Moisturizer for acne-prone skin should have a simple, no-nonsense formula, which is why the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion is our top pick. This product contains three types of ceramides, or the fats and lipids that help keep skin cells together, and hyaluronic acid, a non-comedogenic hydrator that is naturally found in our skin. We like that this formula is easy to apply and it doesn’t feel greasy.

However, this lotion may be slightly too moisturizing for oily skin types. A few buyers also dislike the mild scent of the product — this may be a result of the formula having no masking fragrance. Some customers have also had difficulty with getting the pump to work correctly.

If you’re looking for a formula that’s more lightweight than the CeraVe Daily Lotion but still provides ample hydration, we recommend Cetaphil’s Deep Hydration Skin Restoring Water Gel. This formula contains non-comedogenic and non-greasy hydrators like hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid to keep skin moisturized throughout the day. It applies easily and may help reduce irritation and reactive skin over time.

The downsides? We noticed that this formula has a slightly tacky finish, probably because it doesn’t contain heavier, less serum-like moisturizers. In addition, this may not be hydrating enough on dry skin. Some buyers also dislike the scent.

You may know e.l.f. as a cosmetics brand, but the company also sells high-quality skin care products. We like the Holy Hydration Face Cream because it’s affordable, fragrance free and contains great hydrators like hyaluronic acid and squalane.

Though this formula has a creamy consistency, a few buyers have noticed that it isn’t as hydrating as they had hoped. We also wish this product came with some sort of spatula, pump or dispensing system that prevents you from dipping your fingers directly into the bottle.

If you’re hoping to give your skin a real treat, try The Hydrator from Hear Me Raw. It uses ingredients you don’t often see in skincare that have excellent benefits, including prickly pear to help your skin retain water and maqui berry to reduce inflammation. It also contains lactic acid, a mild exfoliator that softens and smooths skin. This formula feels like a lightweight cream that spreads easily across the face and dries quickly, leaving a matte finish.

While this formula is great for oily skin, the lactic acid may be irritating for first time users. The unique ingredients could also cause irritation, and it may be hard to pinpoint the culprit.

Looking for the thirst quencher that beats the rest? We recommend the Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream. It contains ultra-hydrating ingredients like squalane (the second ingredient!), glycerin and two types of hyaluronic acid, and it has a cool, soothing sensation when applied. We love that this product is sustainably made and recognized by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) as having “clean ingredients.”

The downsides: This formula has a shiny finish that takes a while to completely sink in, so you may need to apply a mattifying powder or sunscreen on top. In addition, the product may be too hydrating on oily skin and it’s on the pricier side (though Honest Beauty runs sales often). While pumps are not as easily recyclable, we wish this product came with some sort of spatula so you didn’t have to place your fingers in the container.

If you’re looking for a similar alternative to the Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream, we suggest trying the Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Facial Moisturizer. Formulated with glycerin to penetrate the skin cells and dimethicone to seal in moisture, this lightweight formula is fragrance free and great for sensitive, acne-prone skin.

However, you may need to reapply this moisturizer throughout the day to maintain hydrated skin. A few buyers have also experienced quality issues when purchasing through Amazon. We wish this product had a pump or applicator so you don’t have to use your fingers.

Oily skin needs to “breathe” more than dry skin, meaning a lightweight moisturizer is ideal. With this in mind, we recommend the K-Beauty Rovectin Calming Lotus Water Cream for acne-prone, oily skin. It contains lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sweet almond oil, and lotus water (the main ingredient) may help soothe and purify the skin to clear your complexion.

The downsides: This formula may not be hydrating enough on very dry skin or in the winter months. In addition, a few loyal customers are upset by the steady price increase.

If the CeraVe Daily Lotion is too heavy for you, consider the brand’s Ultra Light Moisturizing Gel instead. This formula has fast-absorbing hydrators like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and dimethicone so that it feels weightless. We also like that it contains niacinamide to help brighten the skin and even out complexion.

What could be improved: Since this product is lightweight, it isn’t hydrating enough for dry skin. A few customers have experienced tingling and burning, so we recommend applying some to your inner wrist first for 15 minutes as a test.

While the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream used to contain a few unsavory ingredients (colorants and fragrance), the new and improved formula is excellent. It’s fragrance free and oil free, and it contains soothing hydrators like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and dimethicone.

However, this formula is a bit sticky once dry. A few buyers think that it’s a little too moisturizing on very oily skin, so you may need to use only a small amount. We wish this product had some sort of pump or spatula so you don’t have to dip your fingers into the container.

If you struggle with dry and oily skin, we recommend the Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer. It helps soothe irritation and reduce breakouts, thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, triglycerides and sunflower seed oil. This product is great after using a potentially irritating exfoliant such as retinol or salicylic acid.

However, this formula may not be thick enough if your skin is very dry. It may also leave a shiny finish, and you don’t get a lot of product for the price.

If you struggle with adult acne and still need to take care of dry, aging skin, try La Rocke-Posay’s Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion. It contains gentle hydrators like shea butter and glycerin to help restore moisture and replenish the skin’s natural lipids. We also like that it’s approved by the National Eczema Association.

The downsides: A few customers have received bottles with a broken pump when buying online. Others felt that they needed to reapply multiple times per day. In addition, this product contains BHT or butylated hydroxytoluene. There is some research to suggest that it is carcinogenic and creates irritation, though more testing is needed.

If you’re menopausal or postmenopausal, your skin will benefit greatly from an ultra-hydrating moisturizer. The Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer fits the bill. It contains excellent hydrators such as squalane, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to help skin cells maintain moisture throughout the day. It also contains multiple ceramides to help repair the skin barrier, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while reducing the risk of adult acne.

What could be improved: A little goes a long way, so this formula may not be great for oily skin types. It also has a shiny finish, so you may need to mattify it with powder. A few customers have experienced irritation when using this product so we recommend performing a patch test on your inner wrist first.

If you have flaky, dry skin, more pronounced fine lines, redness and acne, there’s a very good chance your skin barrier is damaged. To help repair it, we recommend the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. It contains three different ceramides to help heal the “glue” between your skin cells, along with deeply-penetrating hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. And while intended for use at night, this moisturizer can also work during the day if you have extremely dry skin.

Unfortunately, a few buyers found that this formula exacerbated their redness and irritation, so make sure you do a patch test before trying. Some customers felt that this formula wasn’t much different than the CeraVe Deep Hydration Moisturizing Cream, which is much less expensive.

If you want to reduce redness, inflammation, flaky skin and acne as quickly as possible, try the K-Beauty CosRx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Spa Beauty Mask. Rice extract makes up 68% of the ingredients, and it helps soothe the skin and restore its natural moisture. We also like that this product contains brightening niacinamide.

Unfortunately, this product contains palm oil, a non-sustainable ingredient that has led to major deforestation. The formula may also leave a tacky finish depending on the serums you use underneath it, and some customers dislike the steady price increase.

Oil-free moisturizers are great for oily and acne-prone skin, but only if they offer enough hydration. We like the Paula’s Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer because it still provides enough hydration to reduce the chance of a breakout. Ingredients like three different ceramides help restore the skin barrier while licorice, pumpkin and blueberry reduce inflammation.

What isn’t ideal: Paula’s Choice products are expensive, so it may be hard to create a sustainable routine with this moisturizer. It’s also too light for dry skin and a few customers experienced irritation.