If you have acne-prone skin, using a moisturiser can sometimes feel counterintuitive. While no one wants to make breakouts worse, hydration is key to skin health and can help control sebum production and oiliness, which is where the best moisturisers for acne-prone skin can help.
Before setting out to find the most effective moisturisers for acne-prone skin like mine, I spoke to an expert, Dr Malvina Cunningham, a consultant dermatologist and expert advisor at Renew + Me. “Moisturiser doesn’t treat acne directly, but it plays an important supporting role in keeping the skin comfortable and helping patients stick with the treatments that do clear their skin,” she told me.
When choosing the right one for you, she recommends ingredients that hydrate and repair without further clogging pores. She points to glycerin and hyaluronic acid as particularly effective humectants and ceramides for rebuilding a compromised skin barrier. “Niacinamide is a particularly good choice for acne-prone skin because it’s soothing, helps with redness and may help regulate oil production,” she adds.
For some acne-prone skin types, heavier occlusives such as cocoa butter, coconut oil and thick plant butters can be comedogenic (pore-clogging), so she advises steering clear, while fragrance, essential oils and high levels of drying alcohol can also irritate skin already sensitised by acne treatments. Instead, she’s a fan of lightweight gels, gel-creams, or fluid lotions that absorb quickly.
Her top tip is to moisturise when your skin feels dry, especially while using acne treatments, because not everyone needs to hydrate as often. “People with very oily skin don't necessarily need to moisturise twice daily and may find once a day, or only on treatment nights, is enough. The aim is comfortable and calm skin.”
So, I’ve spent weeks testing moisturisers for acne-prone skin that do exactly that. Here are my top picks.
Read more: Best moisturisers for oily skin, tested
The best moisturisers for acne-prone skin in 2026 are:
- Best overall – Dr Sam’s flawless moisturiser balance: £36, Spacenk.com
- Best budget buy – E.l.f. skin holy hydration barrier goals cream: £13, Boots.com
- Best for dehydration – Prequel half & half fluid moisturizer: £28, Spacenk.com
- Best for comedones – Avène cleanance comedomed+ anti blemish care: £22.95, Boots.com
- Best for oily skin – La Roche-Posay effaclar supramolecular face moisturiser: £16, Lookfantastic.com
Read more: Best spot treatments, tested
Dr Sam’s flawless moisturiser balance
Best: moisturiser for acne-prone skin overall
Why we love it
- Balances hydration without feeling greasy
- Doesn’t irritate breakouts
- Layers well under make-up
Take note
- On the pricier side
- Might feel too heavy in the summer
Created by Harley Street dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting, the Dr Sam’s flawless moisturiser balance is the best moisturiser for acne-prone skin I’ve tried. It has a creamy texture and a formula that includes ceramides, ectoin, and centella asiatica that promote hydration and calm irritation.
It absorbs quickly, leaves no residue, and layers under makeup without pilling, clogging pores, or exacerbating oiliness.
It also contains allantoin to calm redness and soothe reactive skin. I love how it quenches dehydrated areas on my cheeks and forehead while improving hormonal acne patches across the lower half of my face, without compromising efficacy in either area. In the summer, I tend to reach for a lighter texture; in the colder months, this is ideal.
Key specifications
Buy now £36, Spacenk.com
E.l.f. skin holy hydration barrier goals cream
Best: budget moisturiser for acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Reduces redness
- Non-greasy finish
- Complementary to drying acne treatments
Take note
- Thicker texture isn’t ideal for long-term use if you’re very acne-prone
At-home spot treatments, some antibiotics, and in-clinic services can be very drying; in which case, I reach for the E.l.f. skin holy hydration barrier goals cream when my skin needs immediate relief. It's thicker than most acne moisturisers, which tend to be gels and lotions, but it isn’t greasy or sticky. Instead, it helps reduce redness and treat dry, dehydrated areas on my cheeks or around my nose, without causing further breakouts or inflammation.
The formula blends anti-inflammatory colloidal oatmeal, cica to calm redness, and hyaluronic acid for reliable hydration, all for less than £15, which feels like a reasonable investment.
According to E.l.f. It’s also safe for sensitive skin and eczema, a win-win.
Key specifications
Buy now £13, Boots.com
Prequel half & half fluid moisturiser
Best: hydrating moisturiser for acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Fast-absorbing
- Layers well under makeup
- Smooths texture
Take note
- A little goes a long way
Prequel’s half & half fluid moisturiser is essentially a milky toner with a fluid texture, which works as a lovely light layer on oily skin in the summer months, without the greasy or overly dewy finish acne-prone skin can struggle with.
It’s a well-tolerated formula made with ceramides, peptides, and amino acids, so it layers easily over serums, exfoliants, and under suncream without feeling heavy. Plus, it works well when I need to sandwich hydration to minimise skin peeling from stronger retinols. Just a few drops do the trick, so this 168ml bottle has lasted me longer than most cream-based products and leaves my skin feeling plump and supple every time.
