant loyalist. Since that day, I haven’t looked back.

That’s because, as its name suggests, Belif’s Aqua Bomb is quite literally an aqua bomb for your face. Twist off the sleek lid you’ll find a blue gel-cream moisturizer that resembles a puddle of solidified water—it’s as pretty to look at as it is to wear. Put it on, and it melts over your skin for a burst of instant hydration in clear, radiant finish. I swear, if someone bottled the feeling of freshwater splashing your face on a hot, summer day, it would be this lotion.

While other hydrating face creams and moisturizers can leave you greasy and sticky, Belif’s product is water-based to “flood” the skin with featherlight moisture that won’t weigh down your face. There are no oils, dyes, preservatives, or fragrances—it’s formulated to be weightless on all skin types. And while other water-based gel-creams provide that instant, cooling sensation for a few minutes, Belif’s actually lasts, which is why it’s one of the only moisturizers I use for all-day comfort.

Its benefits surpass hydration. Scan the ingredients list and you’ll find malachite (a copper-rich antioxidant that aids against free radicals), oat husk (for nourishment and moisture) and Lady’s Mantle (another antioxidant that reduces the look of pores.) All in all, Belif Aqua Bomb really is that good—not just for feeling great, but for giving tired, thirsty skin the nourishment it deserves.

Quench your summer skin with a tall drink of my go-to moisturizer, guaranteed to leave you with dewy, just-stepped-out-of-the-pool, hydrated skin. True to its name, it really is the bomb.

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