When you’re dealing with acne and oily skin, adding moisture to your skin might be low down on your list of priorities. But the truth is, all skin types need to be moisturized, particularly acne-prone skin.
Why Lightweight Moisturizers?
The best moisturizer for acne-prone skin is whichever product will keep your skin soothed and hydrated without causing breakouts. A lightweight moisturizer should provide enough hydration to keep your skin’s moisture barrier healthy (which can help prevent breakouts) without overwhelming it with heavy ingredients that can exacerbate clogged pores and acne.
Often a little more substantial than the gel moisturizers we might gravitate to in the summer, the lightweight moisturizers listed below can be a goldilocks option if your skin feels slightly dry or tight from acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids, but also tends to break out from heavier moisturizers.
If you are dealing with more severe dryness or irritation, you might have a damaged skin barrier and may need to scale back your treatments and use a barrier repair cream.
Best Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin
Here are our favorite lightweight moisturizers for acne-prone skin. They are non-comedogenic (meaning they won’t clog pores) and packed with ingredients that help soothe irritation or inflammation that often comes with acne.
To lock in even more hydration, consider applying your moisturizer when your skin is slightly damp.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Lightweight Moisturizer for Damaged Skin Barrier with Amino Acids
Elta MD's Skin Recovery Light Moisturizer is a weightless lotion designed with acne-prone and sensitive skin in mind. It uses the brand's patented AAComplex of amino acids to restore the skin's natural barrier, which makes it one of our favorite moisturizers to use alongside a strong acne treatment. With hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalane, and coconut extract, this lotion soothes and moisturizes dehydrated skin while calming irritation and redness.
- Lightweight with hydrating ingredients
- AAComplex restores skin barrier
- Great option when using harsh acne treatments
- Expensive
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluide Lightweight Protective Moisturizer with Niacinamide
The Toleriane Sensitive Fluide is an oil-free moisturizer from La Roche-Posay's sensitive skin line. What makes it unique is its limited number of ingredients, which can help you avoid irritation if you have sensitive skin. Made with La Roche-Posay thermal spring water, niacinamide, and glycerin, it can hydrate your skin for up to 48 hours and also helps to support your moisture barrier. It is lightweight and moisturizing with a mattifying texture, making it a great option if you have skin that is both sensitive and acne-prone.
- Lightweight with mattifying texture
- Thermal water, niacinamide, and glycerin to hydrate and soothe
- Expensive
- Niacinamide can be irritating for some skin types
Dermalogica Clear Start Skin Soothing Hydrating Lotion, Lightweight Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane
The Skin Soothing Hydrating Lotion from Dermalogica's acne-focused Clear Start line lives up to its name as a soothing and hydrating moisturizer that pairs well with drying acne treatments. It contains squalane to nourish the skin and help it retain moisture, along with hyaluronic acid to hydrate. A low amount of 0.5% salicylic acid can help keep pores clear over time.
- Hyaluronic acid to hydrate
- Squalane to moisturize and nourish
- 0.5% salicylic acid for gentle pore clearing
- Citrus peel oils may be sensitizing for some people
Uriage Bariederm Cica Daily Repairing Gel-Cream with Centella Asiatica and Hyaluronic Acid
The Cica Daily Repairing Gel-Cream from French brand Uriage's Bariederm line comes in a refreshing gel-cream texture that can also be used to buffer your tretinoin or other retinoid to help reduce irritation. This ultra-lightweight formula contains centella extract to soothe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate, and copper-zinc to help heal. It also uses 10.5% of Uriage's Thermal-Biotic complex, which uses thermal water and inulin to support the skin barrier and microbiome.
- Refreshing gel-cream texture
- Centella and copper-zinc to soothe
- Thermal-biotic complex to support skin barrier and microbiome
- Small size
Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer with Niacinamide, Soothing Antioxidants, and Ceramides
This Oil-Free Moisturizer from Paula's Choice Clear line is specifically formulated for the needs of acne-prone skin. The non-greasy lotion texture is water-light and hydrates and soothes without leaving a shine. The formula includes niacinamide to help minimize pores, soothing antioxidants from pumpkin and blueberry to calm redness, and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier.
- Water-light texture
- Niacinamide to reduce appearance of pores
- Antioxidants and ceramides to soothe redness
- Expensive for the size
- Niacinamide may irritate some skin types
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer with Ceramides, Squalane, and Hyaluronic Acid
From the OG sensitive skin brand, Vanicream's Daily Facial Moisturizer is a gentle formula designed to be moisturizing but lightweight. Like all Vanicream products, it's made without common irritants for those with sensitive skin. Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane help keep your skin moisturized, and five ceramides help support your skin barrier so it can retain moisture. It is widely available in drugstores and is a great value for the size.
- Simple formula for sensitive skin
- Five ceramides to help retain moisture
- Widely available and inexpensive
- May not be moisturizing enough if you use strong acne treatments
ETUDE SoonJung 10 Free Moist Emulsion with Squalane, Panthenol, and Madecassoside
The SoonJung 10-Free Moist Emulsion from Korean brand Etude is part of their SoonJung line, designed for even the most sensitive skin, and is free of ten potentially irritating ingredients. This emulsion has a lightweight lotion-like consistency that uses squalane and glycerin to provide deep moisture. It uses the brand's special ingredient for sensitive skin, "panthenoside," made of panthenol and madecassoside, to soothe irritated skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Panthenoside to soothe and strengthen skin barrier
- Bigger size than most moisturizers
- Can be hard to find
Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream with Super Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Collagen
The Skin Plumping Gel Cream from Hada Labo Tokyo has a luxurious yet lightweight texture that is designed as a serum-moisturizer hybrid to hydrate all skin types. It contains Super Hyaluronic Acid, Hada Labo Tokyo's exclusive combination of three types of hyaluronic acid for long-lasting hydration. Ceramide and the amino acid arginine help to restore the skin barrier to keep skin moisturized.
- Lightweight and fast-absorbing
- Three types of hyaluronic acid to hydrate
- Ceramide and arginine to restore skin barrier
- Jar size is misleading for the amount of product
Ingredients to Look For
When choosing a lightweight moisturizer for acne-prone skin, ingredients matter. Look for products with these acne-friendly components:
Hyaluronic Acid
This ingredient draws moisture into the skin and locks it in without feeling greasy, making it perfect for oily and acne-prone skin types.
Glycerin
This humectant also attracts water to the skin, providing hydration without clogging pores. It is gentle and effective for maintaining a healthy moisture balance.
Ceramides
These lipids are naturally found in the skin and help strengthen the skin barrier. A strong barrier is essential for preventing moisture loss and protecting against irritants that can worsen acne.
Squalane
A lightweight, non-comedogenic oil. It’s great for providing hydration without the risk of breakouts for most people and helps balance moisture levels in the skin.
Amino Acids
These building blocks of proteins help to hydrate and repair the skin while supporting a healthy moisture barrier. They’re lightweight, non-irritating, and a great option for sensitive, acne-prone skin.
