Instead of eliminating moisturizer from your skincare routine, choose a product that’s better suited to your skin type. Look for formulas that hydrate without heaviness, and ingredients that support your skin’s natural moisture barrier.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, we’re here to help you choose the best moisturizer for acne-prone skin. Check out our top 10 recommendations below!

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The best moisturizers do more than just soothe immediate dryness—they also support your skin’s ability to retain moisture over time. This PCA Skin HydraMatte formula features a combination of prebiotics and probiotics to promote a balanced skin microbiome which boosts barrier function. It’s also enriched with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hydrolyzed rice extract. Plus, it comes in a lightweight gel texture and gives your skin a powdery matte finish.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Promotes clear complexion and smooth skin texture
• Fast-absorbing and lightweight gel moisturizer
• Supports a balanced skin microbiome for improved moisture retention

Promote lasting hydration and improved skin barrier function with this quick-absorbing, mattifying moisturizer from PCA Skin.

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If you struggle with redness and sensitivity, PCA Skin’s Clearskin formula might be a better option for it. Another fast-absorbing, lightweight formula, this moisturizer features niacinamide to help even out your skin’s tone and texture. It’s also enriched with skin-soothing cucumber extract and antioxidants to boost the skin’s defenses against environmental aggressors. This formula is non-comedogenic, paraben-free, and fragrance-free.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Lightweight formula helps calm irritated skin
• Won’t clog your pores or trigger breakouts
• Enriched with niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture

This Clearskin formula from PCA Skin is also a great option for those looking to balance sebum production and promote a clearer complexion.

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For many people with acne-prone skin, restoring the skin’s natural moisture barrier is a crucial step. This EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer is specifically formulated to strengthen the skin’s defenses against moisture loss as well as environmental aggressors that can trigger irritation and breakouts. It’s designed to reduce redness, replenish moisture, and support long-term skin health. Plus, it’s fragrance-free and has a lightweight texture that won’t feel greasy or heavy on your skin.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Lightweight, oil-free formula won’t clog pores
• Suitable for sensitive and post-procedure skin
• Helps repair damaged skin and protect it for the future

Looking for a moisturizer that goes beyond the basics? EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer delivers immediate hydration but also improves your skin’s ability to retain moisture.

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Want to enjoy the hydrating benefits of moisturizer while feeling like you’re not wearing anything on your skin at all? This Obagi Hydrate Light Weightless Gel Cream could be the perfect fit. It’s a fast-absorbing formula designed to deliver immediate, long-lasting hydration. It features powerful humectants like glycerin and polyglutamic acid which actually draw moisture into your skin while Tara Seed Extra improves its ability to retain it.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Rich in humectants to draw moisture into the skin
• Gives your skin a smoother, plumper appearance
• Lightweight gel cream won’t clog your pores

Replenish your skin’s moisture stores without weighing it down with this lightweight gel cream from Obagi.

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If you’re tired of dabbing away shine throughout the day, this IMAGE Skincare CLEAR CELL Mattifying Moisturizer could be the solution. It’s a lightweight formula that delivers intense hydration to give it a plumper, more youthful texture. But what makes it unique is its ability to absorb surface oils and eliminate shine. The result is healthier-looking skin with a smooth, matte finish that lasts all day.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Delivers essential moisture where it’s needed most
• Absorbs surface oils to help eliminate shine
• Lightweight texture won’t clog pores or trigger breakouts

Say goodbye to unwanted shine with this mattifying moisturizer and enjoy healthier, more hydrated skin while you’re at it.

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Take barrier repair to the next level with Medature Barrier Balancing Gel Moisturizer 4. This lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer delivers deep hydration without leaving your skin feeling greasy or sticky. It features a rich blend of essential vitamins and plant extracts to calm irritation, restore radiance, and defend against environmental aggressors. The result is stronger, more balanced skin and enhanced protection against moisture loss.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Light gel texture won’t leave your skin feeling greasy
• Absorbs quickly and delivers lasting hydration
• Soothes sensitivity and calms irritated skin

Ideally suited to oily and combination skin types, this barrier repair moisturizer offers anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing benefits to leave your skin feeling and looking its best.

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If you want your skin to feel smoother and look more radiant than ever, give this Derma Made Nia-Genic Lotion a try. It’s a deeply hydrating formula with a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture specifically designed for sensitive and acne-prone skin. This moisturizer is enriched with niacinamide and other skin-nourishing ingredients to boost barrier function and improve elasticity. Ultimately, you’ll find your skin looking more youthful and feeling less irritated as you incorporate this moisturizer into your daily routine.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Calms irritation and soothes sensitive skin
• Boosts barrier function to protect against moisture loss
• Absorbs quickly without leaving behind an oily finish

This Derma Made formula is also a great option for mature skin with its 2% concentration of niacinamide which helps restore the skin’s youthful elasticity and firmness.

