You won’t find any pore-clogging ingredients in these top picks
Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting approximately 50 million Americans. While anyone can experience acne, it’s most common among adolescents and young adults. Acne-prone skin is also likely to coexist with oily or combination skin types. Though acne is treatable, improving your breakouts can take some trial and error until you find the most effective active ingredients and products that work for you.
One mistake people with acne-prone skin routinely make is skipping moisturizer, says Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in San Diego, California. Contrary to this misconception, acne-prone skin is often dehydrated. The lack of water causes oil glands to overcompensate by producing excess oil and sebum, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts, Dr. Palm explains. Increasing the water content in the skin with a moisturizer helps balance sebum levels in the skin. Certain acne treatments can also increase dryness, doubling the need for a moisturizer in your skincare routine for acne-prone skin.
Not every moisturizer is suitable for acne-prone skin, however. Use the wrong one, and you could worsen your breakouts, warns Dr. Palm. To find the best moisturizers for acne-prone skin, we spoke to board-certified dermatologists about what to look for and avoid. With their criteria in mind, we tested 19 acne-friendly moisturizers over a period of four weeks, rating them on attributes like consistency, absorption, wear, hydration, and appearance. We also had a dermatologist on our Medical Expert Board review this article for medical and scientific accuracy.
How to Shop for Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin
- Look for gentle exfoliants: Look for gentle exfoliating ingredients, such as BHAs like salicylic acid. Cula Svidzinski, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist practicing in New York City, adds that niacinamide and zinc are also effective. Niacinamide can help reduce sebum, and zinc has antibacterial properties.
- Opt for hydration: To keep skin hydrated, which can reduce excessive oiliness, look for humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, says Gloria Lin, MD, a Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist practicing with Schweiger Dermatology Group.
- Understand your skin type: Acne can occur in all skin types but is most common in those with oily and combination skin. Excess oil production, which gives skin a greasy look and feel, can lead to clogged pores. For those with oily skin, dermatologists recommend oil-free moisturizers with a lightweight consistency. Dry, acne-prone skin may withstand a thicker cream containing moisturizing ingredients like squalane to soften and reverse dryness.
- Avoid certain ingredients: Stay away from comedogenic or pore-clogging ingredients. They can be difficult to spot, so look for a label that says “non-comedogenic.” Pore-clogging ingredients to avoid include heavy oils, waxes, lanolin, and silicones. Dr. Lin also recommends avoiding moisturizers with fragrances. Active breakouts can increase proneness to irritation, and fragrances are known irritants. For some, essential oils and parabens can also contribute to irritation.
Best Overall
Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Acne Facial Moisturizer
Why We Like It
Of the 19 moisturizers we tested, this Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Acne Facial Moisturizer was our top contender. Right off the bat, we loved the consistency and ease of application. It’s a lightweight lotion—a huge plus for anyone with oily skin—and we loved how it felt on the skin. We also like that it has a pump dispenser, which is more hygienic than a jar, especially for those with active breakouts.
The main active ingredient is 0.5% salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that effectively unclogs pores and shrinks pimples.1 It’s often found in facial cleansers for acne, but according to the dermatologists we spoke to, it’s an ingredient to seek out in your moisturizer if you have acne-prone skin. By the end of the test, our skin was noticeably more hydrated. When breakouts did arise during the testing period, they were less frequent and less severe than typical.
It’s Worth Noting
Our only gripe with this moisturizer is that it’s not fragrance-free. According to dermatologists, added fragrances in skin care can be irritating and inflammatory, so fragrance and inflammatory acne aren’t ideal partners.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, soy
- Best For: Acne-prone skin
Best Budget
Peach & Lily Peach Slices Acne Oil-Free Moisturizer
Why We Like It
After our tests, we only had great things to say about the Peach & Lily Peach Slices Acne Oil-Free Moisturizer. We found it pleasantly lightweight and even worked well under our primer. We like that it’s unscented and gives the skin a hydrated appearance without looking greasy.
Dr. Lin is a big proponent of affordable skin care products. This one is oil—and fragrance-free and packed with beneficial ingredients. Dr. Lin and Dr. Palm mention salicylic acid to reduce breakouts and hyaluronic acid to hydrate without clogging pores. It also contains niacinamide, an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation.
