Oil-Free Moisturizers for the Lotion-Averse

The debate about oils in face creams was as divisive as the fat-free debate in the nutrition industry. Some dermatologists were vehemently opposed, saying oils were too dense for most skin types and would only clog the skin, leading to breakouts and a slick complexion. Other experts were of an entirely different mind, thinking that facial oils—most of which are derived from botanicals—were in fact the key to optimal skin hydration, offering a nutrient-rich and readily absorbed option for deep moisturization. The truth is, oil-free facial moisturizers are the best bet for many skin types, with those who are acne-prone topping the list.

Oil-free moisturizers are able to deliver hydration through other proven ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and silicone adjacents like dimethicone. Harnessing prime skin function for every complexion is a delicate moisture balance, and re-establishing healthy hydration is key. Oil-free moisturizers also tend to feel lighter on the skin—many have a matte finish, and some contain anti-acne ingredients or skin brighteners. Not only are you more likely to reach for an oil-free moisturizer if it feels nice, but it'll also work to calm over-productive oil glands. Some of our favorites are creams, others lotions, some more like a serum, watery liquid or even a treatment gel. Pick and choose one you feel most comfortable using, and prepare to transform your previously slick skin.

Neutrogena

amazon.com

$6.67

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Teens and twenty-somethings alike will appreciate the .5 percent salicylic acid—which can quell breakouts—and the lotion's lightweight and readily absorbed finish. Also the pink grapefruit scent is undeniable.

Farmacy

sephora.com

$38.00

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Green juice junkies rejoice. Hyaluronic acid is blended up with moringa sourced from the Coachella Valley and papaya for a health shot for your complexion. Please note, the product is also vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, and comes in recyclable packaging, so you can feel environmentally smug and hydrated, too.

Glow Recipe

sephora.com

$21.00

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Breathe me in, breathe me out. Watermelon extract is the first and most prominent ingredient in this pleasing pink elixir. Here it combines with hyaluronic acid and peony and sweet potato extracts to deliver an efficacious and fun-to-use hydration.

Kiehls

nordstrom.com

$32.00

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If creams and lotions scare you because your skin has historically absolutely revolted at the sight, this cooling gel cream might be just the ticket. In signature Kiehl's fashion, an interesting plant is king. This time, potassium-rich Imperata cylindric extract restores the skin's natural moisture function almost immediately on application.

Olehenriksen

sephora.com

$40.00

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With a sheer, veil-like finish and a good dose of fruit acids and antioxidants, this lightweight vegan whip is a great option for acne-prone or aging skin alike.

Tula Skincare

nordstrom.com

$48.00

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When your skin is really broken out, layering on a thick cream is about as appealing as getting tarred and feathered. Here, two percent salicylic acid and brightening azaelic acid are suspended in an sumptuous featherlight cream, meaning your entire face can get both hydration and treatment at once.

Dr. Dennis Gross

nordstrom.com

$60.00

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Two heavy-hitters skin savants are wild about: Japanese marine algae—a nutrient-rich and naturally occurring complexion nourisher—and plumping hyaluronic acid combine for a potent oil-free option.

dermalogica

dermstore.com

$54.00

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The matte-finish of this Dermalogica option is a revelation for anyone with oily or combination skin that has avoided moisturizer for most of their adult lives. (Reader, it me.) Smooth on a generous daub, and you'll get the three-in-one benefit of a non-greasy sheen, hydration, and sunscreen.

EltaMD

dermstore.com

$35.00

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This sheer, non-comedogenic formula from the dermatologist-favorite brand contains willow bark extract, which encourages cell turnover, and niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that shores up the skin's outer layers, enhances elasticity and curbs inflammation.

Glo Skin Beauty

dermstore.com

$48.00

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Humectant hyaluronic acid joins forces with vitamin E and algae for a calming and non-greasy option. Antioxidant malachite extract—yes, the gemstone—boosts collagen production.

Clean & Clear

amazon.com

$4.97

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One part daily moisturizer and one part blemish-blaster, this affordable option makes use of a .5% salicylic acid blend to blunt current breakouts and discourage ones in the future.

Origins

sephora.com

$64.00

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There's lots of oils in this botanical cornucopia—essential oils like lavender, orange, lemon and bergamot, which work as powerful antioxidants in conjunction with chemical sunscreens and a rich and creamy moisture blend.

Paula's Choice

dermstore.com

$29.00

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Ceramides and antioxidants curb redness, while hyaluronic acid holds onto your skin's naturally occurring moisture. All of this is delivered in well-researched and no-nonsense fluid that happily absorbs and won't cause additional blemishes.

Mario Badescu

sephora.com

$21.00

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Aloe vera and glycerin are the moisturizers in this unassuming offering, which also contains green tea and Saint John's wort extract to scrounge up aging free-radicals while also providing broad-spectrum UV protection.

Indie Lee

dermstore.com

$48.00

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Just a pump or two of this supremely light option will both hydrate and protect against environmental damages thanks to daisy flower and imortelle extracts that combat free radical degradation.

Cosrx

dermstore.com

$24.00

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While the packaging might feel a tad sterile, the results are are syrupy sweet. Here, a revolutionary 70% white birch sap moisturizes and calms redness, irritation, and inflammation.

Kate Somerville

sephora.com

$65.00

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I love Kate Somerville products and I'm not afraid to say it. In this particular rebalancing formulation, algaes and amino acids are suspended in a creamy hydrator. But what really sets it apart are the oil-absorbing spheres, which leave your skin velvet-soft, not shiny or slick.

bareMinerals

ulta.com

$35.00

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When you struggle with acne there's usually a range of causes, many of which are addressed with the prebiotics and fruit exfoliants in this lightweight and pore-refining formulation.

Primera

sephora.com

$20.00

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Silica, essential for the production of collagen, works alongside wild strawberry sprouts and blackberries to deliver a weightless, non-shiny finish with plenty of skin benefit, too.

It Cosmetics

ulta.com

$25.20

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At first pump, you'll feel a cooling gel moisturizer on your fingertips. As you work into your skin, the formulation breaks into a water-like liquid, making it easy to apply and absorb.