Best Oil-Free Moisturizer: The 10 Best for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin

The best oil-free moisturizer for most oily and acne-prone skin is CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion: light, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, with ceramides and niacinamide, for $14.99 at Target. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte is the best for shine control, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is the lightest, and Cetaphil DermaControl SPF 30 is the best oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen. "Oil-free" means no plant or mineral oils; it does not promise that a product won't clog your pores.

Before you buy, you can scan a moisturizer's barcode or photograph its label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check it against your skin type and see which emollients it uses. Pori reads the label for you; it does not diagnose acne.

Quick picks

• Best overall: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($14.99 for 2 fl oz, Target): oil-free, fragrance-free lotion with ceramides and niacinamide.
• Best for shine: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte ($24.99 for 3.38 fl oz, Target): silica for a matte finish, with ceramide and niacinamide.
• Lightest: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Normal to Oily ($19.99 for 1.7 oz, Target): a silicone gel with hyaluronic acid.
• Best budget gel: CeraVe Oil Control Face Gel Cream ($15.99 for 3 fl oz, Target): silica and corn starch to soak up oil.
• Best with SPF: Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30 ($14.39 for 4 fl oz, Target): matte, oil-free and fragrance-free.
• Best for acne: Neutrogena Evenly Clear Acne Gel Moisturizer ($14.99 for 1.7 fl oz, Target): 0.5% salicylic acid in a non-comedogenic gel.

We compared published ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are US list prices as of November 2026, with the retailer named, and they change often. Our shorter best moisturizer for oily skin roundup goes deeper on four of these, and best non-comedogenic moisturizer covers the pore claim on its own.

What does "oil-free" mean on a moisturizer?

It means the formula leaves out plant oils and mineral oil. Moisturizers still need something to soften skin, so oil-free products use other emollients: silicones such as dimethicone, fatty alcohols, and synthetic or plant-derived esters. Reading the labels below shows how wide that range is:

• CeraVe PM is sold as oil-free, and caprylic/capric triglyceride, an ester made from coconut or palm oil fatty acids, is third on its ingredient list.
• CeraVe Oil Control Gel Cream is labeled oil-free and contains isopropyl myristate, an ester some acne-prone people avoid; CeraVe says on the Target listing that it is used at a controlled level.
• Neutrogena's Evenly Clear gel does not use the word oil-free, yet its ingredient list has no plant or mineral oils.

What "oil-free" does not tell you: whether a product will clog your pores, whether it is fragrance-free, or how matte it will feel. "Non-comedogenic" is the separate claim about pores, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises people with oily or acne-prone skin to look for both "oil free" and "noncomedogenic" on the label. Neither term is a guarantee, so a two-week trial on your own skin is the real test. Mineral oil itself is less of a villain than its reputation; our mineral oil guide explains why.

Does oily skin need moisturizer?

Usually, yes. The AAD tells people with oily skin to apply a moisturizer after washing, and its acne guidance notes that a moisturizer helps skin tolerate drying acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and retinoids. Oily skin can also be dehydrated, which our guide to oily but dehydrated skin explains. A gel or light lotion is enough for most people; gel vs. cream moisturizer covers the textures.

How do the best oil-free moisturizers compare?

The 10 best oil-free moisturizers

1. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

Price: $14.99 for 2 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: niacinamide, three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and cholesterol. The Target listing calls it oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: oily, combination and acne-prone skin, morning or night, and anyone using a retinoid. Who should skip it: people who break out from caprylic/capric triglyceride. The catch: despite the "PM" name it has no sunscreen, so you still need SPF in the morning.

2. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte

Price: $24.99 for 3.38 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: glycerin, silica, niacinamide and ceramide NP in thermal spring water. The listing marks it oil-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and alcohol-free.

Who it suits: oily skin that is also sensitive and gets shiny by midday. Who should skip it: dry or flaky patches, which silica can emphasize. The catch: it costs about twice as much as the CeraVe picks.

3. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Normal to Oily

Price: $19.99 for 1.7 oz at Target. Key ingredients: dimethicone, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. The Target listing calls it lightweight, oil-free and non-comedogenic.

