What is the best moisturizer for oily skin in 2022?

Having oily skin is a very common condition and can leave your body looking shiny and feeling greasy. Indeed, your moisturizer plays an important role in maintaining skin health when it comes to controlling shine, excessive oil production and breakouts due to clogged pores.

So, we all seek a balanced skin that is not too oily or dry and does not hinder the makeup or leave it looking uneven. For this, there are numerous products that help control oiliness: they are a mix of gel and cream textures, all light and some totally oil-free.

Here's a look at the best moisturizers of 2022, ranked by texture, consistency, formula, ease of application, results and more!

Best moisturizers for oily skin 2022

How to choose the best moisturizer for oily skin

Because oily skin is prone to clogged pores, you want to make sure you're not covering it up with products that will make it worse, so try to avoid thicker formulas like oils and butters, which would likely be too heavy for oily skin.

As a general rule of thumb, stick to things like moisturizers and lighter oils and stay away from anything that looks too greasy on the skin. Check out what ingredients you should evaluate when choosing moisturizer for oily skin below!

Choose the tonic according to the best active for your skin

When it comes to choosing the best moisturizer for your skin, some assets that you should prioritize are:

Hyaluronic acid : this component can attract moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and the lower layers of the skin to the upper levels of the epidermis, leaving it nourished and soft.

Salicylic acid It is able to soften and dissolve keratin, a protein that blocks pores, causing skin cells to clump together. In addition, it is oil soluble, which means it can penetrate deep into skin cells to clean and unclog pores.

Aloe vera : one of the oldest healing remedies, is an essential component to soothe and leave it looking shiny and cared for.

Creatine : is formed by amino acids that act directly on wrinkles, improving skin firmness and controlling shine.

Vitamins A and E Vitamin A contributes to the production of collagen and elastin, while vitamin E promotes the ability to defend against free radicals and is used in moisturizers for oily skin, to improve its moistness and protection against external aggressions.

Oily skin copes best with gel texture

In the case of oily skin, the face presents an excessive production of oil, and very greasy creams can stimulate even more sebum, leaving the region shiny and increasing the formation of blackheads and pimples.

Therefore, when including moisturizer in your skincare routine, prefer products with gel texture. Besides controlling intense oiliness, these products have ingredients that balance the production of sebum in the skin, improve the appearance and reduce enlarged pores, such as acids.

Prefer oil free moisturizers

An oil-free or oil-free moisturizer is a cream or lotion that is meant to hydrate the skin without the use of oils. Instead, other ingredients, such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, are often included to help moisturize the skin.

In short, moisturizers with and without oil in the ingredient list can have various formulations and levels of hydration. But in general, oil-free moisturizers seem more absorbable and lighter on the skin.

Also, many oil-free creams are non-comedogenic, which means they are less likely to cause acne. People with oily skin generally don't need the extra hydration provided by thicker moisturizers that contain oils.

Dermatologically tested moisturizers without fragrance or parabens are best for sensitive skin

You should also look at whether the product you want to buy is dermatologically tested, fragrance-free and paraben-free. The term 'parabens' is used to refer to a group of mainly synthetic chemicals that are commonly found in health, beauty and personal care products.

They act as a form of preservative, preventing the growth of potentially harmful microbes, such as bacteria or fungi, and increasing the shelf life of the product.

Like parabens, sulfates can also be carcinogenic and toxic. In beauty products and dermocosmetics, their long-term use can extensively damage hair and leave skin dry.

Check the cost-effectiveness of large or small packages according to your needs

In the market, moisturizing creams for oily skin are usually found in bottles, since they are practical to remove the product and easy to label.

However, they can also be found in jars. These are critical when the formulation is of high viscosity. In this case, as the formulation is more dense, if it is placed in a jar with a common valve, the product may clog the outlet. Therefore, the jar may be a better option for dense textures.

Another option widely used for moisturizing creams are tubes, which are practical, flexible and easy to use. Therefore, depending on your need and the amount of applications desired, choose the packaging that best suits your beauty routine.

Don't forget to check if the manufacturer performs animal testing

Cruelty-free is defined as a product that has been developed without animal testing. On the other hand, vegan means that there are no animal ingredients in the product itself.

Either option is safer for your skin and includes fewer chemicals and foreign ingredients. When you ensure that your brands are cruelty-free, you ensure that these companies are not testing on animals and contributing to cruelty or adding unnecessary chemicals that will only irritate your skin or cause harm to the environment.

Fortunately, there are many brands that offer animal cruelty-free moisturizers for oily skin, so take that into consideration when choosing the best product for your skin.

The 10 best moisturizers for oily skin to buy in 2022

It's important to note that regardless of your skin type, you need to keep it hydrated to help with overall health, texture and appearance. Not to mention, many moisturizers contain sunscreen, antioxidants and anti-pollutants to maintain an extra protective barrier.

For oily skin, and especially those that are prone to acne, it is important to look for products labeled as oil-free or non-comedogenic (which do not clog pores). These types of moisturizers are formulated exclusively for oily skin. Find out below which are the best moisturizers for oily skin to buy in 2022!

