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- Best Moisturisers For Acne
The 20 Best Moisturisers for Acne
Suffering from acne isn’t uncommon. It affects roughly 80% of the British population aged 11 to 30. Whether it’s hormones or genetics, there are ways to treat your acne breakout and soothe your skin once and for all. And it starts with proper skin care. Looking after your skin should be number one priority if pimples are getting you down; as long as you keep your skin clean and hydrated, your complexion will be normalised.
Often, if you suffer from spots, you may believe it’s due to being over-hydrated. However, there’s a difference between being hydrated with water and being congested with oil. Your skin may develop more sebum than is required, and with nowhere to store it, it sits on your face and clogs up your pores, thus leading to unwanted breakouts.
The best way to balance your oil levels is to flush out the excess and replace it with water hydration. This means using products that are known to deeply clean out your pores and send a surge of water moisture into your epidermis: products that are oil-free, soothing and harmonising.
So, without further ado, here are the 20 best moisturisers for acne.
REN Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream
£29.92 £30.93 (4% off)This Clearcalm 3 Replenishing Gel Cream by REN is a match made for acne-prone, stressed and sensitive skin. The lightweight moisturiser has been designed to deeply nourish skin, combat breakouts, regulate oil production and calm irritation. It's good-for-you ingredients allow you to embark on a journey to a clear and comfortable complexion that's free from pimples, scars and pigmentation.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (+) SPF 30
£14.70 £21.00 (30% off)Want to banish those blemishes? Make salicylic acid your BFF and you’ll never have to worry about those breakouts again (it’s basically acne’s arch nemesis). Salicylic acid penetrates deep into the pores and, as it's oil-soluble, soaks up excess sebum while exfoliating skin cells and dissolving blackhead bacteria. Pretty cool, right? And La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is loaded with the stuff.
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Matifying Fluid
£18.89 £25.00 (25% off)Nobody wants a shiny forehead but we all want soft and supple skin. The Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Mattifying Fluid works in many wonderful ways to help clear up acne and minimise shine. The magical formula combines the best of both worlds by serving up intensive moisture with a mattifying, oil-free finish.
Dermalogica Clear Start Soothing Hydrating Lotion
£19.45 £24.73 (22% off)Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic, this moisturiser is perfect for those who have oily skin and are looking for something that will calm their breakouts and mattify their complexion. Saw palmetto has been a skincare staple for years and is utilised for its purifying and oil-controlling properties. It also carries potent antiseptic properties and ensures your skin remains free from bacterial congestion.
Paula's Choice Clear Moisturiser SPF 30
£38.89This moisturiser is a fantastic option for blemish-prone skin. Powered by a cocktail of favourite fruity antioxidants, including blueberry and pumpkin, as well as niacinamide and ceramides, it's the ultimate spot-fighting solution. It even helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and blemishes post-breakout, allowing you to enjoy a clean, clear and calm complexion.
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream
£13.35 £17.00 (22% off)Yes another Dermalogica mosituriser. We can't get enough. Often acne-prone skin can feel tender and dry and that’s where this Dermalogica god-send comes in. It balances moisture levels so dry skin feels hydrated and nourished. Not to mention, it reduces the appearance of blemishes and spots, as it is enriched with antioxidants and is free from harmful chemicals. This all helps create a youthful, radiant complexion.
Vichy Normaderm Anti-Blemish Care
£17.99 £18.50 (3% off)11 years of research has gone into creating this Normaderm Anti-Blemish Care moisturiser and you’ll see why. It’s Vichy’s most powerful moisturiser yet and delivers proven results. Designed to tackle hormonal blemishes, this lightweight moisturiser offers 24 hours of hydration while it gets to work on soaking up sebum and bringing harmony to your complexion. The results are truly radiant.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion
£13.12 £15.50 (16% off)Often when dealing with acne your skin becomes extra sensitive. This lightweight and gentle moisturiser from CeraVe is the perfect remedy. It provides a 24-hour boost of hydration and uses innovative ceramides to restore moisture and protect your precious skin against environmental aggressors. It also has a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid to soothe any tenderness.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturiser
£24.34Achieve a balanced, healthy visage with this handy moisturiser at your side. It’s the perfect solution for oily and combination skin types as it is free from alcohol, fragrance and other pore-blocking ingredients. Instead, it utilises avocado oil, meadowfoam seed oil and shea butter to soften, moisturise and protect skin. It's the first responder that all struggling skin types will appreciate!
Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser
£21.60Keep your skin nourished this fantastic option from Balance Me. It’s specifically designed for beauty lovers with oily, combination and acne-prone skin. It contains a blend of aloe vera, spruce knot and chamomile to calm any redness and inflammation.
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre
£10.45 £13.00 (20% off)Another fantastic option for blemished skin is this non-acnegenic formulation from Embryolisse. It delivers hydration all day long, while also preventing pesky future breakouts. You can thank the perfect balance of essential fatty acids, which rebalance and restore moisture instantly.
Liz Earle Skin Repair - Light
£25.00Formulated with naturally-active ingredients – including avocado and borage plant oils – this Liz Earle moisturiser is silky, lightweight and brilliant at balancing out oily skin. That doesn't mean it'll dry you out, either: loaded with vitamin E, it works to find the perfect balance between hydrated and oily. After just a few uses, your face will feel smooth, soft and conditioned.
The INKEY List Snow Mushroom
£9.99Is your skin feeling a tad inflamed and dry? Look no further than this affordable option. Snow mushroom is a powerful hydrating ingredient that helps calm any redness on the face. It also has anti-inflammatory components which soothes the complexion. The cooling effect of this day moisturiser feels oh-so-comfortable when your skin needs a break.
Wishful Honey Balm Jelly Moisturiser
£37.00Don’t be afraid of deeply hydrating products. This picture-perfect cream offers an intense boost of moisture and nourishment with the star ingredient of honey. It also contains turmeric root extract which offers anti-inflammatory properties and minimises hyperpigmentation from old acne scars. Better yet, it’s non-comedogenic so won’t clog your pores.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
£51.00This one is a bit of a splurge, but we promise it’s worth it. Not only does it look the part with that gorgeous aqua blue packaging, but what’s inside also counts. The super-silky gel cream is perfect for oily, acne-prone skin because it’s lightweight, fragrance-free and oil-free, so irritation and inflammation is instantly kicked to the curb. Instead, the cloud cream utilises a hyaluronic acid and ceramide blend for much-needed moisture.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate
£26.55 £42.00 (37% off)As an allergy tested and non-acnegenic formula, you can rest assured this product won’t cause a breakout. In fact, you can rely on this moisturiser to offer a burst of refreshing hydration, thanks to the water-gel consistency. It effortlessly melts into the skin and leaves your complexion feeling revived, smooth and plumped up.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Face Cream
£135.00Another luxury product worth the price tag is the Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Face Cream. This moisturiser is specially designed to tackle blemishes by balancing your natural sebum levels. At the same time, it also acts a potent anti-ageing treatment, helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Allies of Skin Molecular Multi Nutrient Day Cream
£105.00Target breakouts with this indulgent day cream. It contains a clever blend of probiotics, antioxidants and nutrients which feed the skin. Not only does it help reduce the appearance of redness and spots, but also protects your skin against environmental pollution and stressors.
Murad Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel
£30.45 £46.00 (34% off)Struggling with oily complexion? We’ve got you covered. Take a peek at this clarifying oil-free water gel from Murad. Doctor-developed, it helps regulate and balance your skin’s natural oils, while also improving the appearance of enlarged pores. The fine texture also feels weightless on the skin with a refreshing result.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
£25.60 £32.00 (20% off)We’ve all experienced that pesky midday meltdown where our foreheads look a lot shinier than they did at 8am. To keep that shine under control you need to get your hands on this icon from Kiehl’s. It helps lock in essential moisture, absorb sweat and balance oil, as well as minimise the size of pores. The oil-free, non-acnegenic and dermatologist-tested formula is a sure-fire way to keep future breakouts at bay.
Moisturiser isn't the only solution though. There are also many self-help techniques you can use to treat your acne, such as ensuring makeup is fully removed before bed, avoiding wearing heavy makeup, never squeezing or trying to pop, keeping dirty hands away from your face and drinking plenty of water. Hopefully, these handy tips and best moisturisers for acne will help to reduce breakouts and boost your confidence in the process.
If you want to know more about acne and how to tackle it, check out our blog on adult acne and our guide to moisturiser.
Written by Hannah Liddle
Hannah has worked as a writer for over four years and knows beauty, skincare and makeup like the back of her hand.
Written by Rebecca Jenkinson
Rebecca is a content writer with over three years’ experience and a keen interest in cosmetics. Cosmetify allows her to combine her blogging skills with her passion for beauty.
