Non-comedogenic … What does that even mean? Seems like such a fancy, complex, science-y word, but really all it means is that it does not clog your pores. Those with oily or sensitive skin, myself included, struggle with acne, blemishes and dark spots, large pores, uneven skin tone, amongst other things.
And why do these very unfortunate things happen? Well, because many face products, such as foundations, concealers, and even skincare products clog our pores and irritate our skin.
So, trying to find face products such as moisturizers that do not clog our pores and cause our skin to break out is a challenge. The struggle is REAL.
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best non-comedogenic moisturizers for acne-prone skin. It’s time to show your skin a little TLC and lots of love.
Best Non-Comedogenic Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Skin Reviewed
1. Boscia Cactus Water Moisturizer
This little moisturizer packs quite the punch and is one of my all-time favorites. Boscia uses plant-based and natural ingredients, as well as keeping their products cruelty-free and vegan, so you know this will be perfect for your acne-prone skin.
It’s made from the Queen of the Night Cactus, which can withstand and bounce back from dramatic and extreme weather conditions. The cactus water teams up with classic aloe and together they make the perfect dynamic duo to moisturize acne-prone skin.
This product comes with a little spatula to apply the product on your freshly cleansed skin because we all know that touching our face a lot is something that we need to stay away from if we want clear, glowing skin.
The lightweight gel formula will leave your skin refreshed, soft, and hydrated without the heaviness of a moisturizer.
2. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Cream
CeraVe is a cult-classic skincare brand, and for good reason – it’s recommended by the derms all around the world. So, you know this is the real deal.
The formula is developed by dermatologists and includes three vital ceramides. Ceramides play an important role in creating a strong, protective barrier for your skin, keeping all the bad stuff out, and all the good stuff in. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help keep your skin hydrated, nourished, and supple.
What’s even more, it’s oil-free and fragrance-free, which won’t irritate your skin, which is always a plus.
Another reason why this brand is so popular? Because it’s super affordable and can be found pretty much anywhere, whether it’s from Amazon, Walmart, or Target, or your local drugstore. What else could you ask for?
3. Eau Thermale Avène Tolérance Extrême Emulsion Moisturizer
Admittedly, if you don’t know how to speak or read French, this one can be a little hard to pronounce. But that’s okay because all we know is that this is a fantastic product.
This lovely French brand prides itself on containing very minimal ingredients in order to mimic the skin’s natural way of keeping your skin soft and beautiful. This product contains glycerin and squalane, which are non-comedogenic ingredients (score!). More importantly, it contains Avène Thermal Spring water, which helps to lock the moisture in.
It has been clinically shown in over 150 studies to calm redness and irritated skin. And it feels so soothing.
Thanks to it’s lightweight and silky texture, you can incorporate this product to both your morning and night skincare routine. Magnifique! – translation: magnificent!
4. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Face Moisturizer
Another popular brand, as endorsed by the lovely Jennifer Aniston. Aniston is now 51 years old and she looks STUNNING. What’s her secret? Maybe it’s the fact that she uses Aveeno because she says she has been using it for THREE DECADES. Wow!
Aveeno creates a wide range of products for different skincare needs, but this moisturizer is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, which is perfect for sensitive skin types. The product is also oil-free and contains a little SPF to help keep your skin protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Just apply 15 minutes before going out into the sun and reapply as needed. So not only do you have a moisturizer, but you also have sunscreen, all in one product – can it get better than that?
Yes, it actually can get better than that. This product also helps to improve the skin’s appearance, by evening out dark spots, acne scars, and redness. Not only will this keep your acne at bay, and protect you from the sun, it’ll bring out your natural radiance and glow. Needless to say, it’s easily one of the best non-comedogenic facial moisturizers
5. Christina Moss Original Facial Moisturizer
For those looking for a product made only with natural and organic ingredients, this one’s for you. This product clearly identifies the organic ingredients with an asterisk right on the package, so you know exactly what’s inside. No one wants harmful ingredients or chemicals going into their skin, especially if you have acne-prone skin.
It will keep your skin naturally beautiful, youthful, and radiant. Some of the organic ingredients listed are grapeseed oil, aloe, and orange – all of these wonderfully found in nature. There’s also star anise oil, which helps to give it a nice, natural scent without irritating the skin.
And not only will you have a product that’s made with all-natural and organic ingredients, but you’ll also have a product that’s cruelty-free, vegan, and GMO-free. Need we say more?
6. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer
Trust us when we say that it’s okay to splurge a little for a nice moisturizer. However, if you’ve got a tight budget, Neutrogena is the answer for your skincare needs. This product is perfect for all skin types because it’s made with a hydrating water-gel formula, which is light and refreshing, and won’t clog your pores.
The gel formula means that it gets absorbed quickly into the skin but keeps it moisturized just like a cream would. In fact, this can keep your skin hydrated for up to 12 hours. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, which naturally helps to keep skin moisturized and hydrated, and is oil-free and dye-free.
