I’ve Tested 50+ Moisturizers on My Acne-Prone Skin, and I *Swear* by These (2024)

Listen, if you want an all-around fabulous option for your acne-prone skin that a million derms get behind, this right here is where you should be spending your money. The magic behind it lies in its ceramide-packed formulation that actively works to keep your skin barrier healthy and hydrated, all while being fragrance-, oil-, and paraben-free. It also includes niacinamide—an MVP ingredient for acne—that keeps redness and inflammation at bay. 'Nuff said.

• Key ingredients: Ceramides (barrier-supporting); niacinamide (anti-acne skin brightener); glycerin (moisturizer); vitamin E (protects with antioxidants)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 3.38 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "Before I used this La Roche-Posay moisturizer, my skin used to be dry and oily. I had many acne issues. My dermatologist recommended using this moisturizer and I fell in love with it. It shows immediate results after 1 week. It helps balance my skin and gives my face enough moisture—not too oily or too dry, it’s just right. I’m using this day and night on my face and my neck area. I also use it as my hand cream as well."

I'm a beauty editor with acne and the start of fine lines—of course, I fall in love with products that proactively treat signs of aging while being safe to use during my hormonal breakouts. This peptide cream uses a unique mushroom-based molecule that contains similar properties to hyaluronic acid and is found to be an excellent hydrator. It also includes some of your OG bbs, like plumping peptides, that work to diminish fine lines, anti-acne, niacinamide, and moisturizing squalane to lock in all those good-good ingredients and support a healthy skin barrier.

• Key ingredients: Silver ear fungus extract (mushroom hydrator); peptides (plumping); niacinamide (anti-acne); squalane (moisturizing)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 2.5 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "I have combination skin that is often dehydrated and very acne-prone, I also have pretty bad eczema. My skin loves squalane so when I saw that as an ingredient I really wanted to try it and so far it hasn’t caused any problems and has left my skin feeling moisturized but not oily. It also helped heal some eczema on my neck so that is a plus."

I’ll be honest: I used to hate wearing sunscreen on my acne-prone skin—until I started using this SPF moisturizer from EltaMD that actually leaves my skin hydrated yet not greasy looking. It’s filled with dimethicone—the most common silicone—that leaves my skin feeling silky and smooth (which helps cut down on some of the oiliness I get throughout the day), and combines that with hyaluronic to mitigate dryness. But the best part? The SPF 40 sun protection.

• Key ingredients: Dimethicone (temporarily smoothing); zinc oxide, octinoxate (sunscreen); hyaluronic acid (hydrating)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "I don’t typically write reviews but this is an awesome product. Very lightweight, dries quickly, non-comedogenic, no tearing which I’ve almost always had with other brands. I notice a difference in my redness as well when applied. I use it daily and highly highly recommend"

A super gentle, lightweight moisturizer—safe for virtually any skin type—that costs less than a cocktail in most cities?! Pls, tell me more. This dermatologist-created moisturizer was made so that you can layer as much as you want and need sans breakouts, irritation, or any signs of pilling. It uses some of the best hydrators in the game—s/o glycerin and hyaluronic acid—to attract water and plump your skin, then lock it all in place in order to maximize the hydrating benefits. It's seriously so easy to incorporate into your skincare routine, buy it and find out, trust.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid and glycerin (hydrating)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 1.7 oz.
  

Glowing Customer Review: "I am really enjoying the new Gel Moisturizer. It is fragrance-free, which I love. It comes in a pump bottle. It is a white gel that is lightweight and absorbs so quickly and well. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and hydrated. It does not leave any greasiness or residue. My skin feels soft, supple, healthy, and looks great."

I swear by this soothing moisturizer when my skin feels extra ~angry~ (read: inflamed, itchy, and red). It’s filled with two major calming ingredients: Centella asiatica, aka cica, can potentially help soothe and repair wounds, while allantoin calms down irritation by gently smoothing dead skin to better increase hydration. And as a bonus, it also has 0.5 percent salicylic acid to help gently exfoliate pore-clogging skin cells

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating); centella asiatica, allantoin (soothing)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 2.82 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “Literally such a must-have, I have struggled so much with redness, and within the first few uses, I could see results! It is so lightweight; it doesn't feel sticky at all!”

In the summer when my skin feels like it’s suffocating every time I layer on a thick moisturizer, I pull this gel moisturizer into my rotation. It’s filled with ultra-lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid and moringa leaf water that immediately absorb into my skin, along with niacinamide to help slowly brighten acne scars and reduce some irritation over time.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide (brightener); hyaluronic acid, moringa leaf water (lightweight moisturizers)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: According to a tester, “​​I like this product because it's not greasy, feels fresh, and doesn't clog pores. It makes my skin feel soft.”

