Should Acne Prone Skin Use a Moisturizer? While it is true that preventing overly oily skin can help diminish the appearance and frequency of acne, you should still use a moisturizer to help balance out your skin’s delicate lipid layer.
When you have acne prone skin, it can be a bit tricky to select products and treatments, as it is hard to tell exactly what will trigger a new breakout. Due to this, many people stick to only acne treatment products and shy away from products that could cause their skin to become more oily, which is a frequent acne causation.
Unfortunately, for many people this means they avoid moisturizers, as well, due to the general belief that you should try to “dry out” acne to make it go away.
Let’s go a little more in depth and discuss why exactly moisturizers are still beneficial and dermatologist recommended for acne prone skin types.
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Why Should You Moisturize?
Every single day our skin encounters a plethora of environmental stressors that requires you to cleanse your face. If you use any sort of cleanser that removes oil, you may be thinking that you are all set and will be shine free.
Unfortunately, oil production can actually be increased by washing your face since it disrupts your natural lipid layer’s protective oil content. To help balance this out, you need to apply a moisturizer to restore hydration to your skin.
Over time, this will gradually reduce oil production in most people, balancing everything out and creating a healthy base level of hydration.
Keeping your skin adequately moisturized is absolutely key in making it healthy and can play a massive role in clearing up acne breakouts and other skin conditions.
Think of the Texture
When you think of a moisturizer, you probably immediately imagine a thick, lotiony cream that feels heavy and leaves you looking shiny until it sinks in.
While these are available and can be helpful for those with dry skin, using these types of products can clog your pores and leave you greasy, causing you to breakout. Instead, opt for a lightweight moisturizer to help keep your skin hydrated without being overly heavy.
Products like the Simple Light Moisturizer are perfect since they are formulated to be moisturizing without leaving a greasy film on the skin; this product specifically is also fragrance free and contains SPF, two factors that can help prevent future breakouts!
A cult classic, the Aveeno Daily Moisturizer has been used by women and men alike for generations due to its gentle, comfortable nature. Its low price tag and easy accessibility make it perfect for someone looking to test the waters and see what their skin can tolerate, too.
For something even lighter than a traditional moisturizer you can opt for a product like the e.l.f Cosmetics Hydrating Coconut Mist this product is a light spray that coats the face in a thin layer of hydration and sinks in immediately, preventing any nasty build up.
If you want to go for a product that has been deemed by many to be foolproof, the Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is a great choice that is safe for all skin types, oil free, and actually works with your skin to store more moisture from the inside out, leaving it actually hydrated!
Check the Ingredients
When choosing a moisturizer, you need to be aware of the ingredients list. Check the back of any packaging to make sure you are getting a product that is suitable for your skin. If it contains alcohols or heavy oils consider avoiding it since both can trigger breakouts.
Try to shoot for something as natural as possible with oils that are light in nature if any are present. Additionally seeking out ingredients that actively fight acne can prove to be beneficial, as well.
Things like salicylic acid or tea tree oil will help keep your face bacteria free, helping clear out acne while you moisturize!
Go Natural
If you are concerned about the lengthy ingredient lists that come along with using many store bought products or would prefer to have full control over what goes on your face, there are quite a few all natural, do it yourself options that make for perfect moisturizers.
These types of products are also quite affordable, making them a great choice for those on a budget or looking to play around a bit with active ingredients. You can add acne fighting agents into your do it yourself project to help add a bit of double dosage, too!
A lot of people love to use hemp seed oil to keep their acne prone skin soft and hydrated. This oil does not clog pores and has been known to aid in balancing out your skin’s natural oil production, helping ease the oiliness that can cause breakouts to occur or intensify.
It can also help clear up acne breakouts and dry patches, leaving your skin smoothed. Additionally, you can expect a decrease in redness, blackheads, inflammation, and fine lines, as well!
Argan oil is commonly used to tame frizzy hair and flyaways but you can actually use it on your face, too! This double duty product is non comedogenic and is frequently used with those who suffer from eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
The gentle oil is great for balancing out sebum production and creating a smooth canvas for makeup application, too. You truly cannot go wrong with this powerful hydrator!
Other oils work amazingly too, so play around and figure out what best suits your skin. Even the humble aloe vera plant might make a massive impact!
One traditional moisturizing blend recipe calls for just three ingredients: milk, olive oil, and lemon juice. Just combine a quarter cup of milk and two to three tablespoons of olive oil and lemon juice. Mix well then apply to your face with a clean cloth or cotton round.
The lactic acid in the milk helps soothe irritated skin while olive oil acts as an antibacterial agent and deep tissue moisturizer. The lemon juice adds an additional antibacterial layer, as well, preventing acne causing germs from spreading across the face.
Lemon juice can also help balance the pH of your face, helping keep your lipid layer balanced and healthy by default.
Rose water has been used on the face for a variety of reasons for generations. Roses are refreshing and anti-inflammatory so, when compared with other beneficial ingredients, they can provide quite a potent yet light moisturizer.
For one recipe, you simply combine a few handfuls of rose petals with several drops of rose water and bring the mix to boil. Cut the heat and allow it to cool slightly then add in some aloe vera. Mix well and allow it to cool completely before applying it to your face.
Protip: strain out the rose petals to create a smooth moisturizer or chop them finely and add them back in for very gentle exfoliation.
Related Questions
Does Moisturizing help acne? It very well can! Everyone’s skin is different so what works for one person may not be beneficial for another but, generally, almost everyone can benefit from moisturizing. In those with acne, regularly moisturizing with a light product can create a good level of base hydration that can, in turn, reduce your skin’s oil overproduction.
When your skin is not producing too much oil, you can expect the frequency of clogged pores and other issues to reduce as well, creating an environment that does not support acne growth as well as an oily face.
Can I use moisturizer after acne treatment? Generally, you can use moisturizers following acne treatments. If you are unsure, be sure to talk to your doctor or another medical professional familiar with your specific treatment history and medical issues before starting any new product that may create a reaction or drug interaction.
Specific ingredients or ingredient blends can trigger an unpleasant reaction or delay the results of your acne treatment so be sure to always double check to make sure you are safe to start a new product.
Can I put moisturizer over benzoyl peroxide? Yes! Using moisturizer with benzoyl peroxide can actually make a massive difference in the dryness and flakiness that can be associated with the usage of benzoyl peroxide as an acne treatment.
Benzoyl Peroxide can be irritating, especially when used over large areas or at high levels of strength, so moisturizing regularly can help balance out this effect and keep your skin’s lipid layer healthy so it can do its job in acting as a semipermeable barrier between bacteria and other environmental stressors and your body.