Acne-prone, oily skin needs moisturizer, too—but it has to be the right formula. The best moisturizers for breakout-prone skin are all about balance: soothing, non-pore-clogging ingredients, and lightweight yet deeply hydrating formulas. “You want to avoid rich occlusives like shea butter or coconut oil if you’re acne-prone,” says Louisiana-based dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD. “Instead, look for lightweight emollients such as squalane or dimethicone to lock in moisture, along with soothing actives like zinc, green tea, Centella asiatica, or low-strength azelaic acid to calm inflammation and support healing.”
And because not all moisturizers are created equal, Dr. Turegano recommends paying close attention to how your skin feels after application. “If it feels greasy or congested, you may need a lighter, gel-based formula; if it feels tight or flaky, try a cream with more barrier-repair ingredients,” she says. To help narrow your search, we tested dozens of formulas and tapped experts to find the ones that truly deliver—so your hunt for the perfect acne-safe moisturizer just got a little easier.
Our Top Moisturizers for Breakout-Prone Skin
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream
Why we love it: The ideal moisturizer for acne-prone, oily skin is a super lightweight formula that doesn’t feel greasy or leave any film behind. Cue: Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream, which packs hydration with a barely-there feel. The star ingredients include moisture-binding saccharide isomerate, oil-absorbing niacinamide, and a peptide blend that supports the skin barrier’s moisturizing abilities—all without clogging pores. It’s also free of silicone, which makes it lighter and less likely to feel occlusive on skin. “For people with oily, acne-prone skin looking for a lightweight moisturizer, this is excellent,” David Kim, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, told Allure. “One to two pumps is all you need, and it gets absorbed instantly.”
Tester feedback from contributing editor Deanna Pai
“I’ve been loving this lightweight gel-cream, which has ushered my skin through the summer-to-fall transition seamlessly. My combination skin is prone to acne, and I love knowing that the non-comedogenic formula won’t make matters worse. It’s cushy enough to keep my skin comfortable in dry weather, but I can apply it right after my post-run shower (when I’m usually still sweating) without it ever feeling greasy or occlusive.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: zinc PCA, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
- Texture: lightweight gel-cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Combination Skin: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta pH Balance Replenishing Cream
Why we love it: Dr. Dennis Gross is known for concern-based skin care, and the Alpha Beta pH Balance Replenishing Cream is a perfect example. Designed to help heal disrupted skin barriers or active breakouts, it restores balance with electrolytes, radiance-boosting linoleic acid, and moisturizing phospholipids. When your skin’s pH is off, you might notice excess oil, dehydration, or breakouts, and this cream helps get everything back on track. Lightweight enough for oily skin but still hydrating for dryness, it visibly reduces redness and irritation, making angry, inflamed breakouts look calmer, smoother, and more even.
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
“I have sensitive combination skin that likes to break out overnight, with little to no warning. My T-zone gets super oily, but the rest of my face can lean dry (especially in the winter). Somehow, this moisturizer addresses every skin concern I have. It mattifies my T-zone, keeps acne at bay, and hydrates any dry or flaky patches that pop up. I’ve used it twice a day for a few weeks, and have noticed that my skin looks smoother, clearer, and overall less oily. It layers so well underneath makeup, too—no pilling here—and plays nicely with my other skin- care products (usually a facial mist and a serum). It’s soothing, calming, and gentle on my sensitive skin. Plus, I like that the push-top dispenser means I don’t have to stick my hand into a jar of cream.”—Sarah Felbiin, senior commerce editor
- Key ingredients: electrolytes, lactic acid, AHAs and BHAs, phytic acid
- Texture: lightweight gel-cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
Why we love it: Super dry skin doesn’t stand a chance against Illiyoon’s Ceramide Ato Cream, one of our favorite Korean moisturizers to date. Packed with barrier-boosting phytoceramides derived from black beans, soothing fatty acids and cholesterol, and deeply hydrating glycerin, this rich moisturizer replenishes even the most parched complexions. Its low pH works with the skin’s natural acidity to soothe, and clinical testing backs it up, showing it increases moisture levels by 328% immediately after application and reduces signs of irritation, including redness and itchiness. When our acne-prone tester applied the cushiony cream on her red, flaky patches, her skin calmed almost instantly and stayed deeply hydrated—without a single breakout.
P.S. If you’d prefer a lighter texture, Illiyoon also offers a Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel.
