As the weather (thankfully) gets warmer, I find my skin (also thankfully) start to shed its winter-ravaged dry patches. Since my skin tends to be on the drier, more dehydrated side, though, I can’t ever actually skip moisturizer—I just have to start reaching for lighter creams and serums as the temperatures start to rise. That’s where Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Cream ($17) comes in. This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer is formulated with a mix of hyaluronic acid, botanical extracts, and aloe vera to add supreme nourishment to the skin without leaving behind a heavy, sticky feel.

Mario Badescu, Oil Free Hyaluronic Dew Cream — $17.00

This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer contains a two molecular weight sodium hyaluronate complex, aloe vera, and botanical extracts to bring nourishment, hydration, and a glass-like texture to your skin.

So, why is incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skin-care routine so important, anyway? Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maei MD, Dr. Rebecca Marcus, says this hydrating substance naturally found in our skin, eyes, and joints can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water and helps provide hydration. “Hyaluronic acid comes in various molecular weights and sizes, and its size determines the level of the epidermis to which it penetrates,” says Dr. Marcus. “Smaller molecules dive deeper into the epidermis and provide deep hydration, while larger molecules stay closer to the surface and offer plumping, smoothing, and give skin bounce and glow.” In simpler terms, hyaluronic acid is like your skin drinking a gallon of water—and retaining it.

About the Hyaluronic Dew Cream

It’s not just about a product containing hyaluronic acid—it’s about how much is actually in the product. “Ideally a product should contain two or more molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid,” says Dr. Marcus. “The balance in the formulation is important so that it absorbs well and doesn’t sit on the surface of the skin or cause a sticky feel.” That’s exactly what you’ll find in the Hyaluronic Dew Cream, which contains a unique two molecular weight sodium hyaluronate complex to deliver powerhouse levels of hydration to the skin.

It also contains a mix of botanical extracts (thyme, green tea, and cucumber), and aloe vera, to help replenish, restore, and soothe the skin. “Combining these ingredients allows for the use of multiple beneficial ingredients in a single product, and is more convenient than using them separately,” says Dr. Marcus. She also explains that green tea extract helps protect skin by neutralizing free radicals, which helps prevent the breakdown of collagen and oxidative stress that can lead to premature aging.

Additionally, incorporating a lighter weight moisturizer like the Hyaluronic Dew Cream into your spring and summer skin-care routine helps skin from feeling too weighed down or greasy, says Dr. Marcus. “During spring and summer months, the ambient air is typically more humid than fall and summer,” says Dr. Marcus. “Skin is less likely to become overly dry and more likely to remain in balance. Lighter skincare products provide adequate hydration without providing too much of a good thing.” In other words, less is definitely more when it comes to spring and summer skin-care routines.

The review

Frankly, I can’t imagine my life without the Hyaluronic Dew Cream. I’ve long been a fan of incorporating as much hyaluronic acid into my skin-care routine as possible, and this moisturizer is no exception. I’ve turned to this little white and green tub consistently for more than 10 years, and definitely don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. It’s the second step in my morning skin-care routine, right after stepping out of the shower and applying serum. The consistency is right in the name—it is, in fact, a gel-cream formula, subtly toeing the line between both worlds.

It feels super cooling as it’s applied, and sinks right into skin without leaving behind any sticky residue. Every time I use it (and that’s every morning), my skin looks and feels immediately more bouncy, plumped, and hydrated. I’m left with a dewy glow and super-soft texture that, if I’m being perfectly honest, makes me want to caress my own cheeks. In all the years I’ve used it, it never makes me break out—plus, it lasts for a full 24 hours, so my skin is still fresh and nourished until my shower the next morning.

Like me, another Mario Badescu shopper loves how it makes her skin look and feel. “It absorbs quickly, makes my skin feel healthy and soft, and is a great value,” she writes in a 5-star review. “I have very sensitive skin and had no problem. I will purchase again!”

So, the takeaway? This gel-cream moisturizer is a must-have for spring and summer skin-care routines in need of lighter weight products. The under-$20 price tag doesn’t hurt, either. Pick it up for yourself here.