Who it suits: people who dislike any cream feel. Who should skip it: fragrance-sensitive skin; this version lists fragrance and Blue 1. The catch: the fragrance-free version skips the scent but is not labeled oil-free on its listing, and it adds cetearyl olivate.

4. Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Price: $31 for 1 oz at Ulta, with larger sizes available. Key ingredients: aloe bioferment, hyaluronic acid, caffeine and vitamins C and E. Ulta's listing calls it an oil-free face moisturizer that is 100% fragrance-free.

Who it suits: combination and oily skin that wants a bouncy gel-cream. Who should skip it: anyone on a tight budget. The catch: dimethicone and trisiloxane sit near the top of the list, so the smooth feel comes from silicones.

5. CeraVe Oil Control Face Gel Cream

Price: $15.99 for 3 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: niacinamide, three ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, silica and corn starch. It is labeled oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, with a non-greasy, matte finish.

Who it suits: very oily skin on a budget. Who should skip it: people who know isopropyl myristate breaks them out. The catch: its esters show that oil-free and emollient-free are different things.

6. CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Face Gel

Price: $14.19 for 1.75 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: niacinamide, three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and silica, with dimethicone and isononyl isononanoate as emollients. The listing marks it oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: oily or combination skin in humid weather. Who should skip it: dry cheeks in winter. The catch: parts of Target's description mix it up with the Oil Control gel-cream, so check the box.

7. Cetaphil Hydrating Oil-Free Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid

Price: $14.49 for 3 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, glycerin and hydroxyethyl urea, with dicaprylyl carbonate and a silicone as emollients. It is labeled oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: oily skin that feels tight, and combination skin. Who should skip it: very oily skin that wants a matte finish. The catch: the listing contradicts itself on skin type, and Cetaphil's own answer says it suits dry skin best.

8. Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30

Price: $14.39 for 4 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: avobenzone 3%, octisalate 5% and octocrylene 7%, plus oil-absorbing microspheres, glycerin and ceramide NP. The listing calls it oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: oily skin that wants one matte step in the morning. Who should skip it: people who sting with chemical filters, who may prefer a mineral sunscreen. The catch: some reviewers say it still looks shiny, and you need a generous layer to get SPF 30.

9. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte SPF 30

Price: $24.99 for 3.3 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5% and octocrylene 7.2% with La Roche-Posay's ceramide and niacinamide base. It is listed as oil-free, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: oily or combination skin that wants a barrier-focused day cream with SPF. Who should skip it: very oily skin; reviewers say it is not matte enough. The catch: some reviewers report stinging, so patch test first.

10. Neutrogena Evenly Clear Acne Gel Moisturizer

Price: $14.99 for 1.7 fl oz at Target. Key ingredients: 0.5% salicylic acid as the active, with acetyl glucosamine, panthenol and centella. The listing calls it non-comedogenic and fragrance-free.

Who it suits: acne-prone skin that wants a mild acne active in the moisturizer step. Who should skip it: anyone already using adapalene, tretinoin or a strong acid, since stacking actives dries skin. The catch: it is not labeled oil-free, though its ingredient list contains no plant or mineral oils.

How do you pick the right oil-free moisturizer?

1. Start with your shine. Very oily skin does well with silica gels (picks 2, 5 and 6). Oily skin that feels tight does better with a lotion (picks 1 and 7).
2. Read past the front label. Look for fragrance, essential oils and any ingredient you already know breaks you out.
3. Use SPF in the morning. Either one of the SPF picks or a separate sunscreen; our best sunscreen for oily skin lists light options.
4. Give it two weeks. Change one product at a time so you know what caused any new bumps.

Browse more light options on our moisturizers for oily skin shelf, or see best moisturizer for acne-prone skin if breakouts are the main issue. Persistent, painful acne is worth a visit to a dermatologist.

How we chose

We looked for moisturizers sold in the US that are labeled oil-free or contain no plant or mineral oils, then read each full ingredient list for fragrance, emollients and oil-absorbing powders. We favored non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formulas with barrier ingredients and included two SPF options for daytime. Sources were Target and Ulta product pages and the AAD. We did no wear tests.