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Does moisturizer help acne? benefits of moisturizer on acne skin

Last Updated on November 30, 2021

When you have acne-prone skin, it can feel like every product is causing you to breakout.

Having acne and constant breakouts is no joke, but skipping out on your moisturizer can do more harm than good in the long term. Happily, for you, there are some moisturizers that can help significantly soothe and treat your skin, so you can focus on what really matters to you.

I’ve got you covered. I’ve taking you through everything you need to know about moisturizers for acne-prone skin. For all who are struggling with breakouts I’ve narrowed down the best ingredients to look out for in moisturizers to bring you closer to radiant skin.

Now, check this out.

I’ve answered all your questions from does moisturizer help acne? to what are the best ingredients to treat acne? in this article, so you can hydrate your skin without clogging your pores or triggering a breakout.

Here’s a tip- If your current moisturizer leaves your skin feeling greasy and shiny, you might need to switch it up. Go for an oil-absorbing moisturizer with sunscreen that is oil-free, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin!

Grab a coffee and a notepad, you’re going to need it!

 

Why you should be using moisturizer

Should I use moisturizer if I have acne? You might be wondering, my face is already oily and greasy, my skin easily irritated, why should I add a hydrating product over that all? Here’s why you should be using a moisturizer regardless if you have acne or not:

Your skin type- Every skin type needs moisture, whether you have dry skin, oily skin or acne prone skin. It’s not a question of if you need moisturizer, but which type of moisturizer is best for your skin type. For acne skin, its essential you choose one that is oil free and non comedogenic.

Acne treatments– If you are using acne medication that contains Benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid, Adapalene, or any treatment for acne, it will be harsh and may dry out your skin more than normal. If you don’t nourish your skin after treatment, then it can damage your skin barrier and dry out your skin.

Your environment- During the year, especially during colder or less humid months, your skin can dry out and lose some of its moisture. It’s important to moisturize so you can replenish your skin regardless of the weather or temperature outside.

So you see, everyone should be using moisturizer. No matter your skin type or environment, and especially if you are using irritating acne treatments.

Benefits of using moisturizer

If you’re still wondering what exactly does moisturizer do, and how can it help your acne prone skin, then check out some of these benefits:

Balance oil glands

When your skin gets too dry, your skin compensates by producing oil. But sometimes this can get unbalanced causing you to have oily skin that clogs your pores. To avoid this unbalance, moisturizing everyday means your skin doesn’t;t have to work as hard and will reduce oil production.

Replenish the skin barrier

As the skin on your face sheds more often than the rest, and it is more sensitive to environmental changes and needs essential lipids and ceramides to repair the skin barrier. A lightweight facial moisturizing lotion or gel cream containing ceramides can provide instant hydration.

Lock in moisture

Moisturizers act as a seal to moisture, helping to lock in water and hydration to keep your skin glowing. Without it, water can quickly evaporate from the surface of the skin, leaving it dry.

Treat your skin

When you choose the right moisturizer for your skin type, you can treat any skin concerns as well. Choosing specific ingredients that treat acne means you can both moisturize, and treat skin concerns. When your skin is inflamed, an anti-inflammatory lotion or gel-cream can help to reduce inflammation without leaving it greasy.

Convinced you need a moisturizer in your life? Then you are going to need to know how to choose the right one to treat acne-prone skin and your skin type.

How to choose the best moisturizer for acne prone skin

Sometimes, all it takes is the wrong moisturizer for your skin type to unbalance your skin and trigger your acne. This is why using the right moisturizer for you is of paramount importance!

If you have acne skin, try some of the following when shopping for your next moisturizer:

Non-comedogenic- This means that the ingredients in the moisturizer will not clog pores, which can be the first step to preventing breakouts. That means no petroleum, or coconut oil either.

Oil free- This is especially if you have oily skin or lots of breakouts. Having an oil free moisturizer can help lock in moisture without adding more oil to your skin. It can be key to rebalancing your oil levels. Does oil free moisturizer help acne? Yep!

Salicylic acid- This is a miracle ingredient for those with oily, acne prone skin. Go for a face moisturizer with salicylic acid to help treat breakouts at the same time as moisturizing.

Benzoyl peroxide- Especially for hormonal acne, this is a great ingredient to have in your moisturizer, as long as you aren’t already taking prescription acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide.

Hyaluronic acid- This is a great ingredient for locking in moisture for all skin types. It’s great for moisturizing and replenishing the skin barrier.

Retinoids- This is mostly for night creams, but using a retinoid can have strong effects on the skin, from anti-aging to preventing breakouts and treating acne. It’s great for acne scars too as it regenerates cells.

Niacinamide- This is a type of vitamin B, and it’s perfect for acne prone skin. It helps to minimize pores and treat acne as well.

Fragrance free- If possible, especially if you have sensitive skin, you need to find a moisturizer that doesn’t have skin-irritating ingredients. That means free from parabens and fragrance, as well as other harmful chemicals. This is a must even if you have sensitive skin

SPF- Having moisturizer SPF is crucial if you want o avoid acne scarring. When the skin is exposed to sun during a breakout, it can cause dark spots and further damage the skin barrier. This is particularly important if you are taking an acne treatment as it can weaken the skin.

You won’t find all of these ingredients in the same formula for moisturizers for acne, but even just one of these can be a start to better skin. As a minimum, oil free and non comedogenic so it doesn’t clog pores in a moisturizing lotion or gel cream is a must.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does moisturizer help acne scars?

Yes. When you look after your skin, and moisturize, it helps with cell rejuvenation so your skin produces new cells and the scars fade. It can speed up the process if you choose a moisturizer that has retinol in it too.

Does moisturizer help with acne?

Yes. When you look after your skin and use the right products, it can prevent breakouts and help look after your skin even while taking harsh treatments. Bonus points if your moisturizer has some of the acne fighting ingredients listed above. Moisturizers with niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid can be great for treating acne as well as moisturizing your skin. Having a skin care routine that includes a moisturizer will help with acne and your sklotion in in general.

Does vitamin c moisturizer help prevent acne?

Vitamin C is a brightening vitamin, you can find it in citrus fruits and skin care. It’s great if you have acne scars and a dull complexion as it helps to brighten and renew skin. If you have active acne, it may not do much, but it can help to treat acne scars or dark spots. Looking after your skin with vitamins will never be a bad idea, and it can help prevent acne that stems from not looking after your skin properly.

Does moisturizer help acne dark spots?

Moisturizer helps to replenish the skin barrier, so that your skin can rejuvenate and make more cells. So if you look after it, it can fade dark acne spots and produce new cells. For this to work better, choose a moisturizer with retinol as this will help to fade the dark spots quicker.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with oily, acne-prone skin is not easy, and there can be so many reasons why you are breaking out. From clogged pores to bacteria and hormonal or dietary problems, it can be hard to fully treat it. Add to this acne medications, and you caneasily get sensitive skin

However, choosing the right moisturizing lotion for acne-prone skin should not be difficult. That’s why I’ve compiled all of the information you need to choose a facial moisturizer that will help your skin to stay hydrated without clogging pores even whilst taking an acne treatment.

Some of them contain good ingredients to fight off acne and help clear your skin, which is one of the reasons you should never skip this step in your skincare routine. You can find them in your local drugstore, such as la roche posay effaclar mat, which is among the best moisturizer for acne.

What are your favorite tips for fighting acne?

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