“What’s the best moisturiser for oily skin?” you may ask. Ahead, spot 17 of our favourites that won’t clog your pores and work well under hot climates.
Without a doubt, yes! Though your skin already has enough oil, that doesn’t mean it has enough water. Your skin, despite its type, requires proper hydration to remain healthy, smooth, soft and youthful. Taking hydration away, your skin will become more prone to fine lines and wrinkles, and damage.
Dehydrated skin is apt to produce more oil. Many of us are unaware but this is a vicious cycle: your skin is oily, you proceed to use too many products that dry out your skin. Then, your skin becomes more oily and you use even harsher products. Eventually, your skin will become extremely sensitive and distressed, and it’ll start looking red and blotchy. Does the shoe fit?
Moreover, even healthy oily skin needs daily moisturiser. Cold weather, hot water, harsh products, and ageing can disrupt the integrity of your skin, causing tiny leaks. Before you even realise it, your skin can no longer act as a barrier to water loss and it gradually becomes dry.
These simply mean that the product doesn’t contain ingredients that clog pores or trigger acne. Nonetheless, if you’re being extra meticulous with your skin (due to severe acne or sensitivity), try to stay away from parabens, sulphates, and fragrances.
There may be plenty of plant derivatives and oils that work wonders on oily skin, you should always avoid mineral oils and other thick emollients.
Certain ingredients such as glycerine and hyaluronic acid can hydrate the skin by locking in moisture. They are lightweight and non-greasy on your skin.
Enriched with essential probiotic extracts and prebiotic nutrients, Esse Probiotic Hydro Moisturiser is an ultra-gentle, lightweight cream. Its oil-free formula balances out the oil level in your skin hence improving its moisture retention and delivering a fuller, healthier skin. The star ingredient in this product is Hyaluronic Acid, which can give your skin a boost of moisturisation.
Oil-free moisturiser with essential probiotic extracts, prebiotic nutrients, and Hyaluronic Acid.
Traps moisture
Fortifies skin’s moisture barrier
Regulates oil and moisture levels
Pricey
The Aromatic Global Baobab Moisturising cream is infused with several plant-based active ingredients along with delicate Baobab extracts. This moisturising cream nourishes and penetrates deep into the skin to provide intense hydration. Moreover, it helps retain moisture to ensure suppleness. A little goes a long way, with just a tiny amount, your skin will become softer and more supple than ever.
Organic moisturising cream with plant-based active ingredients and Baobab extracts.
Organic
Alcohol-free
Intensive hydration
Comes in little amount
Amongst SK-II’s best selling products under their anti-ageing range, SK-II R.N.A. Power Airy Milky Lotion comes in a lightweight texture, making it suitable for use under hot and humid weather conditions. Wearing thick skin care products can never end well for us with oily skin; but with this milky lotion, there’s nothing we need to worry about!
Features an ultra-light, milky texture that dissolves quickly into the skin.
Lightweight
Absorbs quickly into the skin
Combats environmental aggressors
Pricey
KLAIRS Rich Moist Soothing Cream is made for battling skin through all seasons. It effectively restores moisture and oil levels to help stabilise oily skin. Moreover, this moisturiser can also help to reduce skin redness and the appearance of pores. Being extremely gentle and lightweight, this makes the perfect moisturiser for those with oily skin in Singapore. What’s better? It’s very reasonably priced!
Infused with skin-loving ingredients such as yeast-derived beta glucan, jojoba oil, and ceramides.
Balances moisture and oil levels
Soothes redness and irritation
Diminishes pores
Contains fragrance
Sometimes, going back to the basics is better. While this drugstore moisturiser doesn’t come with the best packaging or the trendiest ingredients, it works extremely well in balancing and nourishing your skin. Don’t expect overnight results, but using Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Glycerin Face Moisturiser consistently can result in stronger and healthier skin. If you’re looking to tackle a specific skin issue like acne, wrinkles, or hyperpigmentation, you may want to consider other moisturisers.
Contains clinically proven oil-absorbing MICROSPONGE® system that regulates oil production for a natural, matte finish.
Affordable
Balances moisture and oil levels
Fortifies the skin’s moisture barrier
May trigger breakouts
Looking for the best moisturiser for oily skin in Singapore under $20? Try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. Featuring a light gel formula that doesn’t stick, its cooling effect is one to die for, especially for us residing under hot island weather. It is also gentle enough to not irritate or break your skin out. Gradually, your skin will become softer and smoother. To increase its cooling effect, you may store it in the refrigerator.
A unique face moisturiser that absorbs well like a gel but provides an intense moisturising power of a cream.
Refreshing
Ultra-hydrating
Prevents transepidermal water loss
Basic
Moisturising lotions tend to come in a lighter consistency than creams. They absorb quicker and can be layered under your makeup. COSRX Oil-free Ultra-Moisturising Lotion with Birch Sap makes a great moisturiser for oily skin thanks to its key ingredient birch sap that helps to reduce irritation and redness. Boasting a 4.4 stars on SokoGlam, one reviewer claimed that their skin hated all moisturiser but this.
Contains 70% of willow bark water, or birch sap which is full of vitamins and antioxidants.