It’s Worth Noting
It’s a thin moisturizer recommended for oily and acne-prone skin, but we found it surprisingly oily at first. The slight oiliness subsides once fully absorbed, but it can be unsettling at first.
Product Details:
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, allantoin
Best For: All skin types
Best for Oily Skin
Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer
Why We Like It
After a month of using this Tata Harper Clarifying Moisturizer, we felt it was one of the best we’ve ever used because it really works. It didn’t contribute to any new blemishes. By the end of the test, we noticed a reduction in breakouts and an increase in clarity. It also reduced redness and puffiness. Though lightweight, it feels moisturizing and has a nice botanical smell.
We like this moisturizer for those who lean on the oily side because it contains ingredients that can help balance out the unequal levels of water and oil in the skin. It features humectants like aloe, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, which pull water into the skin. When skin is properly hydrated, it stops the acne-causing cycle of producing excess oils. It also helps that it contains a blend of BHAs, including willow bark extract, which works similarly to salicylic acid.
It’s Worth Noting
This moisturizer isn’t oil-free. It contains some moisturizing plant oils, such as jojoba and olive, which may make some people with very oily, blemish-prone skin hesitant to give it a try.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Aloe, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, BHAs
- Best For: Oily skin
Best for Dry Skin
Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer
Why We Like It
Acne is most commonly associated with oily skin, but it can also occur in those who deal with dryness. For this concoction of skin issues, the typical oil-free, lightweight moisturizer might not cut it. Dr. Svidzinski recommends this lightweight Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer for its hydrating properties, which we can attest to.
We found this moisturizer very hydrating. When used as part of a nighttime skin care routine, its moisturizing effects were still felt by the morning. The gel consistency also layered well with other products and didn’t irritate our sensitive skin. It’s full of hydrators but also contains ingredients to reduce redness and support a healthy skin microbiome. Dr. Svidzinski says the probiotics in this moisture could help minimize acne breakouts.
It’s Worth Noting
This moisturizer did a better job of increasing skin moisture than reducing breakouts. It doesn’t contain any ingredients specifically targeting acne, so it might not be for those looking for something more powerful.
Product Details:
Key Ingredients: Squalane, probiotics, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, allantoin
Best For: Oily, inflamed, acne-prone, or sensitive skin
Best for Sensitive Skin
Naturium Encapsulated Salicylic Acid Moisturizer 0.75%
Why We Like It
With 0.75% salicylic acid, this moisturizer is slightly more potent than others we tested. And we certainly noticed a difference when using it. By the end of the test, our skin improved in several ways. It visibly reduced breakouts, increased hydration, and even plumped up some fine lines.
Dr. Palm also recommends this moisturizer. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, the salicylic acid in this moisturizer is “incredibly effective” at reducing acne-causing bacteria on the skin, she says. It’s also fragrance-free, paraben-free, and suitable for sensitive skin.
It’s Worth Noting
Our success with this moisturizer wasn’t immediate. At first, she noticed a few new breakouts that went away, which could be due to the skin purging from salicylic acid.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin
- Best For: All skin types
Best for Combination Skin
Dr. Jart+ Teatreement Moisturizer
Why We Like It
Salicylic acid and niacinamide are “superstar ingredients” for acne-prone skin, Dr. Svidzinski says. This moisturizer contains both of them—and then some. It’s also packed with tea tree oil, which is often used as an acne treatment since it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.2 Plus it contains hyaluronic acid and lipids to hydrate and support skin barrier function, respectively.
But it’s not just impressive on paper. We found the consistency to be the perfect combination of lightweight and moisturizing. It worked well with other products, gave our skin a healthy glow, and had a cooling effect that soothed our sensitive skin. We’d recommend it to those prone to irritation and need some added moisture in their acne-friendly regimen.
It’s Worth Noting
This moisturizer certainly didn’t cause acne, but we wouldn’t say it treats acne either. It greatly increased hydration, but the few acne-busting ingredients weren’t potent enough to make a significant difference.