Butt acne, back acne, chest acne—I’ve got it all, which is what led me to this lightweight body lotion. It’s spiked with 2 percent salicylic acid to help slowly buff away the dead skin that gets trapped in my pores and causes zits. It’s also surprisingly weightless, so I don’t even feel it on my skin once I start massaging it in. As a bonus too, it uses soothing chamomile and willow-herb extracts to help calm any irritation on my skin when I already do have a flare-up.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating); chamomile extract, willow herb extract (soothing)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “This treatment works so well for my skin when I’m using it consistently. It has helped fade a lot of my dark spots and back acne, and it's been exciting to see how this product continues to change the texture of my skin over time.”

You would legit never guess how damn moisturizing this is by how weightless the consistency is. Truly, I slather on a full quarter-size amount, and I feel like it’s disappearing because it sinks in so quickly. But it actually uses a mixture of peptides, ceramides, and squalane to deeply hydrate and plump my skin without a thick residue, all while lightly smoothing and soothing my acne with niacinamide.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide (lightly hydrating and soothing), peptides (barrier-supporting); ceramides, squalane (moisturizing)
• Oil-free? No
• Size: 1.69 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “Light but moisturizing—it sinks in quickly. I've been using it for a few months and am seeing improvement with discoloration. I also have occasional breakouts and this has really helped keep them under control!”

One thing about me: I’m going to immediately try any moisturizer that combines AHAs and BHAs, because it’s essentially a killer for the bumpy texture that gets left behind after I get a breakout. And lemme tell ya, this moisturizer is chock full of exfoliating acids like salicylic, glycolic, tartaric, and lactic acid. But if you’re worried it’ll burn your face off, it also uses soothers like bisabolol and centella asiatica, as well as moisturizers like jojoba oil and shea butter to offset irritation and dryness.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid (exfoliators)
• Oil-free? No (coconut oil)
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “When I first tried this cream, I thought it was going to be heavy and greasy, and it almost feels like that for the first minute or two, but then it just slowly absorbs, and your skin just feels soft. I only used it a couple of days, and I already notice more clarity in my skin.”

At 26, I need my skincare to help me keep my skin clear (tysm, hormones) and help me prevent forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet. So, I reach for this lightweight anti-aging cream, which combines some of the best anti-aging ingredients: retinol and peptides to promote collagen production, along with resveratrol, an antioxidant from red grapes that helps fight environmental stress (like UV light and pollution). And because retinol also increases cell turnover, it can help treat and prevent acne and fade leftover scarring too.

• Key ingredients: Retinol, peptides (boosts collagen); resveratrol (antioxidant)
• Oil-free? No (sunflower seed oil)
• Size: 1.0 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “This cream is buttery and luxurious—the texture competes with my $80 facial moisturizer—yet lightweight and gentle on my skin, unlike any other retinol I've tried. I've noticed this cream expedited the healing process of existing blemishes and helped with the overall turnover of my skin so that my face was glowy and plump all day long. I especially love that it doesn't dry out my skin either.”

It’s no wonder basically every dermatologist I talk to recommends this basic moisturizer: It’s filled with some go-to hydrators, like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, as well as niacinamide to help soothe your skin. All of this to say, it’s great to slather nightly on your sensitive, acne-prone skin, especially if you’re subbing in drying retinoids or exfoliating acids to treat your zits. Board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, actually recommends her patients opt for this lotion instead of a heavy-cream formula, since it’s water-based and, therefore, v lightweight.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide (soothing); hyaluronic acid, ceramides (hydrating)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 3 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: "This is the holy grail. This is THE STUFF...this product actually somehow maintains that [beautiful] morning skin look for me...all the time. Additionally, the texture of my skin has improved and it finally feels hydrated."

I am so over waking up the morning of ~very important events~ with a zit, so I started swapping in this moisturizer to actually prevent new breakouts. It uses 2 percent salicylic acid to exfoliate all the dead skin that gets trapped with oil in my pores to cause acne, as well as azelaic acid to help calm some inflammation (read: my angry, red, blind pimples) and increase cell turnover to smooth my skin.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating), azelaic acid (smoothing and brightening)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I have been struggling with super-bad acne lately, and nothing was really clearing it up, finally, I decided to give this a try, and it was a lifesaver! Not only is it clearing up my acne, but I also have not had any new big breakouts. This is worth it!!”

Don’t be fooled by the fact that this moisturizer for acne is the cheapest on this list; the cult-favorite formula is stacked with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids to help hydrate your skin without feeling greasy. Don’t just take my word for it though—peep the hundreds of five-star reviews, and you’ll get the hype.