Suitable for sensitive skin
Soothes redness and irritation
Absorbs quickly
Contains silicone
This is one of the best moisturisers for oily, acne-prone skin. Besides healing jojoba oil, it is infused with rosehip oil, an anti-acne powerhouse with vitamin A and linoleic acid that regulates sebum production, prevents blackheads and whiteheads, and fades post-acne inflammation and discoloration. While its consistency is rather thick, we recommend you to use this moisturiser at night.
Contains skin-loving ingredients such as jojoba oil and rosehip oil.
Lightweight
Non-comedogenic
Reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and acne scars
May trigger breakouts
Contains fragrance
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream works like a charm as a light, anti-ageing moisturiser for oily skin. Green tea is packed with antioxidants that fight free radicals and deliver a healthy, youthful glow. Comes in a watery texture, best believe that it can be absorbed within seconds and won’t feel heavy even on the oiliest skin.
Formulated with green tea for deep moisturising and nourishing effects.
Rich in antioxidants
Watery light texture
Doesn’t leave oily residue
Comes in little amount
May trigger breakouts
This is one of the most popular Japanese moisturisers made for oily skin. Hada Labo Perfecting UV Gel Moisturiser features a gel formula that makes your skin soft, supple and bouncy without leaving a greasy residue. As a bonus point, it provides amazing UV protection, with SPF 50 and PA ++++.
All-in-one gel moisturiser. Works as an essence, lotion, moisturiser, milk and UV sunblock.
Strong sun protection with SPF50+ PA++++
Lightweight
Moisturises the skin
Leaves a white cast
This moisturiser hydrates your skin while preventing breakouts with the help of zinc and sage leaf extracts. If you’re on a natural anti-acne skincare regime, you may want to include this. This hydrating cream helps to soothe and strengthen your skin, especially if you’re prone to using chemicals and exfoliators such as AHAs and BHAs. Most of all, it has SPF 15 that increases your defence against sun damage.
A hydrating SPF15 formulation enhanced with calming plant-derived sage leaf extract and mineral-based zinc oxide.
Great for daytime with sun protection
Balances moisture and oil levels
Fights acne-causing bacteria
Pricey for its amount
This moisturiser fulfils all the criteria for the best moisturiser for oily skin. Its formula is oil-free, non-comedogenic and works well in controlling oil and mattifying the skin. It absorbs rather quickly and can even act as a substitute for your primer.
A mattifying face moisturiser for oily skin that combats excess oil.
Oil-free
Non-comedogenic
Doubles up as a primer
Velvety matte texture
Comes in little amount
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is another best moisturiser for oily skin you can rely on after your skin has become very sensitive due to harsh skin care products or acne treatments. With consistent use, it can help reduce redness, and achieve smoother and more even skin.
A fast-absorbing moisturiser that provides an intense hydration to dry, distressed skin and eczema.
Suitable for sensitive eczema-prone skin
Soothes itching and irritation
Reduces redness and inflammation
Short-term effects
We are obsessed with Origins Gin-Zing Energy-Boosting Moisturiser, especially if you hardly get enough sleep! It works to restore radiance with natural extracts such as ginseng, orange peel oil, and jojoba butter. If the word “butter” makes you worry about greasiness, trust us when we say that it absorbs within seconds. After consistent use, your skin will become healthier with balanced moisture and oil levels, say goodbye to oily shine!
A radiance-boosting gel infused with anti-ageing Panax ginseng, orange peel oil, and jojoba butter.
Energises the skin
Balances moisture and oil levels
Fast-absorbing
Contains fragrance
This bestselling Korean moisturiser is perfect for all skin types, but especially for those with oily skin. As its namesake suggests, it attracts and locks in moisture by filling up your skin’s “water bank” while you’re in your beauty sleep. You’ll wake up to a softer, smoother, and more supple skin. Layerable with makeup, this is definitely worth trying!
A unique moisture cream using Water Zipper Technology that locks in moisture for 24 hours.
Refreshing
Works as a primer
Prevents transepidermal water loss
Too rich for oily skin types
One of the best moisturisers out there for oily skin, even VERY oily skin! It contains charcoal that sucks away oils and impurities, while Vitamin C fights ageing and dark spots. If you’re not into heavy creams and are prone to using a lot of makeup products, invest in Boscia Revitalising Black Hydration Gel.
A cooling gel moisturiser that delivers ultra-light hydration with pore-refining benefits of black charcoal.
Detoxifies the skin
Fights acne-causing bacteria
Evens out skin tone
Minimal effects
This night moisturiser works wonders on oily skin. Besides treating your skin to hydrating and healing natural plant extracts, it comes with a subtle natural rose scent. Using it at night and massaging it into your skin with a jade roller will result in softer, supple skin when you wake up the next morning.
Contains high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acids that deliver intense hydration.
Energises the skin
Soothes redness and irritation
Contains fragrance
Looking for sunscreen recommendations for acne-prone skin under hot and humid weather? Check out our favourites here!
Editor’s Choice NEOSTRATA GLYCOLIC RENEWAL Smoothing Lotion CHECK LATEST PRICE 2nd Best Choice Peter Thomas
Editor’s Choice Coppertone Sport Continuous Sunscreen Spray Broad Spectrum SPF 50 CHECK LATEST PRICE 2nd