Product Details:
Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, niacinamide, salicylic acid
Best For: Oily, combination, and acne-prone skin
Best for Mature Skin
Dr. Barbara Stürm Clarifying Face Cream
Why We Like It
We are prone to breakouts after using certain skin care products, but after a month of using this moisturizer, we had zero blemishes— which says something. We’re normally hesitant to try new face creams but were pleasantly surprised when this lived up to its claims and increased skin hydration. It has a creamy and luxurious consistency but feels lightweight on the skin and layers well under makeup.
Dr. Svidzinski spotted a few acne-fighting agents in the ingredients. It contains zinc to help control sebum production and vitamin C to brighten dark spots that arise after breakouts, she says. Vitamin E and niacinamide also boost this moisturizer’s brightening antioxidants, which are helpful for fending off free radicals and slowing the visible signs of aging.
It’s Worth Noting
This moisturizer has a scent that can only be described as slightly medicinal. We didn’t love the way it smelled or the steep price point.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Zinc, sunflower oil, niacinamide, lactic acid
- Best For: Combination and oily skin
Best Lightweight
Kate Somerville Oil-Free Moisturizer
Why We Like It
As a general guide, Dr. Svidzinski recommends oil-free moisturizers for those with acne-prone skin. Not all oils are comedogenic (aka pore-clogging), but avoiding them to cover all your bases can be helpful. Fortunately, this moisturizer gave us no problems.
Not only did we not experience any new breakouts during the testing period, but we also noticed improvements in fading dark spots. We especially loved how it felt on the skin—it soaks in instantly and has an immediate cooling effect that feels soothing and invigorating.
It’s Worth Noting
If you’re looking for a moisturizer that gives your skin a dewy look, especially if you have a deeper skin tone, this one may not be for you.
We were left wishing it gave our skin a visible glow or glossy look, but it didn’t do much to brighten the complexion.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Amino acids, algae
- Best For: Normal, oily, and combination skin
Best Hydrating
Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel
Why We Like It
Hydrators are often overlooked when looking for skin care products for acne-prone skin. We love to see BHAs like salicylic acid in moisturizers like this one, but we’re also happy to find humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and butylene glycol. Humectants like these have powerful hydrating properties, Dr. Palm says. She also likes that this formula performs well under makeup.
It has a water gel consistency, and in case you’re wondering—yes, it’s very lightweight. In fact, it’s one of the most lightweight products we have ever come across (in a good way). Even if you can’t feel it, it’s doing its job. Our skin felt noticeably more hydrated when using this moisturizer, and the hydrating effects lasted throughout the day.
It’s Worth Noting
It had a mostly neutral effect on our acne, so it’s not a step that could banish breakouts, but it’s certainly a step that will hydrate your skin.
The last ingredient, fragrance, could also pose some issues for those with sensitive skin.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin
- Best For: Oily, combination, and normal skin
Our Testing Process
To understand what moisturizers are suitable for acne-prone skin, we began our research by interviewing board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. Then, a team of 19 of our editors tested 19 moisturizers for acne-prone skin over the course of a month, evaluating them on the following attributes:
- Consistency: Moisturizers for acne-prone skin tend to be lightweight and have a gel-like or cream consistency. We shared our experience with how each product felt on the skin and whether it was comfortable or heavy for this skin type.
- Absorption: A good moisturizer shouldn’t sit on top of the skin but rather sink in after a minute or two. We noted whether each moisturizer absorbed quickly or lingered on the skin.
- Wear: Skin care, sun care, and makeup products should work harmoniously. When layered with other products, we looked for a sign of a reaction, such as pilling. We also paid attention to whether there was a lingering smell.
- Hydration: Even for acne-prone skin, a moisturizer’s purpose is to reduce dryness and dehydration. We evaluated the effectiveness of each moisturizer and whether it noticeably increased skin hydration by the end of each day and the overall testing period.
- Appearance: Our final test of each product’s efficacy was to rate it on whether we experienced visible improvements. We paid close attention to any changes in skin clarity but also shared if it improved dryness, redness, fine lines, dark spots, and other concerns.
- Of the 19 moisturizers we tested, 9 made our final list of recommendations. Six performed well enough to be considered for Best Overall.