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The 5 Best Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin

By on November 25, 2013

If you have acne-prone skin, we know how hard it is for you to manage your makeup and skincare routine. Unfortunately, your choices are limited and you can’t pick just any product you’d like. You have to look for special formulas that won’t clog your pores, won’t produce excess oil, won’t make your skin too dry, won’t attract extra dirt and residue ….. the list can go on and on. But while it’s unfortunate that you have to make such an effort to find the proper products to help keep your pimples at bay, luckily there are a multitude of options on the market to choose from, including some amazing moisturizers.

One myth that must be busted immediately: Just because your skin is acne-prone, and therefore probably produces excess oil, does NOT mean that you can forgo using a moisturizer. It may seem counterintuitive, but oily skin needs hydration just as much as normal and dry skin does. Why? If you don’t moisturize on a regular basis, your skin becomes confused and think it’s lacking in hydration. It will therefore produce more slick sebum (i.e. oil) to make up for what it’s not getting from a moisturizer. So in the end, your skin actually ends up producing more oil, making your face a major shine-fest.

And don’t forget—regular use of a moisturizer is what helps prevent awful, ugly wrinkles. You don’t want to take a chance on allowing those signs of premature aging to sneak onto you skin, do you?

But we do understand your fear of clogged pores and pimples. What you can do is use a moisturizer that’s formulated specifically for acne-prone skin, so you can keep it soft and supple without suffering from breakouts. Here are five of our favorite zit-zapping skin soothers.

1. Clean & Clear Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer, $5

This oil-free moisturizer is excellent for those who suffer from frequent breakouts. In addition to keeping your skin healthily hydrated, it also contains salicylic acid, which is a proven acne-fighting ingredient that’s found in face washes and spot treatments for the pimple-prone. However, there’s only 0.5% added to Clean & Clear’s Essentials Dual Action Moisturizer, so it won’t dry out your skin. But it will help you keep your breakouts at bay, while also hydrating your precious face, leaving it smooth, soft and blemish-free.

2. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion, $13

Tea tree oil is one of the best natural ingredients for zapping zits. The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion, which is a light, mattifying moisture lotion, utilizes this ingredient to help keep your skin free of pesky pimples. It controls the production of excess oil, while still hydrating your skin, keeping it supple, soft and firm. It also helps to soothe irritated, damaged derma and prevent redness due to extreme dryness.

3. Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30, $15

Armed with an SPF of 30, you can be sure this moisturizer will protect your delicate skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays while hydrating and controlling shine. Specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, Cetaphil’s Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer is made with advanced zinc, ceramide and oleosome technologies, all of which help your skin replenish its natural moisture barrier. Its Dermacontrol complex keeps pore-clogging oil to a minimum, ensuring that your skin will stay clear. Meanwhile, it also fights wrinkles, crow’s feet, and other signs of aging by keeping your skin healthy and hydrated.

4. Clinique Acne Solutions Oil-Free Clearing Moisturizer, $20

Clinique’s entire Acne Solutions Line is great for people with pimple-prone skin. The Oil-Free Clearing Moisturizer is one of the best there is for fighting breakouts while maintaining much-needed facial moisture. The medicated formula helps treat already existing acne, as well as prevent future breakouts that we know you must fear are looming on the horizon. It also creates a lightweight barrier that protects the skin against pore-clogging, pimple-creating elements, such as dirt, oil and bacteria. In addition, it’s also a gentle hydrator, which soothes and calms problem skin and eradicates redness often associated with severely dry skin.

5. Derma E Very Clear Moisturizer, $17

If you’re looking for an all-natural option, Derma E’s Very Clear Moisturizer is an excellent choice. Its anti-blemish ingredients include willow bark, tea tree rosewood, chamomile and lavender, all of which are very effective on acne-prone skin. The moisturizer is also formulated with natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties that promote healthy, smooth and clear skin. Excess oil production is balanced with regular use, which in turn will help to keep your skin consistently clear. It also helps to reduce redness and irritation, and is perfect for sensitive skin as it’s 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten free and GMO-free. And of course, it hydrates your skin with essential nutrients and soothing ingredients. When used regularly, you’ll ward off wrinkles as well as develop a moisturized, healthy looking, blemish-free face.