A good face moisturizer is a crucial skincare step for all skin types, especially for dry skin and acne-prone skin. There's a misconception that those with oily skin or combination skin should avoid moisturizer, but doing so can actually cause your skin to produce more oil. For acne-prone skin, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nkem Ugonabo shares with Business Insider that she likes lightweight moisturizers that are non-comedogenic to avoid clogged pores on the skin but are hydrating enough to keep moisture levels in balance.
After extensively researching the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin, speaking with an expert, and testing several ourselves, we're ready to crown the Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer as the overall best option. This lightweight moisturizer works well on all skin types and won't irritate with its nourishing formulation of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalene. The quickly-absorbing formula keeps skin flake-free in the winter and greasy-free in the summer, plus it's quite affordable. Alternatively, when you're having particularly stubborn breakouts, Kiehl's Expertly Clear Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin with Salicylic Acid is a great treatment gel that dries out active pimples.
Our top 6 picks for the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin
This no-fuss moisturizer has a cult following for its ability to nourish sensitive skin without causing future breakouts.
This thick gel-cream is designed to repair the skin barrier with three intense hydrators that absorb quickly to minimize overloading blemishes that may cause acne.
e.l.f. SKIN expands its roster with this calming water cream formulated to minimize blemishes and control excessive oil production, all at a drugstore price.
This K-beauty essential is a rich, dense cream that works to hydrate skin while helping its ability to absorb moisture. “Using this everyday has visibly improved my very dry skin,” says associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. “I never travel without it.”
This intensive moisturizer offers 120 hours of hydration and is designed for dry, sensitive skin.
This acne-treatment lotion applies like a thin gel and dries instantly to target current breakouts.
Best overall
This no-fuss moisturizer has a cult following for its ability to nourish sensitive skin without causing future breakouts.
We are big fans of this dermatologist-approved moisturizer that our expert, Dr. Ugonabo, recommends for those with acne-prone skin. This moisturizer gets the "best overall" award from us for its simple formula free of parabens, fragrances, and pore-clogging ingredients like lanolin, alongside its creamy texture that soaks into skin well. Vanicream is proof that you don't need to spend a ton for a great skincare product.
All skin types can benefit from using this moisturizer thanks to hydrating, barrier-protective ingredients like squalene, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. The formula itself softens and plumps the skin, but doesn't feel sticky or heavy, making it the perfect everyday moisturizer. You can apply it twice daily (or whenever your skin thirsts for relief) without fearing irritation or looking like a greasy donut.
Best for sensitive skin
This thick gel-cream is designed to repair the skin barrier with three intense hydrators that absorb quickly to minimize overloading blemishes that may cause acne.
When it comes to the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin, you'll hear a lot about skin barrier health. Your barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, responsible for protecting you from external pollutants and keeping your skin hydrated. For sensitive skin types easily irritated by thick creams or certain ingredients, it's especially important to invest in emollient products that protect your skin barrier, but our pick also has acne-fighting properties. We recommend the Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream from the Korean skincare brand Skin1004. The lightweight formula is non-sticky and sits smoothly on the skin without clumping or pilling against other layered products. Skin will feel nourished and ultra-moisturized, while the Centella asiatica extract (a known acne-fighting ingredient) cares for blemishes on and beneath the surface. Other ingredients like ceramides and lipids (yes, lipids as in fats!) help to protect the barrier.
Best drugstore
e.l.f. SKIN expands its roster with this calming water cream formulated to minimize blemishes and control excessive oil production, all at a drugstore price.
Whether you're in a pinch and find yourself rummaging the drugstore aisles, or you're just looking for an inexpensive moisturizer, we found ourselves quite impressed with e.l.f.'s Calming Water Cream. It's a lightweight moisturizer that applies almost like a gel, and it's a particularly great option if you produce excess oil. It quickly absorbs into the skin while leaving the face feeling soft and plump. A balance of salicylic acid, niacinamide, and tranexamic acid makes up this green-colored acne moisturizer to control excessive sebum production, prevent new blemishes, and even out red skin tones.
Best for dry skin
This K-beauty essential is a rich, dense cream that works to hydrate skin while helping its ability to absorb moisture. “Using this everyday has visibly improved my very dry skin,” says associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. “I never travel without it.”
