31 Best Moisturizers That Won’t Cause Acne or Clog Pores

Acne: Let’s talk about it. Most of us have it, but many of us don’t know how to handle it. What we thought would leave us as soon as our high school days were over followed us to college and on to our careers. If this sounds like a page out of your book, trust us when we say you’re not alone. We know how embarrassing it can be to show up to the office with a pimple trying to take over your entire face. It happens.

Acne comes in different forms and blemishes come in various sizes. Whether you’re fighting cystic acne that forms deep down in your pores due to your hormones raging out of control as if you were 16 again or stubborn little whiteheads that just won’t catch a clue, we all have the same goal — to control acne. Now with the arrival of spring, the days will be getting warmer (eventually) and pores are at risk of being clogged with excess sebum, sweat and dirt. The last thing you want to do is add fluid to the fire by layering on a moisturizer that could potentially harm your skin.

[ Face Mapping Your Acne: What Your Breakouts May Be Telling You ]

Can moisturizer cause acne?

Moisturizing is a very important part of treating acne as moistened skin tends to loosen sebum built up inside pores. Finding a moisturizer for your acne-prone or oily skin can be tough. The same lotion used on your body shouldn’t go near your face. We wouldn’t even recommend using the same lotion on your neck, chest, back and upper arms since acne tends to occur there as well (hello, bacne). When choosing the best moisturizer for acne, steer clear of clogging ingredients like petroleum, mineral oil or silicones like dimethicone, which can cause acne. It’s also best to stay away from anything containing alcohol as drying out skin to control oil production will only produce more oil that can lead to inflammation.

Is moisturizer good for acne?

You want to snag moisturizers that are gel, oil-free or water-based as the lightweight formula gives you the moisture you need without bringing breakouts with it. A few ingredients to keep in mind are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide as the two fight any existing breakouts as well as prevent any future ones waiting to occur. There are also humectants glycerin and hyaluronic acid that pull water to skin to retain its natural moisture and gentle exfoliants, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, that work to fade any red or dark spots left behind. When using alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic and lactic), be sure to do so when you’re not using acne treatments containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide as using too much of a good thing can irritate and dry skin.

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Can too much moisturizer make you break out?

Short answer, yes. Moisturizers are designed to be concentrated and slathering on copious amounts actually won’t make them work better. What it will do is irritate your skin (since it needs to absorb into your skin fully, which is kind of hard to do in layers), possibly leading to breakouts. So, while moisturizer is a necessary step in your acne-fighting regimen, too much can definitely do more harm than good.

Is Vaseline good for acne?

Since it’s been clinically proven that Vaseline doesn’t clog pores, you can feel safe putting it on your face, even if you’re prone to breakouts. While Vaseline doesn’t directly treat acne, its protective formula can help your skin recover faster from a breakout. It can also help keep your skin moisturized, which, as we know by now, is a must for acne-prone complexions.

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30

Now that you have the lowdown on what you should and shouldn’t slather on your face, below are 10 of the best moisturizers for acne that leave your face soft and smooth without breaking you out.

1. Drunk Elephant
2. Herbivore Botanicals
3. Ole Henriksen
4. Glow Recipe
5. La Roche-Posay
6. Tatcha
7. Missha
8. Korres
9. Vichy
10. Benton

See the slideshow above to find out more about these best moisturizers for acne and where to buy them.

[ Face Mapping Your Acne: What Your Breakouts May Be Telling You ]