Clinique Dramatically Different Facial Moisturizer Gel

Fresh skin without excess oil

Clinique Dramatically Different Facial Moisturizer Gel is designed for oily skin types 3 and 4. It moisturizes, softens, prepares and balances the skin. In addition to providing 8-hour hydration, its absorption is fast, leaving skin refreshed and shine-free.

Its formulation contains ingredients such as barley extract, cucumber extract and sunflower seed, which help strengthen the skin's barrier, increase its elasticity, balance and retain skin's moisture levels. It also has hyaluronic acid, which acts by maintaining hydration and providing numerous benefits.

This moisturizing gel has a light texture, is oil-free and does not clog pores. Leaves skin soft, controls and balances excess oil, especially in the T-zone. Can be used on all types of oily skin.

Garnier Uniform & Matte Facial Moisturizing Protector

Protection with matte effect

The Uniform & Matte Facial Moisturizer contains SPF 30 and the natural antioxidant Vitamin C, which controls oiliness, unifies and diminishes skin imperfections in one week. It provides the following benefits: matte effect for 12h, sensation of clean skin, controlled shine instantly, uniformed skin, reduction of marks and blemishes. In addition, it leaves skin smooth and protected from UV rays.solar.

This moisturizer is a sunscreen with SPF 30 and Vitamin C developed for combination and sensitive skin. Besides correcting, it reduces and prevents spots for having components anti greasiness with matte effect, especially for oily skin.

It is available in four different colours that, thanks to their chameleon effect, are adapted to the subtone of your skin. It guarantees even coverage and does not leave a greyish or whitish finish.

Neutrogena Face Care Intensive Moisturizing Matte 3 in 1

Soft and hydrated skin for 24 hours

Neutrogena Face Care Intensive Moisturizing Matte 3 in 1 provides intense hydration with a velvety touch. It has instant primer and matte effect. Contains technology that reduces oiliness and controls shine for 8 hours.

With ultralight and oil-free texture, its absorption is easy as it spreads quickly on the skin, leaving it with dry and soft touch. Its advanced formula contains D-panthenol, glycerin, arginine and Vitamin B5, which offer several benefits for the skin .

The benefits proposed by this moisturizer are instant prime effect, immediate absorption, oiliness reduction, very light texture and intense hydration for 24 hours. The composition of these components helps prevent water loss, leaves skin firm and combats premature aging. It is suitable for oily skin and can be used before makeup.

Oil Free Moisturizing Facial Gel for Combination to Oily Skin Neutrogena

Balanced, hydrated and nourished skin

Neutrogena Oil Free Gel Moisturizing Cream SPF 15 moisturizes, prevents signs of premature aging and protects skin from ultraviolet rays when exposed to the sun. It has a formula with oil-free agents. Its texture is light and fluid, spreads easily on the skin and its fragrance is mild.

This cream offers care and benefits to combination and oily skin that needs to stay balanced, hydrated and nourished. Another satisfying factor that makes Neutrogena Oil Free Gel Cream a favorite on this list is its non-comedogenic composition, which enters the pores without clogging them.

Neutrogena Oil Free hydrating gel cream has sun factor and hydrates for 24 hours, leaving skin healthy, hydrated and protected against pollution. At last, besides preventing spots, it helps to combat free radicals which stimulates precocious ageing and wrinkles.

Granado Anti-Oily Facial Moisturizing Gel

Groomed and acne-free skin

The Granado Anti-Oily Facial Moisturizing Gel reduces the appearance of pores, minimizes excessive shine and leaves the skin moisturized, providing a matte effect. Besides helping to reduce and control oiliness, it keeps skin free of acne . This is thanks to its light formula with astringent action, which controls excessive oiliness.

This moisturizer leaves skin looking dry, velvety and silky. Oil-free, its formula is free of parabens, dyes, fragrances and animal ingredients. The light, non-sticky gel-like texture has a mild scent.

Its composition has active vegetable extracts of high performance. It is suitable for oily to combination skin. By having vegetable extracts in its formulation, this moisturizer offers good results for skin with acne and blackheads, because it reduces excess oil on the skin.

Shiseido - Waso Color-Smart Day Moisturizer Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer

Intense hydration with healthy-looking skin

Waso Color Smart Day Moisturizer Oil-Free is an innovative product, white in its initial state, but which, upon contact with the skin, changes color and adapts to the natural tone uniformly. In addition, it offers brightness and intense hydration, leaving the appearance of healthy skin.

It has sun factor 30, which helps protect the skin against UV rays and free radicals, while minimizing the size of pores. Its formula contains oil-reducing walnut leaf cells, carefully extracted so that their totality is harnessed, as well as offering an antioxidant effect.

It can be used alone or before makeup as a pre-base. It is suitable for all skin types, especially oily and combination skin.

Nupill Derme Control Facial Moisturizing Gel

Deep hydration and matte effect

Nupill facial moisturizing gel hydrates the skin, controls oiliness and reduces excessive shine. Contains as base oil-free gel with aloe vera, which was developed to moisturize more sensitive skin and acne prone skin. Provides oily skin a deep oil-free hydration.

