Dealing With Acne-Prone Skin? Try These Expert-Loved Moisturizers. (2024)

Board-certified dermatologist David Kim recommends SkinFix’s gel cream because of how fortifying it is for the skin barrier, thanks to ingredients like niacinamide and antimicrobial peptides. Without proper hydration, acne-prone skin can get too dry—ultimately making oil worse. Plus, this cream’s airtight jar packaging helps keep bacteria out, which is crucial for keeping skin clear.

Key ingredients: Patented B-L3 Barrier Lipid Complex, saccharide isomerate, niacinamide

What reviewers are saying: “This product is really lightweight and does a great job of moisturizing without leaving me feeling oily. My skin feels plumper and softer after using! I also love that it is refillable, and allows me to reduce plastic waste.” —KdB1215

Snail mucin is hot right now, and has actually been a go-to skincare ingredient for years. Once TikTok got wind of it, CosRx products started flying off shelves. What makes this cream special is the texture. It’s a bit slimy, like a gel, but it leaves skin radiant, plump, smooth, and soft—never greasy. It’s ideal for those who still want glowing, glasslike skin without the extra grease.

Key ingredients: Snail mucin, sodium hyaluronate

What reviewers are saying: “This is hands-down, one of the best moisturizers I’ve ever used in my face. I am Asian and have extremely extremely oily skin. My skin is so oily. It is so terrible but whenever I combine my skin care routine with a cleanser for oily skin and then I bought this product to moisturize. My skin has not been as oily. This product is moisturizing without giving you the greasy effect. I love this product.” —Laura

Laneige Water Bank moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, which can provide lightweight hydration to acne-prone skin, helping keep it moisturized and plump. Plus, the blend of ceramides and squalane can help heal your skin barrier, leaving your skin more balanced.

Key ingredients: Blue hyaluronic acid, pepta-panthenol complex, squalane

What reviewers are saying: “My skin feels moisturized after using this product. I have sensitive, oily combo skin and acne prone. It doesn’t clog my pores or feel heavy on my skin. When I use it as a nightly moisturizer I use 2 thin layers every night. I only use it as a day moisturizer when I feel my skin can use it, typically after retinol use.” —Iona S.

This mattifying moisturizer not only keeps acne at bay, it also prevents your complexion from getting oily. Turmeric extract reduces inflammation, while mattifying powders absorb excess sebum throughout the day.

Key ingredients: Turmeric extract, glycerin, mattifying powders, squalane

What reviewers are saying: “I have oily but aging skin. Finding a moisturizer can be challenging as a result. This one works well for me. Provides hydration and moisturization without feeling heavy or greasy. Nice matte finish so it doesn't make me shiny either. Works well under makeup too.” —Anonymous

Dermatologists are huge fans of all CeraVe products—this SPF 30 moisturizer included. The brand’s facial moisturizing lotion combines skin-soothing ceramides, niacinamide, lightweight hyaluronic acid, and sunscreen, which is crucial for protecting skin from damage that can exacerbate redness and texture.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octocrylene, zinc oxide

What reviewers are saying: “I have used the CeraVe moisturizer for a few months now so decided to try the facial moisturizers and this am moisturizer is great. Yes, it takes a bit to rub in all the white from the sunscreen but I don’t mind given the protection it provides. Makes my skin feel great and I don’t find it greasy.” —Sheila

Acne-prone skin, irritation, and redness often go hand in hand. This cream has a proprietary blend of ingredients that reduce redness and seriously calm stressed skin—no wonder it’s a must-have for celebrities, beauty editors, and skincare lovers in the know.

Key ingredients: TFC8 complex, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5, hydrolyzed rice protein

What reviewers are saying: “Good for combination skin type. Reduces redness as what it says. Doesn’t clog pores or create tiny white spots. Loving it.” —Tracy G.

