The 15 Best Moisturizers for Oily Skin (2024)

This coveted gel-cream pick from La Roche-Posay uses moisturizing ceramides, soothing niacinamide, and the brand’s signature antioxidant-rich thermal water to keep oily skin healthy. It also keeps it mattified by absorbing excess oil while providing long-term hydration and skin barrier support. Plus, its fragrance-free, non-comedogenic formula is suitable for those who also have sensitive or reactive skin.

Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, thermal water

One satisfied customer review: “I love how smooth this makes my skin feel, but also how it overall reduces my oily skin throughout the day!” —lynnlove217

As if balanced moisture levels aren’t appealing enough, Tatcha’s Water cream also features a lightweight texture that makes skincare a more luxurious experience. The oil-free cream’s unique gel texture absorbs quickly, providing skin with plumping hydration.

Key ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Hadasei 3

One satisfied customer writes: “Love this. I’ve been using this as my daily moisturizer for over a year. I have oily skin and big pores. I’m also in my early forties. I will never use another moisturizer. I wish this wasn’t so expensive but it’s worth it and you don’t need a big amount. A little goes a long way.” —MandyJ82

Consider this budget-friendly favorite proof that you don’t have to drain your wallet for quality skincare. Infused with soothing green tea and hydrating aloe, this featherweight moisturizer is like a tall glass of water for oily skin, thanks to its jelly consistency. Its formula quickly sinks into skin and happens to be non-comedogenic.

One satisfied customer writes: “If you have oily skin or live in a humid climate, this gel cream is the perfect moisturizer. I love that this is so lightweight but still provides enough hydration. This is my favorite summertime moisturizer.” —Rachel

Lolis recommends this glycerin- and hyaluronic acid-packed moisturizer as her go-to drugstore pick for oily skin. “It has a water-gel formulation, so it is lightweight but moisturizing and does not feel greasy,” she explains. And because it’s also non-comedogenic, you can treat your skin to hydration without worrying about clogged pores.

One satisfied customer writes: “I absolutely love this moisturizer. I’ve been using it for years. I put it on right after I tone my skin, and it feels so amazing and cooling.” —Marie L.

Here's an SPF-infused moisturizer that provides a little extra protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Its formula is an excellent choice for oily or combination skin, thanks to its non-comedogenic formula that won't leave behind a white cast.

Key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, SPF 30

One satisfied customer writes: It’s lightweight and perfect for my oily/combination skin! It’s great under makeup. I wish it came in a bigger size!” —Michelle

If shine is one of your biggest skincare pet peeves, reach for this oil-control moisturizer that helps kick the problem to the curb. It Cosmetics's evening cream provides lightweight yet long-lasting moisture while reducing excess oil and with continued use.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, airlicium

One satisfied customer writes: “I've been able to use this moisturizer for a month, and I've fallen in love! The creamy gel just glides on and heavily moisturizes. I have oily skin, and it is helpful in hydrating but not making you look greasy.” —AAAHokie

It’s not possible to truly shrink your pores, but there are things you can do to help them appear smaller, like regularly exfoliating and using pore-smoothing skincare products. This lightweight, mattifying moisturizer uses salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and unclog pores, which helps prevent future breakouts.

Key ingredients: Santorini grape extract, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid

One satisfied customer writes: “I waited to write this until I had used the entire tube, and I just have to say I for sure love this stuff. Literally about to buy a jar. It’s light but hydrating. Perfect for during the day and made my skin so smooth. I’ve noticed a difference since I’ve been out. Worth every penny!” —BrittBradley25

This non-comedogenic moisturizer is optimized for acne-prone skin, and made with salicylic acid to minimize current and future breakouts. It also contains a mix of prebiotics and botanicals that reduce excess redness.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, botanicals, prebiotic complex

One satisfied customer writes: “The mattifying formula is perfect for my oily skin, and it leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated. I also love that it's gentle and doesn't irritate my skin. Overall, I'm extremely happy with this product and would highly recommend it!” —Olga M.