Still need a little more convincing? Well, not only is it incredibly affordable and can be found in a multitude of stores (both in-person and online), but this is also one of the top dermatologist-recommended skincare brands.
7. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel
This has a super high rating on Amazon (a 4.7 out of 5 stars!) and why wouldn’t it? It’s not only a non-comedogenic moisturizer, but it also functions as a sunscreen and a foundation. And it’s the #1 prestige moisturizer in the US. Trust us, it’s worth the money.
Derived from marine botanicals and coconut, it delivers powerful hydration in a lightweight formula. With an SPF level of 30, it will protect your skin from the damaging UV rays. The formula doesn’t contain chemicals or harmful ingredients.
Even better? It’s recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation to be used as an effective broad-spectrum sunscreen. And it also aims to take care of your lovely skin.
And with it being tinted, you can skip your foundation and still have a flawless look. It gives you medium-to-sheer coverage and is buildable if you need a little extra for your skin. So not only will you have healthy, glowy skin, you can save some money by skipping your foundation – who wouldn’t love that?
8. Babor Skinovage Purifying Cream
Okay, since we’ve been talking about finding products that won’t clog your pores, this one helps to decongest them. That’s right: this product works to help combat any congestion that’s already in your pores and keeps it from happening again by regulating your skin’s oil production. How cool is that?
This works best for those with oily and blemish-prone skin, but Babor has face moisturizers that work for various skin types (most of which can be found on Amazon). This product helps to minimize large pores and also combats signs of aging.
Admittedly, it’s a little bit pricey. However, when it comes to skincare, we think it’s okay to splurge a little. After all, you live in your skin each and every day, so it’s a good idea to take care of it as best you can. And this product is definitely going to do that for you.
9. Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion
Here’s another awesome moisturizer from Murad that helps to reduce the size of your pores. It contains Queen of Meadow plant extract, which works to tighten your pores and keep your skin from producing excess oil.
Soy flour helps promote elasticity. What’s more, it has several other amazing ingredients to help give you that glow you want. For example, it has honey extract to promote hydration, as well as arnica to soothe any redness in your complexion.
This one may be a little on the expensive side for some. However, Murad is backed by science and has shown clinically proven results for beautiful, healthy skin. Plus, many customers agree that you only need a small amount morning and night to keep your skin hydrated, so even a small bottle can go a long way.
10. Farmstead Apothecary Lemon Lavender Face Cream
So when you’re looking for a new moisturizer, you typically want to stay away from products with lots of oils, since they can clog up your pores. However, this cream is formulated with a little bit of jojoba oil. Sound familiar?
Well, jojoba oil is an incredibly popular ingredient when it comes to skincare because it acts as an anti-aging agent, helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes, hydrates skin, and works to balance out the natural oils in your skin. Oh, and it’s non-comedogenic. So much goodness jam-packed into one ingredient.
This product is also scented with all-natural ingredients, so your skin will smell fresh and beautiful. This formula is also organic, cruelty-free, vegan, and ethically made. Not only will your skin feel good, but you will also feel good about choosing a fantastic product.
What to Look for in the Best Non-Comedogenic Moisturizer
Not all moisturizers are created equal, which is something those with acne-prone skin know all too well. So, when you’re shopping around for a new moisturizer, there are a few key things to remember:
Ingredients
When you have acne-prone, it’s important you carefully pay attention to the ingredients in any product. Try to steer clear of anything with lots of oil, such as mineral oil, which can easily clog your pores. Other ingredients to stay away from are cocoa butter, lanolin, petrolatum, which are all known to clog pores.
Also, be wary about moisturizers that contain fragrances. These can irritate sensitive skin and cause more breakouts. Some non-comedogenic ingredients you do want to look for are things such as aloe, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane.
Price
Just because a moisturizer is priced high does not mean that it is superior or works better than cheaper, drugstore moisturizers. Be mindful of your budget – you can still have beautiful skin without shelling out tons of money.
Fast-Absorption
If you are able to, test out a small amount of product at the store. Just put a little dab on the back of your hand and rub it in. What you want to look for is to absorb into your skin after a few seconds without a greasy feeling. That’s how you can easily tell if the moisturizer is worth your investment without necessarily having to spend money on a full-sized bottle.
Switching to a new moisturizer
So you have your new moisturizer? Now what? Well, if you have acne-prone skin, remember that your skin can easily be irritated by brand new products, even if it’s one that’s meant to help your skin.
It’s like a shock to the system and it can cause you to break out even more. To help combat this, start slowly incorporating your new moisturizer into your routine, such as only using it a few days a week or only at night to start. Give your skin time to acclimate to a new product – trust us!
Conclusion
No one likes having acne-prone skin, so having to find products specially formulated for you can be a challenge. Hopefully, we’ve alleviated some of that struggle by providing you with our top 10 picks for non-comedogenic facial moisturizers for your acne-prone skin.
Have any other faves you love? Let us know in the comments!
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