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11 Gel Creams That Will Strengthen Your Skin Barrier

A stronger skin barrier = a healthier complexion

In the jar, this tansy-blue gel cream looks more like a fun science experiment than skin care: take a swipe of the pudding-like gel onto your finger and watch the remaining contents of the jar magically meld back together. But what's more important is how it affects skin: though light in texture, the cream boasts 20 percent humectants to hydrate like crazy, along with a proprietary blend of ingredients to help protect skin from blue light.

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This vegan gel not only strengthens the skin barrier with prebiotics, it also contains cica, a calming ingredient that neutralizes redness and is kind to sensitive skin. The fluid formula (75 percent of which is made of aloe and cucumber extract) is also our new go-to for sticky summer months: it smells like fresh celery juice and delivers a cooling sensation, which leaves skin feeling stimulated and awake, but not tingly.

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Looking for a summer moisturizer that delivers moisture and a glassy skin finish? This fragrance and oil-free gel packs hyaluronic acid to water deliver hydration and glycerin to lock it in — all at a price that won't break the bank.

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Mega hydrating is right: just the teensist amount of this ultrarich gel was needed to quench our particularly parched skin, wake up our under eye area and restore a bit of bounce. While some fans use a more generous portion as an overnight mask, a little more than a pea-size is just the amount needed for wear under makeup: any more might cause foundation to pill.

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If you're looking for a gel cream that acts more like an easy-to spread lotion than slippery jelly, try this version. It's made with prebiotics and probiotics to nurture the microbiome and bolster the skin barrier and sinks into skin easily. Bonus: the formula leaves a demi-matte and slightly tacky finish that doubles as a primer for makeup.

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BY ERIKA STALDER | MAY 21, 2020 | SHARES
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