The Best Moisturisers for Clog Prone Skin

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 many a clogged pore for me.

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.

Here are a few notes before we start:

Non comedogenic moisturisers

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.

No-one can predict whether or not a moisturiser will clog your pores, which is why I use the term ‘low risk’.

Gel vs thick moisturisers for clog prone skin

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.

Order of products and disclaimer

This is a blog post that I’ll keep adding to. When I find new products I’ll add them onto the end! The moisturisers are not in any particular order.

These links are affiliate, meaning if you purchase from the link I may earn a small %. Don’t feel obliged to use the link if you’d prefer not to!

1. Dermatica Daily Soothing Centella Gel Moisturiser

I’ve mentioned before how much I like Dermatica’s new 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.

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.

3. Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser Intense

This is a new one from Dr Sam’s, one of my most used brands. 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.

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.

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 over a year now (since they began!).

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.

6. PURITO B5 Panthenol Re-barrier Cream

Another banger from Purito, this is their re-barrier cream. This cream is another gel like texture that should be used as a last step.

Again, it’s almost like the acne friendly version of La Roche Posay Cicaplast. 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.

The 10% panthenol and centella asiatica really help to calm everything down.

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 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.

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, as I mentioned in the beginning, I don’t believe a rich cream is always the answer to this (I prefer layering mists, serums and creams).

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?

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 squeezy tube rather than a tub.

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

Photo credit for the featured image of this post.