If you have oily skin that’s prone to breakouts, the last thing you want to do is apply a thick moisturizer. A heavy, deeply moisturizing face cream can wind up clogging pores and making your skin feel greasy. Even worse, it can leave your skin shiny and covered in acne.
But not all moisturizers are thick and heavy. In fact, you can moisturize and hydrate your skin without increasing its oiliness or potential breakouts. You just have to choose the right moisturizer. And the right option is a moisturizer that’s lightweight, just for oily skin.
Instead of looking for the most moisturizing product you can find, you’ll want to search for something that’s light enough to wear daily and safe for acne-prone skin. The following moisturizers are some of the best options for anyone with oily skin.
Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer
Price: $34
What’s better for acne-prone skin than a moisturizer that actually works to clear your pores while you wear it? Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer promises to do exactly that. This clarifying moisturizer hydrates the skin while it works to fight existing breakouts – and it may be able to prevent new ones. Featuring 1 percent salicylic acid, this moisturizer can actually exfoliate and unclog pores. It also includes bamboo charcoal, is non-acnegenic, and has been tested by dermatologists.
Paula’s Choice Invisible Finish Moisture Gel
Price: $29
For a powerful punch of hydration without weighing down your skin and pores, consider Paula’s Choice Invisible Finish Moisture Gel. This gel moisturizer is more lightweight than traditional cream options, and it works just as hard to refresh and hydrate the skin. It’s said to feel weightless, and although it’s ultra-light, it can still restore the skin with antioxidants and a dewy look. Unlike other moisturizers, this product is meant to be the final step in your daily skincare routine – apply it at night, right before you head to bed.
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Price: $18.99 (AM version)
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion will deeply hydrate your skin – but it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts. A non-comedogenic moisturizer, this product works to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier without causing skin woes. It features three important ceramides that moisturize without leaving a greasy residue on skin. Although this moisturizer is available in both a morning and night option (AM for morning, PM for night), the AM formula is best for oily skin. It includes broad spectrum SPF 30, which will protect your skin without weighing it down.
Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer With Sunscreen
Price: $13.99
Differin is a brand known for its acne-fighting products, and the Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen is a fantastic choice for anyone with oily skin. Both non-greasy and non-comedogenic, this moisturizer won’t clog pores or leave skin feeling slick. It’s lightweight, and it can actually absorb excess oil produced by your skin. Although it can “dry” the skin by removing oil, this moisturizer won’t irritate skin – it was developed with dermatologists just for skin that’s prone to acne.
Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer
Price: $14.36
The Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer is specially designed and formulated for skin that’s oily and prone to clogged pores. Because of this, it features plenty of benefits for anyone with oily skin. It uses micropearl technology to absorb surface oil, reduce shine, and even give skin a matte-like appearance. This moisturizer is lightweight when applied, doesn’t feel greasy, and absorbs into skin quickly. Even better, the product is clinically tested to be hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic according to dermatologists.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Price: $21.49
A “hydro boost” moisturizer might sound like too much hydration for skin that’s already oily. But Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is actually a surprisingly lightweight daily moisturizer. It can instantly hydrate dry skin, but the gel formula won’t weigh down skin – or clog pores. It features hyaluronic acid, which can absorb water naturally. And this product is also an oil-free moisturizer, which means it won’t add to the oil that’s already on your skin.
Boscia Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
Price: $38
Like many other moisturizers on this list, the Boscia Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer promises to help oily skin by eliminating additional oil in its formulation. But this unique moisturizer also packs another important – and beneficial – ingredient. It includes Japanese green tea, which can help reduce the skin’s oil production every time you apply this product. This moisturizer also includes burdock root, which can combat oiliness throughout the T-zone.
Find a Moisturizer Suited for Your Skin
A moisturizer is critical for your skincare, even if you think your skin is too oily to need one. Applying moisturizer each day can help you protect your skin, keep it well-hydrated, and combat skin woes. And no matter how oily or acne-prone your skin may be, there’s a moisturizer out there that’s perfect for you.
The key to using a moisturizer on oily skin is finding the right product. You can’t use just any moisturizer; you need one that won’t clog pores or increase oiliness. The moisturizers mentioned here are just a few options that you can give a try.
Every beauty product works differently for different individuals. If the moisturizers mentioned here aren’t right for you, you can find plenty of other options. You can even search online for moisturizers that are made for oily or acne-prone skin. A lightweight option that will keep your skin feeling fresh all day long is your best bet.