"I've been using this to treat my dry skin almost daily for the past year, and it's the only face cream that helps my face feel hydrated for days at a time," says Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor. A key ingredient in the Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream is its high-density ceramides, which, when synthesized, can boost your skin's ability to retain moisture. It also contains palmitic acid, which builds up the lipid barrier of your skin to protect it from bacteria and pollutants.
"If you're like me and prone to hormonal acne flare-ups, this cream is safe and comfortable to wear even when breaking out," says Chase. For chronic acne, Aestura has a Theracne collection infused with hylauronic acid and zinc.
Read more about this K-beauty bestseller in our full Aestura Atobarrier 365 Cream review.
Best hydrating
This intensive moisturizer offers 120 hours of hydration and is designed for dry, sensitive skin.
If your acne skincare routine includes salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol, your complexion is probably thirsty for hydration. This deeply hydrating moisturizer from Laneige is a favorite of ours for its extremely nourishing effect and minimal irritation.
Designed for particularly dry skin, hero ingredients like squalene and hyaluronic acid offer skin-plumping abilities and promote a healthy glow with each use. The rich texture absorbs quickly with the water-like consistency that melts into the skin as it's massaged across the face. It's an excellent daytime moisturizer that works even for super-sensitive skin.
Best for soothing breakouts
This acne-treatment lotion applies like a thin gel and dries instantly to target current breakouts.
When you're mid-breakout, it can help to use a moisturizer that's reinforced with acne-fighting ingredients. We Kiehl's Expertly Clear moisturizer because it provides a targeted treatment by combining salicylic acid for surface acne, niacinamide for post-acne marks, and glycerin for moisture. In our testing, we found that the thin texture may feel drying on some skin types, so during cold or particularly dry months, we recommend layering this product with an additional moisturizer (like Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane) to offer your skin a little extra protection. During your day or night routine, apply a thin layer of this lightweight gel on the areas most affected by acne.
Best for combination skin
This oil-free moisturizer is ideal for dry skin that needs help with firming and plumping with a medium-weight cream that instantly nourishes.
It took just one day of use for our senior associate style editor, Gabrielle Chase, to call herself impressed with this moisturizer. As someone who deals with hormonal breakouts, she swears by this moisturizer for long-lasting hydration, crediting its medium-weight, non-greasy texture with keeping her skin smooth and supple. "You may need to use a few extra pumps to get a longer-lasting effect, but it's gentle enough to layer on," she explains. It's a great option for combination skin because the formula is oil-free, and it softens the skin with Hydrosella, peptides, and squalene — all hydrating ingredients that won't feel too heavy anywhere or clog pores.
Best for oily skin
This hydrating gel cream promotes plump, healthy skin while the slightly matte finish keeps shine at bay.
To confirm what you've probably heard before, yes, oily skin types still need moisturizer, and this gel cream from beloved brand Dieux Skin is an excellent choice. We think it's one of the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin, and it's even a top pick in our guide on the best moisturizers for oily skin. Its jelly-like texture wraps skin in glycerin, ceramides, and amino acids to plump and firm skin without flooding an already oily complexion. Our testers praised this moisturizer for its lightweight texture that quickly absorbs into the skin while keeping the complexion hydrated and flake-free, even in below-freezing temperatures.
Best lightweight
This light, non-sticky cream will quickly absorb into the skin without leaving acne-prone skin dry or irritated.
COSRX takes acne care seriously — looking at you Acne Pimple Master Patch, a popular TikTok-favorite — so it's no shock that their moisturizers are also made for acne-prone skin. This lightweight formula is one of the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin because of its ability to help soothe and treat acne without a thick or drying formula that irritates skin. The use of Centella Asiatica (a popular K-beauty ingredient) moisturizes and calms sensitive, acne-addled skin.
Best for mattifying
This oily-skin-approved face moisturizer helps eliminate excess oil, shine, and the appearance of pores. It’s also non-comedogenic and dermatologist- and allergist-tested; as such, it’s suitable for sensitive skin, too.
Since oily skin is prone to acne, you'll want to avoid heavy skincare products that clog your pores and leave you looking greasy. This mattifying moisturizer from La Roche-Posay uses zinc picolinate to neutralize excess oils on the face without drying out the skin. It's still hydrating, so it won't leave your skin feeling tight or dry, but this is definitely a product that folks with dry skin will want to skip.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
