If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I use moisturizer if I have acne? Should I use moisturizer on my acne?,” well, this article is for you. 

Breathe a sigh of relief, because we’re here with the answers to all your burning questions about using moisturizer on acne-prone skin. And we’ll start with the big one – should you use moisturizer with acne? Yes!

People who struggle with acne often find themselves faced with a dilemma. They hear that they should use a moisturizer, but they’re worried about how it’ll affect their sensitive skin.

It seems counterintuitive...

If you’re nervous about adding a moisturizer to your skin routine, you’re not alone. Many acne-sufferers are wary of moisturizer. And it makes sense – after all, acne can make your skin feel oily and greasy, and so can some moisturizers.

Why would you want to add more wet, goopy products on top of already inflamed skin? Won’t it clog your pores? And the big one–

Does moisturizer make acne worse?

Nope! The right moisturizer will not make your acne worse. Just the opposite, in fact! Surprising as it might be, moisturizer can actually help your skin produce less oil. 

See, a lot of acne-treating products are drying – including some of the most common treatments, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, adapalene, tazarotene, tretinoin, and isotretinoin. This dryness then causes your skin to produce more oil or sebum, which can clog pores and exacerbate your skin’s troubles.

A good moisturizer can help your skin better handle the acne treatments and support you in your quest for clear skin – but there are a few rules.

What moisturizer should you use for acne?

If you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, you’ll want to look for a few key words when shopping for a moisturizer. Look for products that say:

    - oil-free

    - non-comedogenic

    - won’t clog pores

While not all labels are as transparent as we’d like, these are a good start. Don’t be afraid to spend some time reading reviews online – getting the right product for your situation can make all the difference.

Our suggestion

And if you want a really great gentle, hydrating daily moisturizer designed specifically for acne-prone skin, try Dermala’s new OAT So Sweet Daily Moisturizer.

OAT So Sweet is formulated with prebiotics and postbiotics to balance and restore your microbiome. Its unique combination of ingredients was specifically formulated to help calm, restore, and heal acne-prone skin. This daily moisturizer is great for any skin type and was formulated to reduce redness, hydrate, and strengthen the skin barrier.