The Best Moisturisers for Clog-Prone Skin

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Published on 22/09/2025 & updated on 17/05/2026.

Moisturisers are an essential part of any skincare routine, even for the oiliest of skin types! In fact, skipping moisturiser can sometimes make clogged pores and excess oil even worse because your skin ends up trying to compensate for the lack of hydration.

Over the years, I’ve tried and tested so many, which has resulted in getting so many clogged pores.

So if you’re tired of moisturisers that feel heavy, greasy, or just seem to clog your skin up over time, this guide is for you. I’ll cover if you what type of moisturiser you should go for and list the ones I’d consider low-risk for clog-prone skin.

Table of Contents

• A Quick Note on Non-Comedogenic Moisturisers
• What Type of Moisturiser Should You Choose for Clog-Prone Skin?
• The 9 Best Moisturisers for Clog-Prone Skin
• Final Thoughts on Moisturisers for Clog-Prone Skin

A Quick Note on Non-Comedogenic Moisturisers

Just a quick note before we start: you won’t find me using the term ‘non-comedogenic‘ because it’s actually unregulated. Any brand can say their product is ‘non-comedogenic’ and it doesn’t mean they won’t cause breakouts, sadly. What breaks you out is different from what breaks me out, so there’s no scientific way to determine what can guarantee zero breakouts.

This is why I use the term ‘low risk’, which means the product may still contain some pore-clogging ingredients, because the concept of pore-clogging ingredients is actually a myth.

What Type of Moisturiser Should You Choose for Clog-Prone Skin?

Let’s begin by having a look at the type of moisturiser you should choose if you have clog-prone skin by answering some of my most frequently asked questions.

Should You Go for a Gel Moisturiser or Rich Cream?

Most of the moisturisers I’ll recommend 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 moisturise any better; they just feel a certain way.

Do Moisturisers With Salicylic Acid Help With Clogged Pores?

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 an Oil-Free Moisturiser Necessary for Acne-Prone Clogged Skin?

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.

The 9 Best Moisturisers for Clog-Prone Skin

Finding a moisturiser that hydrates properly without clogging your skin up is honestly harder than it should be, but these are the ones I actually recommend:

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 their products, I don’t think you could go far wrong. Their Daily Soothing 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’s fragrance-free and free of essential oils, making it perfect for sensitive skin types. It also contains Centella asiatica, which is a skin barrier health ingredient that I love.

2. COSRX Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream

The COSRX Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream is one of the best moisturisers for clog-prone skin due to its minimal ingredient 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

Dr Sam’s 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’s slightly heavier than a gel formula. If you aren’t keen on gel textures and want something a little richer, 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!!).

Their Oat In Calming Gel Cream 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, but I have been supporting them for a couple of years now.

Their Triple Moisture Water Cream 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 Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream

Another banger from Purito 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 Cream if you prefer a niacinamide-free moisturiser.

This is 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!). Their Cloud Skin 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, especially suitable for oily, acne-prone skin.

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 is undergoing changes, but they said it is definitely coming back.

8. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser

The Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser is indeed my everyday moisturiser and has been for a few years now. Many people try it and don’t feel it’s rich enough for their skin, but I find it so hydrating, in a lightweight 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 Cream

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.

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

General Ingredients to Look for in a Moisturiser for Clog-Prone Skin

If none of these options above suits your budget or location, here is a list of ingredients 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:

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

Final Thoughts on Moisturisers for Clog-Prone Skin

Finding a moisturiser when your skin clogs can be a bit of trial and error.

The main thing I’ve learned is that lighter, more hydrating formulas usually work much better for clog-prone skin than thick, overly rich creams, as your skin simply needs water.

Hopefully, this list has given you a better starting point and will save you from some of the clogged pores and frustration I’ve had over the years.

If you’d like to hear more of my opinions and product recommendations, follow me on TikTok and have a read of my Substack.

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