What are the specific benefits of moisturizers for acne-prone skin?

Moisturizers formulated specifically for acne-prone skin are typically oil-free or otherwise non-comedogenic, meaning they're unlikely to clog your pores. Additionally, many contain anti-inflammatory ingredients that help soothe irritation and minimize redness. Some creams and lotions are also formulated to help clear and prevent breakouts. "It's especially important to moisturize if you're using acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid because they can be drying and irritating to the skin," adds Dr. Hayag.

How often should you apply moisturizers for acne-prone skin?

"Generally, I recommend that those with acne-prone skin moisturize twice a day," says Dr. Hayag. While you might be tempted to use a lotion or cream less often to avoid clogging your pores or creating a greasy look, you shouldn't have this issue with oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas.

The 16 Best Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin of 2023

If you struggle with breakouts, there are some skincare products you should avoid but one you should never skip: moisturizer. Still, finding a moisturizer for acne-prone skin that doesn't clog pores, cause irritation, or make skin feel uncomfortably tight or greasy can be challenging. "Look for moisturizers that are labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, as they are less likely to clog pores," advises dermatologist Marie V. Hayag, MD of Fifth Avenue Aesthetics.

Byrdie Researched & Approved

Thanks to its lightweight, oil-free formula, Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion is our top choice in moisturizers that won’t clog your skin. If you’re looking for a more wallet-friendly option, CeraVe’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a solid choice, offering lightweight hydration and essential ceramides.

Finding a good moisturizer for acne-prone skin is especially important if you're using a treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can dry out the complexion. According to Dr. Hayag, water-based products containing humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid are ideal. She also recommends looking for soothing ingredients such as aloe, vitamin E, and green tea.

So, how do you know which cream, gel, or lotion is best? We spent hours researching the most popular and best-selling products available today, combed through customer reviews, and sought guidance from Dr. Hayag to find out.

Keep scrolling for the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin.

Our Top Picks

Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel

Jump to Review

Best Budget:

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Drugstore:

Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best With SPF:

EltaMD Facial Sunscreen SPF 46 at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Treatment:

Tula Breakout Star Acne Moisturizer at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Splurge:

111Skin Y Theorem Day Cream at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best K-Beauty:

CosRx AC Collection Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best A.M.:

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best P.M.:

Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Mattifying:

Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid at Amazon

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie?

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

What We Like

Non-comedogenic
Oil-free formula
Hydrates with humectants

What We Don’t Like

Gel formula takes a while to absorb into skin

Murad is a tried-and-true brand you can count on when it comes to caring for acne-prone skin. With that said, our number one pick is the Clarifying Water Gel, an ultra-lightweight, non-comedogenic formula.

It hydrates with hyaluronic acid, heals and soothes with ginger root extract, and keeps breakouts at bay with a very mild dose of salicylic acid. We also like that this oil-free moisturizer contains Korean red pine extract, a natural antimicrobial that inhibits the spread of acne-causing bacteria.

Price at time of publish: $46

Amazon

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Non-comedogenic
Oil-free formula

What We Don’t Like

Not hydrating enough for drier skin

On a budget? Go with CeraVe. This dermatologist-approved lotion is oil-free and non-comedogenic, offering lightweight hydration with essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.

Price at time of publish: $13

Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion

Courtesy of Amazon

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Non-comedogenic
Replenishes skin barrier

What We Don’t Like

Not oil-free

From the pharmacy aisle, we're all about Cetaphil. This generously sized pump bottle is chock full of skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide (vitamin B3), vitamin E, and glycerin. While it does contain a small amount of plant-derived oil, the idea is that it balances your complexion to help it produce less oil.

Price at time of publish: $14

Dermstore

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What We Like

Provides broad UV protection
Non-comedogenic
Invisible finish gives a natural look

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Reviewed: EltaMD's UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Is a Lightweight Dream

When it comes to moisturizers with sun protection, board-certified dermatologist Martha H. Viera, MD, FAAD, says, "You need to avoid heavy oils that can clog the pores." She recommends EltaMD UV Clear, a non-comedogenic formula that provides invisible SPF 46 protection.

Price at time of publish: $37

Amazon

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What We Like

Anti-inflammatory ingredients
Non-comedogenic
Airtight container

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Tula Breakout Star contains BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) superhero salicylic acid, which Dr. Hayag says is one of the best ingredients for treating acne. "It is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and helps exfoliate the skin," she tells Byrdie.

Price at time of publish: $52

View On Amazon View On Dermstore

What We Like

It's lightweight
Leaves skin glowing
A little goes a long way

What We Don't

Has a strong fragrance

Sure, it's expensive, but just one pump of 111Skin Y Theorem Day Cream Light NAC Y2—a lighter version of the brand's best-selling day cream—is enough to moisturize your entire face. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, niacinamide to decrease inflammation, and antioxidants, which create a barrier to shield skin from irritants. Plus, the product contains a proprietary complex called NAC Y2, which 111Skin promises can reduce the effects of environmental damage. The formulation won't clog pores, but it will plump skin and blur the appearance of fine lines.

