For years, the golden rule of skincare has been to CTM—cleanse, tone, and moisturise. While, nowadays a lot of skin types can do away with a toner, you cannot give up on cleansing your skin and moisturising. A moisturiser is a necessity no matter what your skin type. For generations, however, the rumour mills had it that oily skin and moisturisers weren’t the perfect fit. They only make your skin oilier and shinier, but guess what? It isn’t true.
The myth that moisturisers can cause oily skin to get oilier is only applicable if you’re not using the right kind of moisturiser. As a matter of fact oily skin requires moisturising and for good reason. Scroll down to see the best moisturisers for oily skin and why including it in your daily routine is a must.
Benefits Of Using Moisturising Cream For Oily Skin
Contrary to popular belief, oily skin also requires to be hydrated daily and therefore requires the right kind of moisturiser. It’s important to note that when oily skin isn’t moisturised it tends to dry out excessively. You know that tight and super dry feeling? Well, that’s not supposed to be all that good for your skin. When that happens, your skin tends to go a little crazy and overproduce oil, often resulting in more greasiness than usual.
The more the oil, the higher the risks are of attracting more dirt, grime, and debris that can get stuck within the pores, which often results in acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. Excessively oily skin all tends to look dull and magnifies pores, resulting in a more uneven looking skin tone. Scroll down to see what benefits the best moisturiser for oily skin can do for you.
1. Creates a protective barrier
When your skin isn’t moisturised, it opens a gateway for dirt, dust, and pollution. The best organic face creams in India often tend to help protect the skin. Moisturising the skin aids in hydration, while creating a protective barrier that keeps all the external deterrents away from penetrating into the skin. This barrier also prevents the skin from drying out unnecessarily and locks-in the moisture with the layers of your skin.
2. Controls oil production
How to get rid of oily skin? Technically you can’t—all you can do is keep things balanced. As mentioned before, moisturising oily skin helps keep your sebum levels in check. This means you balance out the oil production scales in the layers of your skin. When your skin is stripped off its natural oils, it goes a little berserk in search of oil. The moment your skin is dried out it tends to go into overdrive and produce more natural oils. This leaves skin oilier than usual. Using a moisturiser helps strike that balance.
3. Keeps the acne at bay
If your oil levels are in check and your skin is protected from dirt, dust, and pollution, then it automatically stops your pores from clogging. Oily skin tends to be sticky, which more often than not, attracts this very dirt and grime into your pores, causing them to get clogged. Using a moisturiser for oily skin keeps the oil at bay, which in turn prevents any sort of future breakouts from occurring.
4. Fights signs of skin ageing
Hydrated skin also means happy and healthy skin. The best face moisturisers for oily skin help keep things hydrated and moisturised, which directly means your skin remains supple. Supple skin tends to look youthful because of a substantial amount of elastin and collagen in the skin (which is also boosted by hydration). This therefore slows down the ageing process and prevents the premature signs of skin ageing from showing up. Remember, dehydration attracts wrinkles and fine lines, so hydrating is always the key.
6 Best Moisturisers For Oily Skin
The best moisturisers for oily skin are usually lightweight and help keep the skin hydrated, while keeping the shine at bay. Here are a few moisturisers to include in your oily skin routine. The best organic face creams
1. Organic Harvest Acne Control Mattifying Day Cream: Green Tea & Moringa

Enriched with the goodness of green tea and moringa, this day cream is the perfect solution for all your oily skin needs. One of the best moisturisers for acne prone skin, the formula helps control excess sebum production, which could lead to clogged pores and acne. With a potent mix of botanical antioxidants, this day cream also protects your skin from sun damage.
Price: 349 INR
Buy link: Organic Harvest Acne Control Mattifying Day Cream: Green Tea & Moringa
2. Organic Harvest SPF 30 Day Cream: Kakadu Plum, Acai Berry & Chia Seeds

A daily moisturiser for dull and oily skin, this is formulated with skin loving ingredients like kakadu plum, acai berry, and chia seeds. The formulation helps lock in moisture, hydrates your skin, and gives it a natural and non-greasy glow. It also protects your skin from sun damage and premature ageing too! You’ll notice fewer breakouts and more healthy looking skin.
Price: 899 INR
Buy link: Organic Harvest SPF 30 Day Cream: Kakadu Plum, Acai Berry & Chia Seeds
3. St Botanica Oriental Botanics Neem, Tea Tree And Basil Anti Acne Face Gel

Formulated with neem, tea tree, and basil gel, this anti acne face gel gives your oily, acne prone skin the right kind of nourishment it requires to stay healthy. It aids in soothing the skin, re-energising it and even prevents acne. It leaves your skin with a clean, smooth, and radiant canvas, enabling it to glow more. It also helps keep your skin youthful and protects it against any sort of environmental damage.
Price: 649 INR
Buy link: St Botanical Oriental Botanics Neem, Tea Tree And Basil Anti Acne Face Gel
4. MyGlamm Youthfull Hydrating Moisturising Gel With Water Bank Technology

