The best moisturizers for oily skin should keep the skin hydrated without blocking up the pores with excess oil or thick formulas. Oily skin can masquerade as hydrated skin—bu skin can actually be both oily and dehydrated.
So while it might seem counterintuitive to moisturize oily skin, the biggest mistake you can make in your skincare routine when looking for the best face moisturizer is to ditch hydration for fear of making your face greasier. All that will happen is your oily skin will send in more sebum to compensate for the dehydration—and so the cycle continues.
Our guide to the best moisturizers for oily skin will help you figure out how to choose moisturizer that is right for you, which will hydrate without riling oily and acne-prone skin—like Origins GinZing Moisturizer, for example. We’ve tested countless moisturizers in order to select the very best formulas for every oily skin concern. On our quest, we found all the below to be worthy of a spot on our list…
Meet the experts on moisturizers for oily skin
- Dr. Anjali Mahto is a cosmetic consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible, also based in London, and has also explained some of the key things that it's important to bear in mind when building a skincare routine for oily skin.
How to choose from the best moisturizers for oily skin
Given that dehydrated skin is characterized by reduced water in the uppermost layers of skin, it makes sense to opt for a water-based gel moisturizer. So, when its comes to choosing between the best moisturizers for oily skin for you, you should look out for:
- Water-based formulas—Face creams are normally oil-based. These "fatty" ingredients give them that whipped cream consistency, which dry skin drinks up. Gel moisturizers, on the other hand, are oil-free and trap water so it doesn’t evaporate from the skin.
- Lightweight humectants—ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin work well, as they hold on to vast amounts of water and plump up the skin without blocking pores.
To keep your skin in good condition, it's important to think about your cleansers too. Dehydrated skin is often caused by excessive cleansing, although diet, change in season, and not drinking enough water can also play a part. It’s good practice to wash your face both morning and night, but, says dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto: “Anything too harsh will strip skin of its natural water and oils, leaving it feeling tight and irritated.”
A foaming cleanser laced with salicylic acid is a more skin-friendly option for oily skin, but be sure to also scan the label of your moisturizer for the words "oil-free" and "non-comedogenic" (meaning it won’t clog pores) when you look to revamp your skincare product order. Also important is seeing "aqua, water, and deionized water" at the top of the ingredients list.
The best moisturizers for oily skin as reviewed by a beauty editor
Shani Darden is the go-to facialist for celebrities including Jessica Alba, Shay Mitchell and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Given that few people, apart from your derm, are so intimately acquainted with skin issues, you can guarantee that Shani has seen (and successfully treated) her fair share of oily skin.
True to its name, this super lightweight gel moisturizer feels weightless and infuses skin with hyaluronic acid and algae extracts to make dehydration a thing of the past—as long as you follow the advice on how to apply moisturizer effectively.
Perhaps the most appealing thing about this gel-cream moisturizer is the texture. While some mattifying formulas boast an opaque, almost waxy, consistency, this one dampens shine and blurs the appearance of pores without leaving skin looking flat or powdery, a perfect base for the best BB creams.
There's also no drying alcohol in the formula, just willow bark extract and niacinamide to help to curb oil production and keep pores clear.
Clinique's custard-yellow Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is probably one of the most iconic moisturizers of all time, perhaps rivalled by its own Clinique Moisture Surge Gel Moisturizer—but it can be too heavy and occlusive for oily skin. Thankfully, Clinique’s scientists have created clear, gel counterpart rich in hyaluronic acid, which acts as a magnet for water, alongside refreshing cucumber fruit extract and barley to strengthen the skin’s barrier.
Notably, it also contains Clinique’s ‘Clean Shield Technology’. Soot from traffic fumes can lodge in the pores, causing a cascade of skin issues: irritation, congestion, dehydration, and sebum levels to go into overdrive in response. Designed to lock hydration in and filter pollution out, this technology is like a burly bouncer for oily skin, great to pair with the best foundations for sensitive skin to minimise flare-ups.
Imagine drenching your skin in a cloud of pure cooling moisture and you’ll be able to see the immediate appeal of this product. The only thing more addictive than the souffle texture is the intense injection of proven hydrators, which still manage to avoid overloading the skin.
These include hyaluronic acid—a molecule that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water—and ceramides to prevent that moisture from evaporating, similar to the best hyaluronic acid serums.
Probably the most high-tech formula of the bunch. Dermatologist Dr Howard Murad has treated the water inside this pink gel with a special solution of amino acids and osmolytes (compounds used by cells to hold on to fluid).
Clinical trials show it draws moisture to the skin for up to five days without compromising pores. A truly intelligent oily skin solution that marries well with one of the best foundations for oily skin. Beauty contributor Lucy Abbersteen agrees that this particular formula is lovely to use and sinks into the skin beautifully to help quench its thirst.
One of Laura Mercier's primers is world-famous for creating a matte finish, so arguably the next logical step was an oil-free moisturizer to work alongside it.
Designed to subdue shine while still delivering ample amounts of moisture, this water-based formula does indeed form a matte veil over the skin. Bonus: it smells divine, thanks to the inclusion of French lavender floral water, which also helps to control surface oil.
The sorbet-like consistency feels immediately cooling against skin that isn't coping with sudden changes in temperature, or that just feels out of whack generally. As it slips across skin it quenches with organic "Leaf of Life" extract—a succulent plant that improves skin’s ability to retain moisture— and organic kalanchoe extract to boost its natural production of hyaluronic acid.
It is worth pointing out that what makes it particularly great for oily complexions is that it mattifies, so if you don't want a particularly matte base, it may not be to your taste. Those looking to stave off any hint of shine, however, will love it.
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