Key specificaitons
Buy now £28, Spacenk.com
Avène cleanance comedomed+ anti blemish care
Best: moisturiser for closed comedones
Why we love it
- Targets closed comedones and blackheads
- Mattifying finish
- Lightweight texture
Take note
- Very strong scent
Avène’s cleanance comedomed is one of the few moisturisers designed to treat closed comedones, small acne bumps filled with dead skin cells, keratin, and sebum. They’re something I’ve struggled with for months as part of my hormonal acne flare-ups, and they’re particularly frustrating because they often appear many at a time and take a while to shift. Avène uses comedoclastin in this gel formula, a patented milk thistle fruit extract that targets comedones at the root and helps regulate sebum production.
The gel is lightweight and absorbs quickly, with a matte finish that suits oily skin types, and after two months of daily use, I saw my skin begin to clear, and the textured areas around my chin and jaw improved. The only downside is the scent: thanks to the isopropyl alcohol, it has a pungent, clinical smell when you first apply it. While this does subside, it’s a little off-putting initially.
Key specifications
Buy now £22.95, Boots.com
La Roche-Posay effaclar supramolecular face moisturiser
Best: moisturiser for oily acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Mattifying finish
- Layers well under makeup while treating spots
Take note
- Smaller size than most
If you’re trying to clear breakouts, unclog pores and manage excess oiliness, La Roche-Posay’s effaclar supramolecular face moisturiser is a good all-rounder. It’s the newest addition to its popular acne-focused effaclar line and comes as a mattifying gel moisturiser. While I would prefer a larger size than 40ml, it is effective.
It contains salicylic acid, arguably one of the best ingredients for treating acne, which sloughs away dead skin cells that clog pores and cause spots. This is alongside niacinamide, which can help with redness and dehydration while keeping T-zone shine at bay. As a result, the finish pairs well with make-up applied immediately after.
Key specifications
Buy now £12.8, Lookfantastic.com
IT Cosmetics confidence in a gel cream
Best: gel moisturiser for acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Refreshing
- Cooling texture
- Helps with managing oiliness
- Isn't sticky
Take note
- Expensive
Oily skin often pairs with acne-prone complexions, which can make it hard to find a moisturiser that doesn’t break you out or leave you feeling greasy because of heavy textures. However, this gel option works really well if you’re prone to a shiny T-zone, but still need the hydrating benefits of a moisturiser.
It doesn’t feel occlusive or too rich, and the cool, gel texture absorbs very quickly without a tacky finish. It contains an ingredient called airlicium, which has a slight blurring effect on areas of enlarged pores and helps stay on top of shine throughout the day.
Key specifications
Buy now £47, Lookfantastic.com
Dr Jart+ cicapair intensive smoothing repair cream
Best: anti-redness moisturiser for acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Counteracts the appearance of redness
- Layers well under make-up
- Contains skin-soothing ingredients
Take note
- Expensive
- Thick texture may not be suitable for very oily skin types
Whether you’ve squeezed your spots until they’re red and raw, or you're just prone to redness, Dr Jart’s cicapair intensive smoothing repair cream is a great go-to for calming sensitised, irritated skin. It is a thicker texture, so if you’re very oily, I’d steer clear, but I tend to use a 5p size piece.
The green tint instantly counteracts the appearance of redness without feeling like a heavy layer, and it helps with make-up application after if you’re keen to cover up. It’s rich in cica and centella asiatica, both skin-soothing ingredients that play well with acne-prone skin, too.
Key specifications
Buy now £40, Boots.com
Kiehl’s ultra facial oil-free gel cream
Best: moisturiser for combination acne-prone skin
Why we love it
- Lighter than traditional creams
- Hydrating
- Cooling
- Dries down quickly
Take note
- Expensive
Kiehl’s ultra facial oil-free gel cream is much lighter than traditional creams, and even lotions. It’s particularly good if your skin feels a bit tight and uncomfortable when you step out of the shower but oily during the day, with an instantly cooling, soothing sensation.
It dries down quickly, so you can apply your SPF almost immediately, and it helps my skin feel more hydrated, so it’s ideal if you struggle with unbalanced, combination skin.
Key specifications
Buy now £65, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best moisturiser for acne-prone skin?
Taking the top spot in my review of the best moisturisers for acne-prone skin is Dr Sam’s flawless moisturiser balance. It not only soothes sensitive, irritated skin from breakouts, but also treats the dryness and dehydration that come with combination skin, tackling multiple concerns at once. The texture feels luxurious without being too rich, it absorbs quickly, and doesn’t worsen breakouts.
If you’re on a budget, the E.l.f. skin holy hydration barrier goals cream provides immediate relief if you’re skin is feeling dry from at-home spot treatments or in-clinic services. It contains plenty of anti-inflammatory ingredients, but isn’t too heavy for acne-prone skin.
How I tested moisturisers for acne-prone skin
Over almost eight weeks, I tested each moisturiser on my acne-prone skin, using one morning and night as part of a simple routine, so I could judge performance over time rather than on first impressions. Here’s what I looked for:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Louise Whitbread is one of IndyBest’s go-to beauty experts. She has covered everything from skincare to hair care and make-up for IndyBest since March 2020. From night creams to cleansing balms, Louise always factors in sensitivity, and concerns such as acne, redness and hyperpigmentation. What’s more, as someone who experiences hormonal acne herself, Louise was able to test these moisturisers on her sensitivity-prone skin.
For more, read our review of the best moisturisers with SPF
