Below, you’ll find our top picks for lightweight daily moisturizers that’ll leave oily, breakout-prone skin hydrated, glowing, and feeling fresh—not to mention looking clear and smooth—no matter the season. And even if your skin isn’t oily year-round, these are perfect picks for sweatier summer months, too.
Best Overall: Kate Somerville HydraKate Recharging Water Cream
Why It’s Worth It: For a cloud-like gel-cream that packs a moisturizing punch, look no further than the Kate Somerville HydraKate Recharging Water Cream, which uses an innovative system to deliver hyaluronic acid exactly where it’s most needed within your skin. The 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner offers immediate hydration that helps plump skin and smooth fine lines — all without feeling overly heavy on skin.
Editor Tip: We’re fans of the dispenser, which delivers a perfectly measured dose with a single push.
Key Ingredients: Spirulina extract, calendula extract, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-Free: No
Best Drugstore: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat
Why It’s Worth It: Sensitive skin types, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Mat is practically made for you. Sure, its main focus is minimizing oiliness and excess sebum production, but Dr. Nazarian says this matte-finish, non-comedogenic moisturizer is also a gentle, oil-free formulation that won’t irritate delicate skin. As zinc pidolate, perlite, and silica absorb excess oil, lipohydroxy acid (a derivative of exfoliating salicylic acid also known as LHA) unclogs pores and soothing, antioxidant-rich thermal water seals in moisture.
Editor Tip: A little goes a very long way, so start with pea-size amounts for your cheeks and forehead, and only apply more if needed.
Key Ingredients: Lipohydroxy acid, salicylic acid, glycerin | Fragrance-Free: Yes
Best Splurge: Dr. Barbara Sturm Clarifying Face Cream
Why It’s Worth It: Having oily skin doesn’t mean you have to use only extra-light gels in your skin-care routine. This Clarifying Face Cream by celebrity-loved Dr. Barbara Sturm packs breakout-fighting features into a moisturizing formula that’s rich enough to handle dryness. Specifically, its zinc keeps sebum under control so you won’t look greasy or spotty, and some of the most interestingly named botanicals we’ve seen in an ingredient list—balloon vine and viper’s bugloss, anyone?—ensure an ideal moisture balance.
