The Best Moisturisers for Clog Prone Skin

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Moisturisers are an essential part of any skincare routine, even for the oiliest of skin types! Over the years I’ve tried and tested so many, which has resulted in getting so many clogged pores, trial and error.

Check out my other post if you’re specifically looking for the best Korean moisturisers for acne-prone skin.

So if you’re looking for a staple moisturiser you can rely on that won’t cause any more clogs, consider my list of low risk clog-friendly moisturisers.

Non comedogenic moisturisers

Just a note before we start – you won’t find me using the term ‘non comedogenic‘ because it is actually unregulated – any brand can say their product is ‘non comedogenic’ and it means nothing, sadly. What breaks you out is different from what breaks me out, so there is no scientific way to determine what can guarantee zero breakouts, even when called non comedogenic products.

No-one can predict whether or not a moisturiser will clog your pores, which is why I use the term ‘low risk’. They may still contain some pore clogging ingredients, because the concept of pore clogging ingredients are a myth.

Best moisturisers for clog prone skin

1. Dermatica Daily Soothing Centella Gel Moisturiser

I’ve mentioned before how much I like Dermatica’s own-brand skincare range. If you were to mix and match any of these I don’t think you could go far wrong. Their centella gel moisturiser is a lovely, lightweight yet powerful product that’s ideal if you’re acne prone and/or using a retinoid.

Of course it is fragrance free and free of essential oils. It also contains centella which is a skin barrier health ingredient that I love. This is perfect for sensitive skin types.

2. COSRX Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream

A lovely, simple gel formula, this moisturiser by COSRX is one of the best moisturisers for clog prone skin due to its minimal ingredients list and soothing qualities.

Amongst some of its best ingredients are: allantoin, panthenol, glycerin and camellia sinensis leaf extract, it’ s a great all rounder for combination skin, oily skin and sensitive skin.

3. Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense

Flawless Moisturiser Intense is a hybrid between a gel moisturiser and a barrier cream – almost like the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume, but a lot more acne friendly.

It contains plenty of barrier health ingredients but it slightly heavier than a gel formula. If you aren’t keen on gel textures and want something a little heavier, this would be the one for you. It delivers that rich cream skin feel without being as problematic for acne prone skin as others are.

4. Purito Oat-In Calming Gel Cream

I feel like I keep saying how much I love all of these brands but it’s because they’re some of the absolute best! Purito is definitely in my top three somewhere, because all of their products focus on skin health and hydration which I adore. I’ve been using Purito products since 2020 (before it was cool ok!!).

This moisturiser utilises the soothing qualities of oats, a little like Aveeno’s oat range. It also includes panthenol, squalane and glycerin.

5. [Coat]s Triple Moisture Water Cream

[Coat]s is a brand that easily makes the list of best moisturisers for clog prone skin. Their range is so underrated and I don’t see many people talk about them, but I have been supporting them for a couple years now.

This moisturiser uses a slightly different range of ingredients: ceramides and polyglutamic acid. I haven’t said this before on TikTok but in my head… this brand is like Cerave but without the likelihood of causing clogs. Almost like Cerave but reformulated or redesigned. I think the products would be very similar to what I’d create if I had a brand myself, they are all so soothing and calming.

6. PURITO B5 Panthenol Re-barrier Cream

Another banger from Purito, this is their Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream. This cream is another gel like texture that should be used as a last step. This formula does contain niacinamide which some people are sensitive to, so maybe try the Purito Oat-In gel if you prefer a niacinamide-free moisturiser.

This the kind of moisturiser that you’ll want in your toolkit if you’re new to retinoids, or you notice your skin’s a little irritated and want to soothe it right down. Some people say this moisturiser can feel a bit film-like, but honestly I have never noticed that.

7. Blur Cloudskin Moisturiser

Blur London is a relatively unknown brand who make products specifically for oily skin (that’s literally all they do!). This moisturiser is a barely-there formula that sinks right into the skin.

