15 Great Moisturizers For Oily Skin

Did you know that even though your skin may be oily, it still needs to be moisturized?

Well it does! And it needs the right moisturizer to keep it hydrated while not making skin super greasy.

Oily skin can still become dehydrated, which can cause your face to get too dry and actually pump out more oil to compensate.

You may also find that using the right moisturizer for your oily skin can actually reduce how oily it gets by keeping it properly hydrated.

Today’s post is all about how to keep oily skin well hydrated and non-greasy by finding the right moisturizer.

A good moisturizer for oily skin should be lightweight, oil free and water based to avoid excess greasiness on the skin’s surface.

These moisturizers usually come in a gel or gel-cream texture and are made to absorb quickly into the skin with little to no tackiness left behind.

So grab a cup of tea and browse some of the best moisturizers for oily skin. Oh – and don’t forget to check out my 11 Tips to Manage Oily Skin – it’s full of makeup and skin care tips to minimize oil and shine!

*this post contains affiliate links*

15 Of The Best Moisturizers For Oily Skin

1. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Water Gel Face Moisturizer

I’ve tried this moisturizer from French skin care brand Vichy myself and it’s quite lovely! It has a lightweight gel-cream consistency that applies and absorbs into the skin easily without any greasiness left behind.

Reviewed in more detail here, this cream is  made with Vichy’s Mineralizing Water to fortify skin and sodium hyaluronate (a smaller form of hyaluronic acid) to attract and retain water within the skin. It’s also paraben free, oil free and silicone free.

Aqualia Thermal Water Gel does have an add fragrance – my only complaint with this cream – so if you hate added fragrances in your skin care, this one might be a no for you. 

BUY IT: ULTA | WALGREEN’S

 

2. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel is a great drugstore moisturizer for oily skin that’s loaded with hyaluronic acid in a lightweight, gel texture to hydrate all day with zero greasiness. 

BUY IT: ULTA | AMAZON

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3. Kiehl’s Ultra-Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

Kiehl’s Ultra-Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is just what you need in a moisturizer for oily skin. It promises intense, deep hydration for 24 hours without any greasiness and is made with Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract and Antarcticine to help skin retain moisture.

It’s fragrance free, paraben free and boasts that it will keep your oil in check for a full day. If you like cooling moisturizers, this one also has a nice cooling effect on the skin. 

BUY IT: NEIMAN MARCUS | KIEHL’S

4. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Gel 

This is one of my most fave gel moisturizers and I’ve gone through a couple tubs of it already! Garnier’s SkinActive Moisture Bomb is pretty much a sheet mask in a jar – in my opinion and is one of the best drugstore moisturizers for oily skin.

It has the most lightweight texture, feels refreshing on the skin and hydrates without any heaviness. If you love drugstore skin care, this one has to be on your radar (and grab one of their amazing Moisture Bomb sheet masks while you’re at it – they’re fabulous!).

BUY IT: AMAZON | 

 

5. Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

I’ve been lucky enough to receive some PR items from Avon Canada, and a couple of these items included skin care from Belif. Belif moisturizers are simply to die for and I highly recommend them for anyone looking for intense moisture in a formula that’s made for your skin type. 

For oily skin, you must try the Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (reviewed in more detail here).  It’s made with soothing, herbal ingredients in a gorgeous gel-cream texture that treats your skin to the most lightweight moisture explosion all day long. 

BUY IT: ULTA | SEPHORA

 

6. Rovectin Clean Lotus Water Cream

I was sent this lightweight cream to try out from Wishtrend.com and it is fabulous! Definitely made for oily skin types or anyone looking for a super light hydrator, it has the lightest gel-cream texture that absorbs in seconds for a hydrated non-greasy finish.

This Korean skin care range is targeted to sensitive skin types prone to acne/blemishes, so the 75% lotus water extract helps to detoxify the skin for a clearer complexion.

It’s also vegan and made with all natural ingredients to hydrate and soothe skin in a cruelty free formula that is free from mineral oil, parabens, artificial fragrances, colorants and steroids.

BUY IT: WISHTREND 

 

7. The Body Shop Vitamin E Gel Moisture Cream

I purchased this moisturizer a while ago because I love grabbing something every time I walk past The Body Shop store on my way to work. The Gel Moisture Cream (formerly called the Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet) has no scent (a shocker for a TBS product) and comes in a pretty light pink gel.

TBS claims that its improved formula features bio-fermented hyaluronic acid fr0m wheat germ from Pomacle, France and vitamin E in the form of raspberry extract. It has a mattifying, quick absorbing no shine finish that will keep skin hydrated all day.

BUY IT: THE BODY SHOP

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8. Dermalogica Active Moist

A pricier moisturizer option – Dermalogica’s Active Moist is one of the best moisturizers for oily skin that includes lemon, Burdock and cucumber extracts help to hydrate deep within the skin and refine skin texture in a sheer formula. 

BUY IT: ULTA | NORDSTROM

 

9. CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel

This water-based moisturizer is made with three ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid lightweight hydration that lasts all day. It absorbs fast with zero greasiness left behind!

BUY IT: AMAZON

 

10. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Anti-Shine Face Moisturizer

This moisturizer promises a mat finish on the skin that controls oil all day using special “sebulyse technology” to target excess oils. 

And because it’s from La Roche-Posay, you know it comes in a gentle formula made for sensitive skin types.

BUY IT: ULTA | WALGREEN’S

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11.  Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel 

Clinique’s moisturizing gel combines skin-strengthening ingredients in an oil-free lightweight formula that keeps skin hydrated and healthy looking.

The formula is paraben free, fragrance free, talc-free, alcohol free, vegan and free from mineral oil too. 

BUY IT: NORDSTROM | ULTA | AMAZON

12. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

This oil-free moisturizer hydrates, plumps and preps skin for makeup using watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid. Antioxidants further work to prevent free radical damage in a lightweight, silky formula.

BUY IT: AMAZON

 

13. Estee Lauder DayWear Matte Oil-Control Anti-Oxidant Moisture Gel Creme

A pricier option that’s worth every penny, the Estee Lauder DayWear Matte gel moisturizer is amazing at providing lightweight hydration all day long.

This gel is exceptional for oily skin, especially in the hot summer months and gives me the perfect base under my SPF and makeup – worth the splurge!

BUY IT: AMAZON | SAKS

 

14. Paula’s Choice Water Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer 

This moisturizer promises to hydrate oily skin using a lightweight formula. It’s uses a mixture of natural antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, ceramides, B vitamins and prebiotic sugars to help the skin to stay well moisturized over time.

BUY IT: PAULA’S CHOICE

 

15. Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner

This drugstore moisturizer uses an astringent, agaric acid, to help visibly minimize the appearance of pores and refine skin texture.

Silica powder and anti-reflection particles to ensure a powdery and mattifying effect while salicylic acid exfoliates to enhance radiance for the perfect complexion all day long. 

BUY IT: AMAZON

 

What gel moisturizers are floating your boat these days for oily skin?