“This is my all-day, every-day essential for dry skin. Whenever my acne-prone barrier feels parched, it’s the first thing I reach for—it instantly plumps and hydrates for hours. I’ve recommended it to so many friends looking for a rich moisturizer that never feels heavy, and the feedback is always the same: they repurchase as soon as it runs out. It’s been front and center on my vanity for three years, and I have no plans to ever change that.”—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
- Key ingredients: ceramides, glycerin
- Texture: rich cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Redness: Dr.G R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream
Why we love it: Another K-beauty staple (are you noticing a trend?), Dr. G’s R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream is a redness-busting hero thanks to Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica), a plant rich in triterpenes to calm inflammation—bye-bye, swollen blemishes and fiery skin. Its lightweight gel formula absorbs invisibly, delivering hydration without clogging pores, making it ideal for all skin types. Plus, a little goes a long way, so one jar will last you quite a while.
- Key ingredients: 10 types of Centella asiatica
- Texture: lightweight gel cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Double Repair Matte
La Roche-Posay
Double Repair Matte
Why we love it: New York–based board-certified dermatologist Kseniya Kobets, MD, recommends a mattifying moisturizer like La Roche-Posay’s Double Repair Matte for acne-prone, oily skin. “Along with the brand’s signature healing thermal spring water, this formula packs anti-acne and skin-brightening niacinamide with barrier-repairing glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid,” she says. Its mattifying effect also smooths the skin, minimizing the appearance of pores and blurring texture—almost like a pore-minimizing primer—making it perfect as a base for makeup or to wear on its own.
- Key ingredients: thermal spring water, niacinamide, glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Texture: lightweight gel cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Daytime: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Gel Cream
Why we love it: Of all the moisturizers for acne-prone skin dermatologists recommended, Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Gel Cream was the most highly praised. Dr. Turegano loves that it offers long-lasting hydration (via hyaluronic acid and glycerin) in a super lightweight, oil-free texture. Because of its barely-there feel, it’s perfect for daytime use. “It won’t clog pores and pairs well with acne treatments that can leave skin dry or tight,” Dr. Turegano says. Austin-based dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD, adds that while it’s great for those with oily or combination skin, those with drier skin might need to layer on a thicker cream.
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin
- Texture: lightweight gel cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Nighttime: CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM
CeraVe
Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM
Why we love it: Specifically made for overnight use, CeraVe’s Facial Moisturizing Lotion is what dreams are made of—literally. “It has top hits such as niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to strengthen the barrier, soothe irritation, and restore hydration while you sleep,” says Dr. Turegano of the oil-free and non-comedogenic formula. While you snooze, the cream delivers a steady stream of hydration throughout the night. “It’s especially great because it’s so rich in texture, making it a solid option if you’re using retinoids or other drying treatments,” Dr. Turegano adds.
- Key ingredients: niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid
- Texture: thick cream
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients should you look for in a moisturizer for breakout-prone skin?
Treating acne is all about skin-soothing ingredients, according to Dr. Kobets. Recent research shows that acne-prone skin often has a weakened barrier and lower levels of linoleic acid—a key component of ceramides—which can lead to clogged pores and heightened sensitivity to common irritants. “This insight offers a new way to treat and hydrate acne-prone skin,” says Dr. Kobets. “We’re moving away from the old approach of relying solely on retinoids, acids, and benzoyl peroxide, which can strip the skin with harsh detergents and alcohol. Instead, gentler routines that include ceramide- and humectant-rich cleansers, lotions, and creams help keep the barrier intact—so the skin can better tolerate actives like retinols and hydroxy acids.” She adds that niacinamide in lower concentrations (under 3%) is also a great addition for acne-prone skin, thanks to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
How should you use a moisturizer for breakout-prone skin?
“Use a moisturizer both morning and night to keep your barrier balanced—skipping it can actually make breakouts worse,” says Dr. Turegano. “In the morning, layer it after any treatment serums and before sunscreen. At night, apply it as your last step.”
How do you know which moisturizer for breakout-prone skin is right for you?
Finding the right moisturizer can take trial and error to see what best works with your skin and mixes well with other steps in your routine, like makeup and sunscreen,” says Dr. Kobets. But a good place to start is avoiding ingredients that can trigger acne and rashes—such as pore-clogging oils, silicones, and heavy fragrances, she says. “The right moisturizer should leave your skin balanced—hydrated, calm, and comfortable, without extra shine or breakouts,” adds Dr. Turegano.
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