The 7 best moisturizers for oily skin

Key takeaways

• Oily skin still needs moisturizer. The AAD says dry skin makes more oil, and that extra oil can clog pores.

• Look for “oil-free” and “non-comedogenic” on the label, and a light gel or gel-cream texture.

• Our top pick is La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer: niacinamide, a ceramide and oil-absorbing silica in a fragrance-free gel for $24.99.

• On a budget, The INKEY List Omega Water Cream has 5% niacinamide and costs $15.

• For congested skin, Medik8 Balance Moisturizer comes with a glycolic acid activator you use a few evenings a week.

Why oily skin still needs moisturizer

It’s tempting to skip moisturizer when your face is already shiny, but dermatologists advise against it. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that “when your skin becomes dry, your body makes more oil,” and that extra oil can clog pores. On its oily skin page, the AAD says it’s still important to moisturize, and recommends products labeled “oil free” and “noncomedogenic.”

Some ingredients also help with the shine itself. Silica and other powders absorb oil on the surface, and in a 2006 study, a moisturizer with 2% niacinamide lowered the rate of oil production in Japanese participants over four weeks. Our guide to minimizing the look of pores covers why less oil also makes pores less noticeable.

We compared each moisturizer on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked for a light texture, oil-free and non-comedogenic labeling, oil-control ingredients like niacinamide or silica, whether fragrance is listed, and the price.

1. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer: best overall

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin is a lightweight gel with niacinamide, ceramide NP, glycerin and the brand’s prebiotic thermal water, plus silica and perlite to absorb oil. La Roche-Posay says it gives all-day hydration without the shine.

Key features:

• Hydration plus oil control. Niacinamide and a ceramide sit alongside silica, perlite and corn starch to absorb oil.

• Oil-free and non-comedogenic. It’s labeled both, and it’s fragrance-free.

• Short ingredient list. The formula has 16 ingredients.

Tradeoff: with a single ceramide and a matte finish, it may feel too light if your skin also gets dry patches.

Best for: oily and combination skin that wants a matte, fragrance-free moisturizer.

Price: $24.99.

2. CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream: best drugstore gel-cream

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream is made for combination to oily skin, and it combines niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid with silica and corn starch. CeraVe says the silica and other powders help absorb excess oil, and it describes the finish as non-greasy and matte.

Key features:

• Three ceramides. It carries CeraVe’s usual ceramide trio in a lighter texture.

• Oil-absorbing powders. Silica and corn starch help with shine.

• Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. CeraVe labels it both.

Tradeoff: it contains isopropyl myristate, an ingredient some people with acne-prone skin prefer to avoid.

Best for: oily skin that still wants ceramides for hydration.

Price: $19.99.

3. The INKEY List Omega Water Cream: best budget pick

The INKEY List Omega Water Cream is a gel-cream that turns watery on the skin, with 5% niacinamide, 5% glycerin, 3% betaine and a ceramide complex. The INKEY List says it’s made for oily, dehydrated and combination skin, and reports that it helped balance oil in a four-week clinical study of 22 people.

Key features:

• Stated percentages. The key ingredient amounts are on the page.

• Oil-free and silicone-free. The INKEY List also labels it non-comedogenic.

• Fragrance-free. There’s no fragrance or alcohol in the formula.

Tradeoff: it leaves a dewy finish rather than a matte one, which won’t suit everyone with very oily skin.

Best for: oily, dehydrated skin on a small budget.

Price: $15 for 50 ml.

4. Medik8 Balance Moisturizer & Glycolic Acid Activator: best for congested skin

Medik8 Balance Moisturizer & Glycolic Acid Activator is a two-part kit: a lightweight gel moisturizer with niacinamide, prebiotics, postbiotics and cinnamon extract, and a separate glycolic acid activator for the evenings. Medik8 positions it for oily or congested skin and says it leaves skin visibly smooth and mattified.

Key features:

• Moisturizer plus exfoliant. You use the moisturizer morning and night and the glycolic acid activator two to three evenings a week.

• Niacinamide for oil. Medik8 says it helps regulate oil production.

• Gel texture. It’s light enough for oily skin.

