23 best moisturisers for oily skin that will do wonders for your face

Many of us with oily skins will physically recoil at the prospect of slathering on even a dab of moisturiser for fear of making our skin even more oily. We’re here today to debunk that myth!

Oily skin types, especially those who actually have damaged moisture barriers, would actually benefit from a moisturiser. According to a study sourced from the US National Library of Medicine, damaged moisture barrier in the skin layers will lead to drier skin that is susceptible to blemishes and ageing in the future.

However, finding the right product can be a right pain, which is why we have curated 23 of the best moisturisers for oily skin that have been proven to work well! These include the best face day creams for oily skin that won’t interfere with your makeup!

1. Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap

With its first ingredient being birch sap, you know you’re in for a treat with this Cosrx lotion. This clear gel spreads like a dream and provides oil-free hydration all day. It’s also 70% birch sap, which calms down irritated or sensitive skin. Because it’s so light, this works well with makeup and you don’t have to worry about your foundation melting off within the first half of the day!

Cosrx Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion with Birch Sap is available on iHerb for S$26.61.

2. Etude House AC Clean Up Gel Lotion

Etude House makes super affordable products, and some of them have a commendable ingredients list. One of those is the AC Clean Up Gel lotion, which is free from mineral oil, fragrance, and animal ingredients. It also contains tea tree oil, onion bulb extract, and papaya fruit extract to curb oiliness and heal blemishes. Don’t just take it from us that it’s a great moisturiser for oily skin – you can also read an in-depth review here!

Etude House AC Clean Up Gel Lotion is available at Etude House stores for S$22.90, and for S$10.70 on Shopee. 

3. Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream

The serum counterpart of this has received sufficient recognition, but we reckon the cream is equally as good! It garnered a review score of 4.2 on Amazon and 4.5 on Memebox. With freshly-squeezed green tea from the lush island of Jeju, this moisturiser feels luxurious going on while still being watery and lightweight. That means, it doesn’t further clog pores on oily skin.

Innisfree Green Tea Seed Cream is available at Innisfree stores, and for S$34 on Sephora. 

4. Life Flo Health Rosehip Seed Rejuvenation Oil

Oils get a bad rep because oils are, well, oily, right? Not necessarily. Rosehip oil is a dry oil that is lightweight and absorbs into the skin almost immediately. It may leave a slight sheen on your face, so those with oily skin might feel more comfortable using this as a night routine.

The benefits, however, are incontestable. What’s more, with its simple ingredients list, many of which are certified organic, you’ll be cutting down on a lot of chemicals that may be harmful to your skin.

Life Flo Health Rosehip Seed Rejuvenation Oil has been discontinued. However, you can find its equally nourishing counterpart, the Life-flo Pure Rosehip Seed Oil, for S$13.67 on iHerb. 

5. Essano Regenerating Facial Moisturiser

Oily skin types are often also prone to acne breakouts. For acne sufferers, this Essano moisturiser is close to perfect. It contains jojoba oil, shea butter, and of course, its star product, rosehip oil, all of which are ideal for calming acne while providing moisturisation at the same time! With slightly heavier ingredients, this might be best for night use, so it can work its redness and acne-blasting powers while you snooze!

Shop this moisturiser for oily skin for S$29.95 at Redmart and Watsons.

6. Hada Labo Hydrating UV Perfect Gel Moisturiser SPF 50+ PA++++

We’re certain many of you remember Hada Labo’s old commercials in which the actress taps her cheek and her skin sticks to her hand like mochi. It’s been around for many years, but Hada Labo still remains one of Japan’s most popular skincare brands. Lightweight, with a simple ingredients list and high SPF, this moisturiser checks all our boxes for oily skin!

Shop Hada Labo Hydrating UV Perfect Gel Moisturiser SPF50+ PA++++ for S$35.90 at Redmart and Lazada.

7. Wild Products Vitamin C Ester Facial Creme

Back in the days of Luxola, this old gem was frequently on the top of its Bestsellers page. Now, we attempt to bring it back into prominence because its efficacy is just as good as, if not better than, some of the high-end options.

This orange-coloured cream contains soothing aloe and rosehip, both of which are known to be great for acne. Certified vegan and animal testing-free, this extremely affordable moisturiser is certainly one to try for all skin types, including oily skin!

Shop Wild Products Vitamin C Facial Creme for S$24 at Wild website and Redmart for S$24.

DV Tip: Get the most out of your vitamin C products, but also remember to wear sunscreen after!

8. Boscia Revitalising Black Hydration Gel

The humidity and heat of Singapore’s weather can leave one feeling like an icky, sticky potato. To combat that, this Boscia gel is infused with black charcoal and vitamin C to cool and detoxify the skin. To top it all off, it has left out the parabens and sulfates, both of which can exacerbate skin conditions or cause dehydration.

The Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel is currently not available in Singapore. 

9. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-tox Bouncy Hydrating Gel

This may not be the most affordable, but the image and smell of this are so a-peel-ing, we’re willing to get it just for that! The price can be justified, however, by how the moisturiser also includes potent antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin A, C, and E, and Bio-Mesh technology. Because it’s ultra-gentle, it’s the perfect moisturiser for soothing even oily skin types.

If you feel like treating yourself or credits on your Sephora gift card to spend, give this moisturiser for oily skin a whirl!

