How to Hydrate Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
True or false: Change your moisturizer. Change your skin. We believe it’s true, but it’s dependent on finding the best moisturizer for your skin type.

If you’re prone to oiliness and breakouts, finding your holy grail can be a frustrating game of trial and error that leads to abandoning them all together. But, Dr. Murad says moisturizers are musts regardless of skin type. “I tell my patients to think of them as hydrators that keep skin and the microbiome healthy and in balance, which can help decrease oiliness and prevent breakouts.”

Why? Because skin might be over-producing oil to compensate for a lack of hydration, especially if you’re treating with intense oil-controlling or breakout-clearing ingredients. To find the best face moisturizer for acne and oily skin that hydrates without feeling greasy or amplifying shine, follow these tips.

Don’t skip moisturizer
Every skin type needs hydration from moisturizers—even oily and acne-prone skin types. Why? Hydration is the amount of water in your skin, and it can be low no matter how much oil you have on the surface. Moisturizing skin helps it retain this water, keeping it balanced, protected, smooth and luminous.

Look for key words
Oil-free, non-comedogenic, water-light, ultra-light, and gel indicate a texture that’s suited to oily skin.

Avoid these words
Rich, creamy, and heavyweight are not for oily and breakout-prone skin types. (They’re more for supremely dry and dehydrated skin types who need the extra oil.)

Know your ingredients
Ingredient all-star salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) has long been a dermatologist favorite for oily and acne-prone skin types. At certain percentages, salicylic acid helps gently exfoliate the upper layer of the skin to help keep pores clear and unblocked. It also helps refine and smooth. Hyaluronic acid is a must in moisturizers for oily and acne-prone skin because it hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy, and it won’t clog pores.

Follow Doctor’s orders
Dr. Murad has always advised his clients to treat any skin condition holistically—that is, with a balanced diet, exercise, and a consistent skincare routine. Taking care of your whole body will ultimately show on your skin.

Stay in the know
Watch for new ingredients on the market that provide a new route for treating oiliness and acne. New Clarifying Water Gel by Murad contains innovative Korean red pine extract that helps prevent our skin’s bacteria from causing an imbalance (which can lead to irritation that triggers breakouts. Dr. Murad’s latest moisturizer checks all the boxes for oily and acne-prone skin: it hydrates with weightless, non-greasy hyaluronic acid, it balances your skin’s microbiome to minimize impurities that lead to breakouts, and it calms to deliver soothing relief to red, irritated skin.