An instantly cooling gel based moisturiser that cools and soothes irritated skin, the formula comes with a unique aqua-holding formula. It has a lightweight and non-sticky texture, and instantly absorbs into the skin. Formulated with anti-inflammatory licorice, antioxidant turmeric, and protective coco grass, it works to heal, comfort, and repair the skin while gently calming it. Perfect for all skin types, this one is definitely a great addition to those with oily skin too.
Price: 985 INR
Buy link: MyGlamm Youthfull Hydrating Moisturising Gel With Water Bank Technology
5. The Moms Co Natural Green Tea Face Cream

A green tea face cream that comes with a non-greasy formula that instantly hydrates your skin. Enriched with squalane and cucumber, the formula comes with acne-fighting ingredients like green tea, willow bark, and niacinamide. It gives you shine-free, matte skin that pretty much lasts all day long. It has a non-comedogenic formula that does not clog pores either.
Price: 577 INR
Buy link: The Moms Co Natural Green Tea Face Cream
6. Manish Malhotra Amla Moisturising Gel

A gel based moisturiser that is enriched with pure concentrated aloe vera juice, the formula also comprises ayurvedic ingredients like amla, almond oil, and mint. The benefits of amla for skin are endless and this moisturiser is proof. It has a lightweight and quick absorbing formula that deeply nourishes dull and dehydrated skin. It prevents ageing, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, if you’re one to deal with inflammation and puffiness, this moisturiser is the way to go. It acts like a powerful antioxidant agent that naturally rejuvenates and protects the skin.
Price: 850 INR
Buy link: Manish Malhotra Amla Moisturising Gel
How To Choose A Moisturiser For Oily Skin
If you’re one to face oily skin on the daily, then you need a moisturiser that will help combat that. Oily skin can be a bit of a task to deal with, especially when it becomes a magnet for dirt and dust. This often results in breakouts and dullness. Your skincare routine for oily skin needs to include a moisturiser. More so, in order to combat it, you need to pick the best moisturiser for oily skin. But, here’s the thing—not all oily skin moisturisers are made equal and what you choose to apply on your skin is dependent on many factors. Scroll down to understand how you can find ‘the one’ for you.
Understand the level of oiliness in your skin
Do you really have oily skin or is your skin oily because you’re using a certain type of skincare product? It is important to determine the level of oil that your skin secretes, so that you can decide what type of moisturiser is best suited for you. More often than not, it might be the product itself that is driving your skin to overproduce oil. If you are using cleanser or a moisturiser that is rich and heavy on the skin and then chances are that that’s the reason why it’s so shiny. That is the time you then reconsider using the product or switch to something more lightweight.
Observe the areas that are oily
If the oiliness is present across your face and is a recurring phenomenon, even after several dabs a day, you have oily skin. On the other hand, if you only tend to get oily around your t-zone areas, that is your forehead, nose, and chin, you might steer more towards the combination skin zone. It is important to understand what your skin is trying to tell you in order to determine what sort of moisturiser you should be incorporating in your routine. Overall oily skin will tend to get shiny almost 30 minutes after cleansing, across your face. While, if you have combination skin the same will happen only in the t-zone area.
Test out the oiliness with a tissue
Still confused? Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and leave it be––no moisturiser, no serum. In about 30 minutes to an hour, blot your cheeks with a tissue. If you see patches of oil on the tissue, then it’s safe to say that you’ve got oily skin. If not, it could probably mean that you have combination skin.
Choose the right formulation
Oily skin calls for using formulas and ingredients that are more suited for the skin type. It’s best to opt for gel or water based formulations that contain ingredients that help balance out your sebum production. Anything that is rich or cream based might feel too heavy on the skin and can clog the pores. Opt for non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, and oil-free formulations that will help treat your skin too. This will help hydrate your skin, balance out sebum levels, and prevent any new breakouts from occuring in the future.
Re-evaluate the other products you’re using
Oily skin can be acne prone, therefore it is important to reconsider the type of cleanser or serums you are using. Stay away from anything that can dry the skin out and cause your skin to produce more oil than usual. Include face serums that also balance out your sebum levels and help treat irritation or inflammation like acne too. Avoid oils and waxes that can dive into your pores and clog them––oily skin requires a little extra TLC, every now and then, so always ensure that you are using the right kind of skincare products for it.
FAQs
Is it good to moisturise oily skin?
Yes, oily skin needs to be moisturised too. When oily skin is dried out, it tends to overproduce oil to make up for the loss. This then causes excess oil and shine. Moisturising oily skin helps balance out sebum levels and prevents extra oiliness.
What can I use for oily skin?
When dealing with oily skin, make sure to use a moisturiser that is gel or water-based. This will hydrate the skin, while keeping the shininess at bay.
How can I moisturise my oily face?
Use a lightweight moisturiser on your face twice a day—once in the morning and once at night. You can pair your moisturiser with a face serum that will also help control oil production.
The best moisturisers for oily skin manage to hydrate your skin while keeping the oil at bay, and these moisturisers do precisely that. The rule of thumb? Even if you’ve got oily skin, you have to moisturise.
Conclusion
We hope this blog ends your search for the best moisturiser for oily skin. While choosing one, simply remember to opt for a face cream that sinks well into your skin and does not make your skin greasy. A gel-based lightweight moisturiser for oily skin can be your ideal pick. Do not miss to do a small patch test on your forearms!
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