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While some moisturizers leave your skin looking shiny and feeling greasy, this lightweight gel formula is designed to absorb quickly, leaving behind a smooth, matte finish. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin features a high concentration of ceramides, niacinamide, and glycerin to impart immediate hydration. It helps repair the skin’s moisture barrier within 1 hour of application and even helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Lightweight gel texture absorbs quickly
• Delivers all-day hydration and fast barrier repair
• Improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of pores

Fight the visible signs of aging while supporting your skin’s ability to retain moisture with this mattifying moisturizer from La Roche-Posay.

Looking for a moisturizer that does more than just restore hydration? This Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cream is uniquely formulated to resurface and retexturize the skin, leaving it looking smoother, younger, and more radiant. It’s designed to target discoloration and scarring caused by acne with powerful active ingredients like glycolic, salicylic, and azelaic acids. But it’s gentle on sensitive and acne-prone skin and designed to deliver intense hydration.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Contains a trio of gently exfoliating acids
• Targets acne scarring and discoloration
• Imparts intense hydration and skin-smoothing benefits

If your battle against acne has left you with scars and discoloration, this reparative face cream from Jan Marini could be the perfect fit.

If you simply want to meet your skin’s daily needs for hydration without too many extra bells and whistles, SkinCeuticals Daily Moisturizer might be the right choice. It’s a lightweight moisturizer, so it won’t sit heavy on your skin, and it’s formulated to nourish in addition to hydrating. As a bonus, if you’re concerned about pore size, this moisturizer can help reduce the appearance of large pores to give your skin a smoother, more even texture.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly
• Formulated to hydrate and nourish the skin
• Helps reduce the appearance of large pores

Restore your skin’s youthful radiance with a smoother, more even texture and healthy hydration using this SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture formula.

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start shopping for skincare. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve summarized some of the most important features to look for in a moisturizer for acne-prone skin.

Non-Comedogenic and Oil-Free

The first thing to look for when shopping for moisturizer for acne-prone skin is a non-comedogenic formula. This term simply means the product won’t clog your pores and increase the risk of breakouts. It’s also a good idea to avoid moisturizers that contain oil.

Products like PCA Skin HydraMatte and IMAGE Skincare CLEAR CELL Mattifying Moisturizer are formulated to reduce excess oil and give your skin a matte texture. Something like SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture could also be a suitable choice if you’re looking for a product to help reduce the appearance of large pores.

Lightweight Texture

Even some oil-free moisturizers are too heavy for acne-prone skin. It’s best to choose lightweight lotions and gel moisturizers over heavier ointments and creams. Prioritize fast-absorbing formulas over those that sit on top of your skin.

Products like EltaMD Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer and PCA Skin Clearskin are specifically designed to be lightweight and fast-absorbing. If you’re particularly interested in a gel moisturizer, try Obagi Hydrate Light Weightless Gel Cream.

Skin-Soothing Ingredients

When you’re in an active breakout session, the right moisturizer can soothe irritation and support healing in addition to imparting essential moisture. Niacinamide, for example, can help calm the skin while improving moisture retention. Other skin-soothing ingredients may include oatmeal, ceramides, and antioxidants.

A product like Medature Barrier Balancing Gel Moisturizer 4 which contains niacinamide and is specifically formulated for barrier repair could be a good choice. Derma Made Nia-Genic Lotion also contains niacinamide and is uniquely designed to reduce redness and irritation.

Free From Potential Irritants

Excess oil isn’t the only thing that can trigger breakouts in acne-prone skin. You may also find that your skin is more sensitive to certain ingredients like artificial fragrance, alcohols, or harsh cleansing agents.

Consider La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin, a formula that’s free from fragrance, oil, and parabens. If you’re looking to heal acne scarring while avoiding further damage, Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cream could be a good choice.

Everyone’s skin is different but if yours is prone to acne, including a lightweight moisturizer in your daily skincare routine could make a difference. It’s also a good idea to avoid products containing common irritants like artificial fragrances or synthetic preservatives like parabens.

Shop our full collection of skincare products for acne-prone skin to revitalize your daily routine (and your skin). And don’t forget to sign up for Exclusive Beauty Club rewards to start earning points on every purchase!