This lightweight moisturizer boats everything you want in a cream for acne-prone skin: ceramides, antioxidants, and niacinamide to reduce pore size and soothe.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, licorice root extract

What reviewers are saying: “I’ve been using this moisturizer for about a month, and love it so much! I have sensitive, acne-prone skin and I am also on Accutane. I was in need of a good extra layer of moisture and this light, cooling moisturizer goes perfectly with my skin type. no purging or reactions as well!” —Skylar

If you like the simplicity of a whole system designed for acne, look to Differin. This night cream—with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and allantoin—is made to be used with the brand’s adapalene gel, once available only by prescription. This soothing cream helps counteract drying effects, so your skin stays perfectly balanced.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, allantoin

What reviewers are saying: “I started using this about a month ago and it works great! I noticed a difference within a week. I use it at night and a collagen moisturizer in the morning. My skin has not looked this good in a very long time!” —Laura H.

Salicylic acid helps unclog pores, reduce acne lesions, and promote smoother skin texture—but it can be drying if used in excess, and in the absence of a good moisturizer. With 0.5 percent salicylic acid, this mattifying moisturizer helps calm inflamed breakouts while delivering lightweight hydration with ingredients like glycerin and squalane.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid

What reviewers are saying: “I have been using this product a little over two weeks. my skin feels very hydrated and smooth after I use this. I use it under my makeup as my main moisturizer and it’s worked Fantastic. it doesn’t interfere with any of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling refreshed.” —crystalg126

Face Reality’s coveted moisturizer for acne-prone skin is one of King’s all-time favorites. It contains ingredients like “niacinamide, allantoin, and bisabolol to soothe the skin, help with oil regulation, and improve tone and texture.”

Key ingredients: Lilac stem cells, green tea extract, allantoin

What reviewers are saying: “I love this stuff so much. It has helped tremendously with my acne. You only need a little at a time so this bottle usually last me two months!” —Taylor K.

Sturm’s background in anti-inflammatory medicine means she understands the unique needs of acne-prone skin. This cream was designed for those of us who see both acne and fine lines in the mirror. With ingredients like zinc and proven botanical extracts, it helps soothe irritated skin, restore the moisture barrier, and plump from the inside out.

Key ingredients: Balloon vine, viper’s bugloss, sunflower seed oil, bistort root extract, zinc

What reviewers are saying: “I have never had a daily lotion that works as well with my skin. I struggle with cystic acne and although my breakouts have not stopped, they have become less irritable while keeping my skin moisturized, minimizing flakiness and healing time.” —Amanda S.

Here’s a top-rated hydrator that is as versatile as it is gentle. “This is a lightweight moisturizer that supports the skin barrier, as it contains glycerin, ceramides, and niacinamide, in addition to La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal spring water,” board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick says. “It has a magnifying effect, improving the overall appearance of oil and pores.”

Key ingredients: Thermal spring water, niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin

What reviewers are saying: “I have struggled for years to find a product for my sensitive and oily skin. Since using this product my skin has significantly changed. All texture around forehead and chin is gone, my redness has faded, and I no longer need to blot away oil throughout the day. I love this product so much!” —Rbrey0501

The SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture cream is one of my personal favorites. While I am not a dermatologist, I am a 25-year-old woman with sensitive skin, routine blemishes, and frequent stressors. The blend of algae and botanical extracts helps visibly reduce pore size, and I never feel shiny or greasy after smearing this on.

Key ingredients: Vitamin E, sea algae, burnet, cinnamon, ginger

What reviewers are saying: “Fantastic moisturizer for my older, aging skin that still gets the occasional breakout. I still have the classic ‘T-zone’ oily/dry combo but this product perfectly balances my skin. The cream feels light but luxurious and sinks in within seconds. I have been using Skinceuticals for more than 10 years and I adore it!” —SSLamant

The mother of all lightweight creams (sorry, we had to), Mutha’s blend of bio-fermented ingredients, aloe juice, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid helps skin stay moisturized all day long, without ever feeling slick or greasy.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aloe juice, glycerin, adaptogenic herbs

• David Kim, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City.
• Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center.
• Hadley King, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology, and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Cornell University’s Weill Medical College.

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