In addition, it has a matte effect and easy absorption, thanks to its assets, such as salicylic acid and aloe vera. The aloe and vera acts on the skin as a moisturizer, treats acne, burns and helps in the healing process, while the salicylic acid plays an anti-inflammatory action and helps renew the skin and remove dead cells. Finally, this gel moisturizer leaves the skin with arefreshing sensation.

Nivea Moisturizing Facial Gel

Fresh and deeply hydrated skin

Nivea Facial Moisturizer Gel has in its formulation a high hydration power. With refreshing gel texture, it is enriched with hyaluronic acid and cucumber and was developed for oily skin. Therefore, it is oil-free.

The cucumber juice promotes hydration and also helps fight sagging skin, as it is rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), has calming action (helps with redness, inflammation) and healing properties. Reduces shine and moisturizes the skin for 24 hours, leaving it soft, fresh, with a matte effect and with a healthy and radiant appearance.

In addition, it is not comodogenic, i.e., it does not clog pores. It promotes deep hydration and leaves skin looking healthy and balanced, as well as prolongs makeup duration.

Hydro Boost Water Gel Cream, Neutrogena

Firm skin and protected against premature aging

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Facial Moisturizer provides intense renewal and restores water levels without clogging pores, providing up to 48 hours of hydration . It has an ultra-light, non-greasy gel texture, quickly absorbed and refreshing, offering intense hydration and strengthening the skin's natural barrier.

It contains in its composition hyaluronic acid, an active that stimulates cell renewal and maintains skin moisture. It also contains glycerin and olive extract in the formula. These natural assets help to strengthen the skin protection barrier against dryness and prevent premature aging caused by free radicals.

This moisturizer is suitable for all skin types, and its gel texture spreads easily, leaving a feeling of refreshment and the skin soft and silky.

Effaclar Ma, La Roche-Posay White

Instant and long-lasting matte effect

Effaclar Ma, La Roche-Posay White, has in its formula Sebulyse, which provides the matte effect on the skin and closes the pores. This moisturizer was developed for oily skin, has oil-free texture and is rich in microspheres that mattify the skin in moments.

Contains in its formula assets that combat the production of excess sebum. In addition, it helps reduce shine and intensely moisturizes the skin, reducing the size of pores. Its texture is light matte effect , which provides a matte skin for much longer. This is because it contains La Roche-Posay Thermal Water.

Thanks to this formulation, this moisturizer provides several benefits to oily skin, promoting long-lasting effect, no shine and less visible pores. It has a mild fragrance, is suitable for oily and combination skin and can be used before makeup.

More information about moisturizer for oily skin

For oilier skin types, choose a moisturizer that targets specific concerns such as oiliness and aging, but make sure to pay special attention to the ingredient list. When selecting a moisturizer for oily skin, opt for a variation that is oil-free.

You can also look for a non-comedogenic face cream, so as not to clog pores. If you have very oily and acne-prone skin, try to avoid waxes and butters, which are known to clog pores and can show up as excess oil. Here's how to use your moisturizer correctly!

How to use moisturizer for oily skin properly

The rules for moisturizing oily skin apply to other skin types as well, so apply moisturizer gently with your fingers and after cleansing your skin. Moisturize your cheeks first, using gentle outward motions (not circles or up and down).

Use very gentle movements around the eyes. When applying lotion to the neck and forehead, switch to gentle upward movements. Reapply moisturizer whenever you wash your face (twice a day is ideal for oily skin).

Use a light moisturizer during the day and a more powerful one at night

Choose a non-greasy moisturizer that's light and easily absorbed, plus consider one with SPF to block those rays during the day.

At night, use a more powerful moisturizer that does not contain comedogenic ingredients (which can clog pores and accumulate acne) such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, linoleic acid, isopropyl palmitate, mineral oil, olive oil, lauric acid, stearyl alcohol, etc. It is important to find a moisturizer that suits your skin and has all the ingredientsright.

Other products for oily skin

A twice daily skincare regimen is a must (cleansing, toning, moisturizing). This is important if you have oily skin, as it provides moisture and hydration during the morning and evening, preventing your skin from needing to produce more oil.

In addition to moisturizer, you can use a face mask in your weekly skin care regimen as it will love the extra boost. Apply the face mask once or twice a week in the evening and after gently cleansing and drying, apply the product to the face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for at least 20 minutes and rinse with water to remove all residue.

Choose the best moisturizer for oily skin according to your needs

It may not seem like it, but the oil in your skin is one of your most valuable assets. As long as it's properly cared for, it can be a boon, as it will often help your skin age more slowly and look younger for longer.

The key with oily skin is to make sure you are moisturizing it without adding extra oil from other products. Without moisture, your skin would become dehydrated and begin to compensate by producing more oil.

Furthermore, excess sebum on the skin can be due to many factors, such as stress, poor diet, hormonal changes, pollution and improper care products. Therefore, by choosing the right moisturizer for your skin, your sebum levels will start to decrease and your skin will become less oily. If you still have doubts about the right product, don't forget to check out our ranking!