Moisturizers

Where as the recommended facial cleansers are oil based, the moisturizer needs to be oil free. It should also be wax free and lipid free. Again, just like with the cleansers and other products, it’s important that the moisturizer does not contain harsh chemicals such as fragrances and alcohol.

For most people moisturizing should be done after cleansing. Again I say for most people because experts recommend that people who have really oily skin and who are under 30 years of age should try not moisturizing at all. This may be worth a try if you believe it could benefit you. For most people however, moisturizing is essential after cleansing.
The cleansing process strips away the dirt and dead skin as well as the oil the skin needs. Moisturizing is needed to restore the skin to its natural moisture levels. If you leave your skin too dry and do not moisturize after cleansing, this will only cause the skin to produce more oil to compensate for the lack.

Avoid

• Avoid any moisturizer which contains any kind of mineral oil. Examples of mineral oils that are commonly found in moisturizers are petrolatum, petroleum and paraffin. These products are not only bad for oily skin but bad for skin in general.

• The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people with oily skin avoid products that contain cocoa butter, coconut oil and cinnamon. These ingredients could cause oily skin to worsen.

• Avoid the gel type moisturizers that absorb into your fingers quickly.

Try to use

• A natural, oil free moisturizer
• A water based moisturizer
• “Gel” moisturizers
• Moisturizers that contain Babassu oil, Shea butter or avocado extracts are recommended however they are likely to be hard to find and cost more.
• Do not apply too much moisturizer

Here are examples of moisturizers that you could try out:

• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel has some good reviews however it is very expensive. It would be quite unfortunate if this was the only product that worked well with your skin!

• Another pricey option is Vanishing Cream Moisturizer by LUSH which contains great ingredients such as Shea Butter. (NOTE: people have emailed me and told me that this isn’t great for acne prone skin and can clog pores. That’s a shame because the ingredients made it seem soo good! Please let me know if you are having the same experiences with this!)

• A cheaper option, with the trade off of worse ingredients is Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil Free Moisturizer (I actually tried this out and found it made my skin too dry, but some people swear by it)

There is a clear trade off here between the price and the quality of ingredients. It is worth trying out some of the cheaper options. If your skin feels and looks good after using one of the cheaper options, then it may be worth sticking to it, regardless of the fact that it may contain one or two undesirable ingredients.
If you think you’ve found the best moisturizer for oily skin then let us know in the comments section below!

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