Take down shine while protecting your skin from UV rays with Murad's versatile SPF 45 moisturizer. Using oil-trapping microspheres, avocado, and African yellow wood bark extracts, it provides up to 10 hours of oil-reducing hydration.

Key ingredients: Avocado extract, African yellow wood bark extracts, SPF 45

One satisfied customer writes: “By far the BEST moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin. It doesn’t pile up, it smells nice, and it ACTUALLY CONTROLS OIL AND SHINE. It’s pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.” —Rachel281995

If you're in search of a lightweight moisturizer, consider this cult-favorite pick from Summer Fridays. As its name suggests, it has a super light, cloud-like gel-cream texture, but doesn’t skimp on fine line-plumping hydration, thanks to three different types of hyaluronic acid and ceramides. It’s also made with pineapple enzymes that gently exfoliate for brighter, smoother skin.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, pineapple enzymes

One satisfied customer writes: “This product is honestly amazing. I’ve repurchased it quite a few times now. Every time I try to branch out and try a different moisturizer, I always end up coming back to it! It’s perfect for summer. Super lightweight, non greasy, but moisturizing. It’s truly the best!” —Nicholemslrrttv

Sweet dreams are made of this…night cream. It’s ideal for multiple skin types, from dry skin to supremely oily, and packed with plumping, glow-boosting benefits. However, because it’s formulated for nighttime use, it’s a little thicker than other options on this list but still works well for oily skin types.

Key ingredients: Squalane, cucumber fruit extract, rosemary extract, chestnut seed extract, sunflower seed extract

One satisfied customer writes: “This is one of my favorite moisturizers that I've ever tried! I often recommend it because of its great consistency that isn't too light or too heavy (doesn't seem to cause breakouts for me), and because my skin glows and looks nice and healthy after I use it.” —Sharona

Thayers' Let’s Be Clear Water Cream is ideal for anyone looking to smooth and soften uneven skin texture and reduce redness at the same time. Its hardworking formula also provides up to 24 hours of hydration, with a non-sticky consistency that sinks right in and layers well under makeup. Bonus: At just under $20, it's pretty affordable too.

Key ingredients: Azelaic acid, hyaluronic acid

One satisfied customer writes: “This clear water cream has a very clean, cool feeling. As someone with combination skin, it moisturized my face without making it feel oily or greasy.” —john111111111

Lolis counts this ghostberry moisturizer as one of her top picks. “It's is so lightweight that it literally feels like it melts in your skin with no greasy residue,” she says. The cream's nourishing formula aims to balance the skin’s moisture barrier, "which can help regulate oil production over time,” according to the expert.

Key ingredients: Ceramides, ghostberry, Tasmanian pepper, snap 8 peptide

One satisfied customer writes: “This moisturizer has a great consistency, no fragrance, and is soothing to the skin. It also has pretty clean ingredients. This is a winner for my sensitive skin, and I expect it will continue to heal and soothe my skin barrier, improving the appearance of my fine lines and wrinkles.” —Elizabeth

Keep irritation and shininess at bay with this beloved cream from the dermatologist-tested brand EltaMD. It is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic and envelops skin in lightweight moisture using a blend of hyaluronic acid, coconut fruit extract, and squalane. It also features the brand’s AAComplex, which helps support the skin barrier while reducing redness.

Key ingredients: Amino acid blend, squalane, coconut fruit extract, tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate, seawater

One satisfied customer writes: “Started using this light moisturizer and I really enjoy it! I have combo skin, and I find that it leaves me feeling moisturized and not too shiny. Great purchase!” —Syd

This popular moisturizer uses bisabolol, an ingredient derived from chamomile, to soothe skin and calm redness while providing maximum hydration. It’s also infused with probiotics that help support the skin’s microbiome.

Key ingredients: Bisabolol, sugarcane-derived squalane, encapsulated probiotics

One satisfied customer writes: “Great moisturizer! This is very nice! Hydrating without being too heavy or greasy, and it didn’t break me out! Would definitely recommend.” —mariarose12

• Dr. Margarita Lolis, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and MOHS surgeon based in New Jersey and New York.

• Dr. Julia Schwartz, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist based in Puerto Rico.

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