Tradeoff: it isn’t fragrance-free. Medik8 says there’s no artificial fragrance, but the moisturizer contains orange peel oil, limonene, linalool and citral, and Medik8 doesn’t label it oil-free or non-comedogenic.

Best for: oily skin with clogged pores and rough texture.

Price: $62.

5. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Face Cream: best cooling gel

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Face Cream is a gel cream for oily to normal skin with glycerin, a cooling ingredient (menthoxypropanediol) and a small amount of salicylic acid. Kiehl’s reports that the appearance of oiliness dropped 28.28% and the appearance of pores dropped 19.80% in a four-week, expert-graded study.

Key features:

• Oil-free and fragrance-free. Kiehl’s also labels it alcohol-free and non-comedogenic.

• Cooling feel. The cooling ingredient gives it a fresh feel on application.

• Several sizes. It comes in 1.7 fl oz and 4.2 fl oz jars, plus a 5.07 fl oz refill.

Tradeoff: it doesn’t include ceramides or niacinamide, so it does less for the skin barrier than some picks here.

Best for: oily skin in hot weather that wants a light, cooling gel.

Price: $39 for 1.7 fl oz.

6. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer: best for blemish-prone skin

Paula’s Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer is a sheer lotion made for blemish-prone skin, with three ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, cholesterol and panthenol. Paula’s Choice says it won’t clog pores or cause breakouts, and that it’s made without fragrance.

Key features:

• Pairs with acne treatments. It has no acne-fighting ingredients of its own, so it can sit alongside yours.

• Ceramides and cholesterol. It pairs three ceramides with cholesterol and panthenol for hydration.

• Fragrance-free. Paula’s Choice says it’s made without fragrance.

Tradeoff: at $42 for 2 fl oz it costs more than the drugstore picks, and Paula’s Choice suggests following it with SPF during the day.

Best for: acne-prone skin that’s dried out by acne treatments.

Price: $42 for 2 fl oz.

7. Tatcha The Water Cream: best splurge

Tatcha The Water Cream is a lightweight, pore-refining moisturizer for combination to oily skin, built on a rice ferment, green tea and Okinawa algae extracts, with gold. Tatcha reports that all 27 panelists showed a reduction in oil after one week.

Key features:

• Water-light texture. Tatcha describes it as oil-free and non-comedogenic.

• Refill option. A refill pod costs less than the full jar.

• Face, neck and chest. Tatcha’s directions cover all three, morning and night.

Tradeoff: at $74 it’s the most expensive pick here, and its ingredient list includes fragrance, alcohol, limonene, linalool and citral.

Best for: combination to oily skin that wants a luxurious texture and doesn’t react to fragrance.

Price: $74 for 50 ml.

How to use a moisturizer on oily skin

• Apply after cleansing and serums. Our guide to skincare routine order shows where moisturizer fits.

• Use a small amount. A thin layer over the face and neck is enough on oily skin.

• Wear sunscreen in the morning. The AAD suggests a moisturizer that also contains broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. If yours doesn’t, add a sunscreen on top.

• Be careful with acids. The AAD says salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids can reduce oiliness but may be too harsh.

• Add niacinamide if you want more oil control. Our list of the best niacinamide serums covers options to layer under a moisturizer.

Frequently asked questions

Which moisturizer is best for oily skin?

For most people, a fragrance-free gel or gel-cream labeled oil-free and non-comedogenic. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte is our top pick, and The INKEY List Omega Water Cream is the budget choice.

Does oily skin need moisturizer?

Yes. The AAD says it’s still important to moisturize oily skin, and Cleveland Clinic notes that “parched skin produces more sebum.”

What should you look for in a moisturizer for oily skin?

The AAD recommends products labeled “oil free” and “noncomedogenic,” which means they’re made not to clog pores. A gel or gel-cream texture, and ingredients like niacinamide or silica, can also help with shine.

Should you use a gel or a cream moisturizer for oily skin?

A gel or gel-cream usually feels lighter on oily skin. Creams can work too if they’re labeled oil-free and non-comedogenic.

How long does it take a moisturizer to help acne-prone skin?

The AAD notes that in studies, most patients saw less acne between four and eight weeks after starting an acne-friendly moisturizer, alongside their acne treatment.