Real Talk, Should I Moisturise Oily Skin?
Isobel is a skincare obsessed Piscean hailing from Byron Bay. She studied law and journalism in Brisbane before moving to Sydney where she’s now living by the beach in Bondi. She’s worked as a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, a Digital Content Editor for Marie Claire and InStyle, and her words have appeared in Vogue, Gritty Pretty, ELLE, Women’s Health - and of course here - at Adore Beauty.
If you’ve got skin that’s on the oilier side, you may have questioned - should you moisturise oily skin? Does oily skin *actually* need a moisturiser??
After all, if your sebaceous glands are already doing such a stellar job producing more-than-enough oil, isn’t adding something extra on top a little excessive?
Well, the answer might surprise you…
But - just like any other skin type - moisturiser is necessary for oily skin.
Moisturiser should be regarded as an essential step in anyone’s skincare routine – including those on the oilier end of the complexion spectrum.
In this guide, we’re chatting through exactly why we should moisturise oily skin to how moisturiser helps oily skin plus some of our best picks for oil-preventing moisturisers.
So, should you moisturise oily skin? Yes, and once more in capitals, YES. If you have oily skin you should moisturise.
The benefits are many, and we’re going to take a deep dive into these below.
Benefits of Using Moisturiser for Oily Skin
1. Moisturiser helps protect your skin.
- Moisturiser is designed to keep the skin hydrated by locking moisture into the skin.
- This also helps to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier – which means the skin can better shield itself against nasties like harmful bacteria or environmental elements such as pollution.
2. Moisturiser assists with regulating oily skin.
- Using the right moisturiser can assist with balancing your complexion and combatting excess sebum production.
- Research has even shown that moisturiser may actually help prevent breakouts from occurring – as keeping the skin hydrated stops dry, dead skin from building up and blocking pores.
3. Moisturiser can mattify oily skin.
- Some moisturisers help oily skin with ingredients that soak up excess sebum and mattify your complexion (more on these below).
- This keeps you looking and feeling fresh throughout the day and reduces that post-lunchtime facial lustre many of us seem to experience as the day wears on.
- Mattifying moisturisers will also give your makeup much greater longevity as they prevent excess oil from breaking down your foundation.
What Types of Moisturisers Are Good for Oily Skin?
When choosing a moisturiser for oily skin, it’s best to steer clear of overly rich formulas as these can be too heavy and might contribute to breakouts.
Instead, opt for lightweight formulas with thinner consistencies that will soak nicely in to deeply hydrate your skin – without leaving you feeling like you’ve got a heavy film on top of your face.
Oil-free lotions, gels and lighter cream moisturisers are the best choices for oily skin.
It’s also a good idea to look for products that are ‘non-comedogenic’ – meaning they won’t block pores.
What ingredients should you look for in moisturisers for oily skin?
Water-based hydrating ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid are ideal for oily skin as they deeply moisturise the skin without clogging the pores.
Niacinamide – or Vitamin B3 - is also a goodie as it works to reduce sebum production and can even help prevent breakouts.
Side note: You can also watch the YouTube video below for some tips on how to find the right moisturiser for you...
What Are the Best Moisturisers for Oily Skin?
If you’re wanting to prevent an oily forehead, a gleaming nose or control excess shine on any other area of your face, a moisturiser with oil-absorbing and mattifying properties will be your new BFF.
For moisturising oily skin, here’s the lowdown on some of our favourite matte-finish moisturisers of the moment.
1. A Lightweight Lotion Oily Skins Will Love
Why we love it: This oil-free moisturiser from La Roche-Posay is a lightweight, breathable formula.
This oily skin moisturiser hydrates your complexion with Glycerine while keeping you shine-free with Sebulyse.
It’s a brilliant moisturiser for oily skin before makeup application as it helps to control excess oil throughout the day which in turn preserve your look.
Shop it here:
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Anti-Acne Moisturiser$38.95
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2. A Certified Organic Hydrator to Balance Unsettled Complexions
What it is: Pai The Pioneer Mattifying Day Cream
Why we love it: This non-greasy formula absorbs straight into the complexion and provides a mattifying effect.
It contains organic Thistle and Borage Oils which are rich in essential fatty acids and help to rebalance the skin making it a amazing moisturiser for oily skin.
If you’re looking for another ‘before makeup’ moisturiser for oily skin, Pai The Pioneer Mattifying Day Cream is another great option.
Those dealing with oily skin or acne-prone skin will love this feather-light, vegan-friendly day cream.
Shop it here:
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3. A Pore-Reducing Moisturiser That Instantly Mattifies Shiny Skin
Why we love it: The non-acnegenic formula will keep your face shine-free for eight hours while helping to reduce the appearance of pores when consistently used over time.
The team at Clinique are leaders when it comes to creating skincare for oily or congestion-prone skin types and this balancing hydrator is a goodie to try.
Shop it here:
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay-Matte Hydrator$76.00 - Currently not available
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What Ingredients Should You Avoid?
While you’re scanning those ingredient lists for the good ingredient guys we’ve mentioned above, also keep an eye out for these which are high in Aleic Acid and may upset your skin: Coconut Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Camellia Oil and Sunflower Oil.
How to Use Moisturiser for Oily Skin
- Once you’ve cleansed your skin and applied any treatment products or serums you’re currently using, it’s time to moisturise!
- Simply dispense the recommended amount of your product (check the back of its packaging if you’re not sure) and apply it to your face with clean hands using gentle patting motions.
- It’s best to moisturise every time you cleanse to ensure you’re putting hydration back into the skin.
We hope this guide has left you feeling much more in the know when it comes to understanding why moisturiser is necessary for oily skin.
If you want to know more about building a skin care routine for oily skin, check out the YouTube video below...
If you’d like more product recommendations for oily skin, you can also have a read through these guides...
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
Shop the Moisturisers for Oily Skin Mentioned in this Article
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay-Matte Hydrator$76.00 - Currently not available
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Anti-Acne Moisturiser$38.95
add to bag