After testing this out, I gave some spares to my (now ex) boyfriend because I knew it’d be the kind of formula he loves. This is a slightly more unusual formula that contains some interesting ingredients like bixa orellana and white tea ferment – ingredients especially for oily, acne prone skins.

I have spoken with the founder of this brand and they are hyper focused on conducting research especially for acne prone, oily skin types. I also discovered this moisturiser is hard to get right now, as the brand are undergoing changes, but they said it is definitely coming back.

8. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser

This is my everyday moisturiser and has been for a few years now. Many people try it and don’t feel its rich enough for their skin but I find it so hydrating, in a lightweight hydrating way.

The texture of it is a very runny liquid, sort of like a toner I suppose. Even though it is light, I find it hydrates my skin all day. It’s a simple formula without fragrance or essential oils, and it contains hyaluronic acid.

9. Simple Repairing Rich Face Cream

This is a new addition to the list after I requested to try this moisturiser from Simple. When I was in my teens and early twenties I was a real Simple stan – the products are quite unglamorous but.. who cares? I care about formula and efficacy vs packaging.

This is such a great basic moisturiser for those who’re acne prone but want a richer texture than the standard gel formulas. Also it’s less than £10! I just wish it was a squeeze tube rather than a tub, as I find them unhygienic and fussy.

Gel moisturisers for clog prone skin vs rich creams

Most of these moisturisers have a gel texture, which sometimes people comment is too light for their skin.

Personally I find that gel moisturisers are some of the best moisturisers for clog prone skin. I have a dry/dehydrated skin type, and I would encourage you to try using a gel moisturiser, layered with a serum and a mist if you need more moisture.

I think it’s a common misconception that dry skin requires a *thick* cream, and often your skin is literally lacking water! Gel moisturisers, mists and hydration serums, when layered together, add a lot of water back into the skin. Rich creams often don’t actually moisturiser any better, they just feel a certain way.

What about moisturisers with salicylic acid for acne clog prone skin?

If you’ve been struggling to find a moisturiser for acne prone skin, you’ll undoubtedly have come across moisturisers with salicylic acid. These can work for some people, but personally I don’t find them that beneficial.

I think it’s smarter to contain your active ingredients to serums, toners and ‘occasional’ products, instead of daily necessities like moisturisers and cleansers. This way you can pick and choose when you exfoliate, rather than exfoliating every single day!

Think of it this way: if you use an exfoliating cleanser every day, you are exfoliating 14x a week if used morning and night! That can cause a damaged skin barrier, breakouts, irritation and redness.

Is oil free moisturiser for acne prone skin necessary?

A lot of people worry that oils in products will break them out, so they search for oil free moisturisers. However, the relationship between skincare formula and what causes breakouts isn’t as simple as this, unfortunately.

Sebum in your skin certainly contributes to breakouts, but that doesn’t mean that every oil-containing product will make acne worse. In fact, some oils can even help balance your skin barrier. When the skin barrier is healthy, it’s less prone to irritation and the inflammation that often drives acne.

All in all, I don’t think it’s necessary to choose completely oil-free skincare with acne, but you probably won’t want to choose oil-heavy products either.

What to look for in a moisturiser for acne prone skin

If none of these options suit your budget or location, here is a list of what to look for in a moisturiser (and what to avoid!).

Best moisturiser ingredients:

• Glycerin
• Panthenol
• Allantoin
• Ceramides
• Peptides
• Centella asiatica extract
• Aloe vera
• Sodium PCA
• Hyaluronic acid

Worst moisturiser ingredients for acne prone skin:

• Ethylhexyl palmitate
• Essential oils: limonene, linalool, anything that says [fruit/plant] essential oil
• Fragrance or parfum
• Lanolin
• Coconut oil
• Shea butter

This post showed you the best moisturisers for clog prone skin.

You may also like:

• How to get rid of clogged pores
• The best oil cleansers for acne prone skin
• Best sunscreen for clog prone skin and closed comedones

Photo credit for the featured image of this post.