We'll start this roundup off with one of the most iconic water gel creams on the market: Belif's The True Cream Aqua Bomb. This product actually put the beloved K-beauty brand on the skin care map — and it helped to inspire a whole line, including the Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask, $34, and Aqua Bomb Jelly Cleanser, $28, (both amazing, by the way). At any rate, the mega-popular gel moisturizer is made with antioxidant-rich lady's mantle and malachite, plantin to seal moisture, and oat husk to attract moisture from the air.
This one comes to you fresh off the Guerlain assembly line and, true to the brand, it's hella splurgy but damn good. The nifty gel cream can be used on its own instead of a cream, or you can layer it with your favorite moisturizer. It utilizes the same aqua complex that's in the line's other Super Aqua products, which helps bolster the skin's barrier function, locks in moisture, and plumps up the skin to nix fine lines all day long.
If Guerlain feels too bougie for your bank account, you'll probably love this budget-friendly gel moisturizer, a major drugstore favorite. It's a super lightweight formulation that boosts hydration, locks in moisture, and keeps skin feeling soft and hydrated, without any of the greasy stuff.
We'd be remiss to not include this cult favorite moisturizer from PTR. The Water Drench contains a whopping 30 percent hyaluronic acid that helps flood your face with moisture to fill in fine lines and leave you looking luminous AF for up to three days. Yeah, this is one you'd bring with you on a deserted island.
This multiuse gel moisturizer gets extra points for versatility and a super approachable price tag. It's a true gel that's made with arctic spring water, natural nordic birch sap (an ingredient known for its ability to boost hydration), and hydra-technology that slowly delivers moisture binding agents throughout the day. You can use it as an overnight mask or regular mask (just glop it on real heavy and then rinse when you're done). You can even simply apply a thin layer as a regular moisturizer.
