There’s a fine line between dewy supermodel skin and a slick of sheen. Especially when grease gets worse as the day wears on, leaving planet-sized pores in its wake. One way to outsmart oil is to re-evaluate your skincare: enter, the best moisturiser for oily skin.
After using the best toner and best face serums for combination skin, it makes sense that your moisturiser should be lightweight and, where possible, mattifying.
What to look for in a moisturiser for oily skin
‘Combatting oiliness is a tricky business,’ explains medical and cosmetic consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto. ‘If in doubt, look for the words ‘oil-free’ and ‘noncomedogenic’ on the packaging as this means it won’t clog pores.’
Moisturising may seem counterintuitive, but oily skin can still get dehydrated. This is especially true if you are also using acne products to quell breakouts.
‘Many anti-acne products dry out the skin,’ explains consultant dermatologist Dr Sharon Wong. ‘It’s important to rehydrate it in order to prevent sebum levels going into overdrive to compensate for this dryness.’
However, this is obviously not the place for rich, oil-based moisturisers that could further aggravate an already clogged complexion. What’s needed is lightweight creams and gels that sink into the skin quickly. Things like water-based creams work beautifully.
‘What the water does is act as a vehicle to transport other actives in the product so they penetrate the skin better,’ says Benedicte Le Bris, head of research and development at L’Occitane. ‘At the same time, the gel traps the water so it doesn’t evaporate at room temperature.’
Another benefit of gels is that the watery consistency delivers a hit of hydration without blocking pores. Something that makes it ideal for acne sufferers but also helps all skin prone to oiliness. ‘This is because gels are free from the fatty ingredients that normally make moisturisers creamy,’ explains Le Bris.
Many also boast sponge-like ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These are oily skin saviours as they hold on to vast amounts of water, effectively plumping up fine lines and shuttling lost moisture back into dry skin.
And the icing on the cake? Gels play well under make-up, leaving no sticky residue on the skin.
So how did we test these products?
In light of everything that the experts said, we looked for products that were:
- non pore-clogging
- hydrating
- oil-free
So if the thought of treating oily skin makes you break out in a sweat, this tailored arsenal of skincare will help. Keep reading for the Marie Claire beauty editor-approved edit of the best moisturisers for oily skin.
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