Price at time of publish: $240

CosRx AC Collection Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer

Amazon

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Oil-free formula
Heals acne

What We Don’t Like

Propolis may trigger allergies

From the Korean beauty brand that we're all growing to love, CosRx Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer is a clutch for balancing acne-prone skin. It offers light hydration and contains anti-inflammatory ingredients with healing properties like propolis, green tea, aloe, and allantoin.

Price at time of publish: $19

Neutrogena Oil-Free Daily Long Lasting Facial Moisturizer

View On Amazon

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Contains SPF for UV protection
Lightweight in feel

What We Don’t Like

Slightly tacky when first applying

In the morning, reach for Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture. This non-irritating, lightweight lotion goes on sheer and offers broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection from the sun's harmful rays.

Price at time of publish: $12

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Paulaschoice.com

What We Like

Oil-free formula
Anti-inflammatory ingredients
Replenishes skin barrier

What We Don’t Like

Not hydrating enough for drier skin

For your evening skincare routine, we recommend Paula's Choice Clear. Infused with ceramides, humectants, licorice root extract, and niacinamide, this oil-free moisturizer pulls out all the stops to calm, hydrate, and replenish acne-prone complexions.

Price at time of publish: $28

4.8

Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid

Sephora

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Dermstore

What We Like

Matte finish
Balances oil production
Non-comedogenic

What We Don’t Like

Could come in larger size

We're also loving Caudalie Vinopure, a mattifying lotion that simultaneously hydrates and absorbs greasiness to balance acne-prone skin. The secret? Olive-derived squalene, the type of oil your skin naturally produces. The idea is that when your skin is replenished with squalene, it won't produce as much.

Price at time of publish: $35

Tatcha

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What We Like

Oil-free formula
Anti-inflammatory ingredients
Balances oil production

What We Don’t Like

Unhygienic container

I Tried Tatcha’s The Water Cream Moisturizer and It Saved My Oily Skin

From everyone's favorite Japanese skincare brand, The Water Cream is a stellar hydrator for thirsty, acne-prone skin. Boasting an oil-free formula, it contains a nourishing and soothing blend of green tea, algae, hyaluronic acid, and botanical extracts.

Price at time of publish: $66

tatcha water cream — Byrdie / Ashley Rebecca

What Our Testers Say

"There was no heavy or sticky residue, and once the cream was absorbed, my skin felt comfortable." — Ashley Rebecca, Product Tester

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Target View On Rosenskincare.com

What We Like

Lightly exfoliates
Minimizes uneven texture
Boosts complexion

What We Don’t Like

Unhygienic container
Not oil-free

Rosen Tropics Moisturizer oh-so-gently exfoliates with pineapple enzymes to tackle dead skin buildup and uneven texture. What's more, the weightless formula offers light hydration while delivering a more radiant complexion with radiance-boosting kojic acid.

Price at time of publish: $20

AvÃ¨ne Tolerance Control Skin Recovery Cream

Amazon

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What We Like

Soothing
Restores skin barrier
Oil-free formula

What We Don’t Like

May cause breakouts for acne-prone skin

If you're dealing with red, reactive skin, your best bet is the Avène Tolerance Control. The kicker is the brand's mineral-rich thermal spring water, which has been shown to soothe inflammation while offering healing and hydrating benefits.

Price at time of publish: $36

Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturiser

Courtesy of Ulta

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What We Like

Great winter moisturizer
Gets rid of acne quick, especially whiteheads
Prevents breakouts

What We Don’t Like

The smell

Blackheads bumming you out? Thanks to a blend of bamboo charcoal and salicylic acid, you can count on Origins Clear Improvement to unclog your pores and dissolve sebum while preventing more blemishes from forming.

Price at time of publish: $39

View On Basebutter.com View On Madewell.com

What We Like

Balances oil production
Minimal ingredients
Natural formula

What We Don’t Like

Might irritate sensitive skin on first use

If you're partial to gels, Radiate Face Jelly has your name on it. While this natural moisturizer contains some plant oils, it's formulated to balance oil production without clogging your pores. You can expect a dewy, hydrated complexion without a greasy, shiny finish.

Price at time of publish: $29

Dermstore

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What We Like

Fragrance free
Helps balance combination skin
Also targets fine lines

What We Don't Like

Some users say it's not as effective on severe or persistent acne

This oil-free moisturizer is specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, absorbing quickly to provide moisture without shine. Amino acids help target fine lines, while algae extracts work to tighten mature skin.

Price at time of publish: $29

Final Verdict

The best overall moisturizer for acne-prone complexions is Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion (view at Sephora), a super-lightweight, oil-free formula that hydrates, heals, soothes, and helps prevent breakouts. Looking for a better value? You can't go wrong with CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion (view at Amazon), which comes in a generously sized pump bottle and boasts lightweight, non-comedogenic hydration.