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, amino acids (hydrating)
• Oil-free? Yes
• Size: 1.0 oz. 0r 3.3 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I have to say I may have found my daytime soulmate. She’s light, but I pair her with hyaluronic acid and *chefs kiss*—so good. I am acne prone and I have had great results. Doesn’t clear my skin but doesn’t congest my pores, and keeps me nice and hydrated during the day.”

This moisturizer is filled with two MVPs for clearing out your pores and preventing blackheads: 1 percent salicylic acid (a gentle exfoliator that unclogs your pores) and charcoal (a micro-fine powder with antibacterial and antifungal properties). Low-key, charcoal is one of my favorite ingredients for acne-prone skin, because it absorbs oil to both mattify your skin but also slightly reduce excess sebum that could get trapped in your pores and cause zits and blackheads.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid (exfoliating), charcoal (oil-absorbing)
• Oil-free? No (essential oils)
• Size: 1.7 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I think that this moisturizer is amazing for oily skin. It really helps clear out pores and fight acne, yet keeps you hydrated, but not greasy. It seems to go on with a slight glow, but once it sinks in, it’s perfect.”

This rich moisturizer is an MVP at treating current breakouts while also fading leftover acne scars. It combines licorice root extract, one of the best brighteners out there for all skin tones, and niacinamide to help lighten dark spots, all while antibacterial tea tree oil helps keep skin clear. Layer this on as the last step in your night routine and let the moisturizing shea butter do its ~thing~ to plump and moisturize your skin.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter (moisturizing); licorice root extract, niacinamide (brightening); tea tree oil (antibacterial)
• Oil-free? No (sacha inchi oil)
• Size: 2.0 oz.

Glowing Customer Review: “I recently had a terrible breakout, and this worked miracles. It calmed inflammation overnight and now is fading my acne marks. Had some issues with white streaks on my face but no white cast if I use a small amount.”

Yes, acne-prone skin needs moisturizer. “Moisturizing is important to keep your skin’s barrier intact,” board-certified dermatologist Heidi Waldorf has previously told Cosmo. It might feel a little counterintuitive to load up on heavy creams and lotions when your face is already shiny, but skipping moisturizer can actually make your face produce more oil by messing with your skin barrier, which could potentially lead to more breakouts down the line.

Not only that, but traditional acne treatments, like retinol, AHAs, or benzoyl peroxide, can lead to dryness and irritation, which a twice-daily moisturizer can help offset. And yes, this matters: A compromised skin barrier can’t heal itself or its breakouts as quickly, which is why it’s so important to keep acne-prone skin healthy and moisturized. Plus, depending on the formula you choose, your moisturizer can also help fade dark spots, brighten hyperpigmentation, and soften fine lines. All of this brings us to…

Determine your skin type

Your general skin type and preexisting skin concerns are the best indicators for what type of moisturizer you should use, board-certified dermatologist Anar Mikailov, MD, previously told Cosmo. Those with oily skin should look for formulas with lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid or squalane, while dry skin might need richer moisturizers (like shea butter and cocoa butter), along with lightweight oils (like jojoba oil or evening primrose oil). If you have sensitive skin and legit break out at the thought of trying new products and ingredients, stick to “products free of alcohol, fragrance, and oil,” says Dr. Gohara.

Look for active ingredients

If you want your moisturizer to actively fight acne, then you’ll need active ingredients that can exfoliate your skin or reduce inflammation. If you have oily skin—or skin that largely tolerates acids—you might be better equipped to handle a formula with retinol, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid to cut through oil and reduce breakouts. Meanwhile, someone with dry skin should look for a moisturizer with low-level salicylic acid (less than 1 percent), as well as other gentle acne fighters, like niacinamide, azelaic acid, and willow bark extract.

• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, Ct, president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society, and associate clinical professor at Yale. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and skin of color.
• Heidi Waldorf, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Waldorf Dermatology Aesthetics in New York, NY who specializes in cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Waldorf previously spoke to Cosmo about how to get rid of oily skin.
• Anar Mikailov, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA, and the founder of KP Away, a line of skincare products for keratosis pilaris-prone skin. Dr. Mikailov previously spoke to Cosmo about the best face moisturizers for all skin types.
• Carmen Castilla, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group in New York City. Dr. Castilla previously spoke to Cosmo about the best face non-comedogenic moisturizers.

Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan and has four years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing skincare stories, like the best blackhead removal tools and the best clear sunscreens, and feels especially knowledgeable about moisturizers for acne-prone skin, thanks to being a beauty editor with hormonal breakouts and therefore trying a million different formulas. She regularly tests and analyzes moisturizers for acne-prone skin on her own skin for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas and products.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from lip pimples to why your face is breaking out to scalp-acne shampoos. She personally tested dozens of moisturizers for acne-prone skin and consulted dermatologists to create this list.