Meet the Expert

Marie V. Hayag, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai Hospital. Located in New York City's Upper East Side, her practice specializes in everything from topical treatments to cutting-edge procedures.
Dr. Morgan Rabach is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical PLLC, a dermatology and facial plastic surgery practice that she started with her sister, Dr. Lesley Rabach. In addition to her private practice, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Martha H. Viera, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist. Her practice in Coral Gables, Florida, focuses on non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments.

What to Look for in a Moisturizer for Acne

Non-Comedogenic

Dr. Rabach stresses the importance of using a non-comedogenic moisturizer if you have acne-prone skin. “This means you can confidently moisturize your skin knowing that the ingredients will not add to clogging your pores, thus making the acne worse,” she says. “Ingredients that are often avoided in these formulations are oils and other emollients like petrolatum that can clog the pores.”

Humectants

Dr. Rabach says it’s also important to look for water-based moisturizers with humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid—like our best overall pick, Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel—as these will draw water into the skin to keep skin moisturized. More importantly, they don't have occlusive properties, which form a protective coating on the skin's surface (which can lead to clogged pores and exacerbate acne). “Usually, these types of moisturizers feel light and aren’t too thick or heavy,” she says.

Soothing

Finally, Dr. Rabach says that acne-prone skin needs a lot of TLC, so it’s best to look for soothing formulations. With that said, she says that they should be free of fragrance, dyes, and botanicals (as these can cause skin allergies or irritate the skin) as well as alcohols, which can be too drying. We like the CosRx AC Collection Moisturizer, which contains soothing aloe vera and green tea extract.

FAQ

What are the specific benefits of moisturizers for acne-prone skin?

Moisturizers formulated specifically for acne-prone skin are typically oil-free or otherwise non-comedogenic, meaning they're unlikely to clog your pores. Additionally, many contain anti-inflammatory ingredients that help soothe irritation and minimize redness.
Some creams and lotions are also formulated to help clear and prevent breakouts. "It's especially important to moisturize if you're using acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid because they can be drying and irritating to the skin," adds Dr. Hayag.
How often should you apply moisturizers for acne-prone skin?

"Generally, I recommend that those with acne-prone skin moisturize twice a day," says Dr. Hayag. While you might be tempted to use a lotion or cream less often to avoid clogging your pores or creating a greasy look, you shouldn't have this issue with oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Theresa Holland is a skincare enthusiast and freelance commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. For this story, she interviewed two board-certified dermatologists for product suggestions and insight into formulations. She combed through ingredients lists, pored over user reviews, and referenced several peer-reviewed articles before making her final selections. From the above list, Theresa has personally tried Murad, CeraVe, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Avène, Tatcha, and EltaMD. You can find more of her bylines on MyDomaine.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough moisturizers for acne-prone skin from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

The 13 Best Oil-Free Moisturizers of 2023

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8172577/
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.2147/CCID.S144180
Woodruff, A, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of a 2% salicylic acid cleanser for improvement of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Savić, Vesna Lj et al. Comparative Study of the Biological Activity of Allantoin and Aqueous Extract of the Comfrey Root. Phytotherapy research : PTR vol. 29,8 (2015): 1117-22. doi:10.1002/ptr.5356
Koch, Wojciech et al. Applications of Tea (Camellia sinensis) and its Active Constituents in Cosmetics. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 24,23 4277. doi:10.3390/molecules24234277
Sung, Soo-Hyun et al. External Use of Propolis for Oral, Skin, and Genital Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM vol. 2017 (2017): 8025752. doi:10.1155/2017/8025752
Radha MH, et al. Evaluation of biological properties and clinical effectiveness of Aloe vera: A systematic review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.
Mekas M, et al. An Evaluation of Efficacy and Tolerability of Novel Enzyme Exfoliation Versus Glycolic Acid in Photodamage Treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2015 Nov;14(11):1306-19.
Sarkar R, et al. Cosmeceuticals for Hyperpigmentation: What is Available? J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2013 Jan-Mar; 6(1): 4–11. doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.110089.
Merial-Kieny C, Castex-Rizzi N, Selas B, Mery S, Guerrero D. Avène Thermal Spring Water: an active component with specific properties. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2011;25 Suppl 1:2-5. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03892.x.
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Do Face Masks Really Work? The "Magic" Behind Face Masks — and How to Get the Most Out of Them. Penn Medicine.
Woodruff, A, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of a 2% salicylic acid cleanser for improvement of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel

Best Budget

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Best Drugstore

Cetaphil Fragrance Free Moisturizing Lotion

Best With SPF

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

Best Treatment

Tula Breakout Star Acne Moisturizer

Best Splurge

111Skin Y Theorem Day Cream Light NAC Y2

Best K-Beauty

CosRx AC Collection Lightweight Soothing Moisturizer

Best A.M.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture with Sunscreen

Best P.M.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer

Best Mattifying

Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid

Best Hydrating

Tatcha The Water Cream

Best Retexturizing

ROSEN Skincare Tropics Moisturizer

Best Soothing

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream

Best for Blackheads

Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer

Best Gel

Base Butter Radiate Face Jelly

Best for Mature Skin

Kate Somerville Oil-Free Moisturizer

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