Shop Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-tox Bouncy Hydrating Gel (50m) for S$49 on Sephora.

10. Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Gel Cream For Oily Skin 

Philosphy’s original Hope In A Jar has definitely gained a huge following in the beauty community, and recently they’ve released a version for oily skin! The moisturiser contains antioxidants to protect the skin and amino acids to gently exfoliate. It is so well-received on both Makeupalley and Sephora that one reviewer even commented that it deserves an award!

Shop Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Gel Cream For Oily Skin for S$62 at Sephora.

11. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturiser

First Aid Beauty only arrived on Singaporean shores a few years ago, but has quickly become popular for those with sensitive and oily skins. This moisturiser promises immediate hydration and a velvety-soft finish. Reviewers agree that it doesn’t clog pores, and smooths out red bumps in a matter of days!

Shop First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturiser for S$40 at Sephora.

12. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream

Fresh seems to be cranking out more soft and light moisturisers recently, but this one is the OG of them all. With its time-release technology, it soothes skin and seals in moisture with angelica leaf extract and plum seed oil. Oily skin can become dehydrated too, so this would work well for those who need moisture to penetrate deeply into skin and work as an occlusive layer to keep that moisture in at night.

Shop Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream for S$70 at Sephora.

13. Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream

Laneige means ‘snow’ in French and the brand aims capture the essence of ‘snow’ in their products – clean, fresh, and pure. This Water Bank Moisture Cream delivers. It promises to replenish skin moisture with hydro-ionised mineral water. For oily skin types, use this as an occlusive at night to lock in all the moisture from your other skincare products!

The new and improved version of this product is the Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream Ex, which you can shop for S$46.75 on iHerb.  

14. Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream

Extremely lightweight and formulated with a blend of citrus fruits, the Fresh Vitamin Nectar Moisture Glow Face Cream is guaranteed to leave your oily skin smoother than a baby’s bottom! Many reviewers on Sephora have complimented the smell and its texture, so definitely worth its heavy price tag!

Shop this moisturiser for S$78 at Sephora.

15. Origins GinZing Energy-Booster Moisturiser

This oil-free baby claims to “instantly hydrate and rev up radiance”, and with ingredients like ginseng, orange peel oil, and jojoba butter, we would expect nothing less. It’s living up to expectations as a moisturiser for oily skin too, with reviews on Sephora claiming that it absorbs easily, and halts shine long enough even for some to ditch setting powder!

Shop Origins GinZing Energy-Booster Moisturiser for S$54 at Sephora.

16. Aesop Sage and Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream (SPF15)

Aesop is renowned for its high-quality products and minimalist store decor. This botanical and zinc-enriched moisturiser contains SPF and is formulated with zinc and sage leaf to protect the skin – yes, oily skin included – without clogging pores. It absorbs right into the skin and leaves a fresh, zingy aroma to lift your Monday blues!

Shop this moisturiser for S$55 at Aesop stores or online.

17. La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat

This moisturiser has a price tag that’s justified by an oil-free, non-comedogenic formula with Sebulyse Technology to target excess oil and mattify the skin (read: perfect for oily skin). It is also gentle enough for daily use on sensitive skin, and can even act as a makeup base for those days when you feel like skipping primer.

Shop this moisturiser for S$38.90 at Watsons.

18. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Combination Skin

Don’t let its simple, understated packaging fool you. This moisturiser may not be formulated with exotic ingredients or fancy chemicals that claim to heal your skin overnight, but sometimes basic and simple is the way to go, especially for those with oily or sensitive skin.

Many have sung praise of the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture, with one reviewer saying that it makes her oily skin more balanced, while many more claim it to be holy-grail status.

Shop Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture for Combination Skin for S$19.50 at Watsons.

19. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Yet another strong contender from Neutrogena is this lightweight gel formula. It comes with the claim that it will double the skin’s moisture with a progressive release system to ensure that skin is hydrated throughout the day. Don’t get us wrong – oily and moisturised skin are two different things! Your oily skin will benefit from a boost of hydration too.

Reviewers on Beautyheaven said that it gave their skin a nice, cooling feeling and indeed makes the skin soft and supple. This moisturiser is the perfect pick-me-up for early mornings or late nights!

Shop this moisturiser for S$19.12 at Redmart, or for S$23.90 at Watsons.

20. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel

With a bit of a cult following, this offering from Clinique is oil-free and claims to be great for all skin types. The moisturiser has got rave reviews from YouTubers back in the day and is still a staple for many! Reviewers on Sephora say it is not sticky, doesn’t break them out, and dries down to a smooth finish. This moisturiser is overall a great all-in-one for girls with oily skin, especially those who don’t like to faff about with too many products.

Shop Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel for S$60 at Sephora.

21. SK-II Facial Treatment UV Protection (SPF25) PA++

On the more expensive end of the spectrum is SK-II’s UV Protection Lotion. Formulated with the brand’s signature Pitera essence, it is a light moisturiser that provides radiance and UV protection. It is sheer and easily absorbed, though a separate sunscreen would still be recommended as SP25 is definitely not enough for Singapore’s weather!

DV Tip: For those of us who would like to try SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence but are unsure if our oily skin will take to the yeast ferments, this is a good option to test out before splurging!

Shop the SK-II UV Facial Treatment UV Protection at SK-II stores and counters.

22. CeraVe PM Lotion

Is your oily skin causing acne breakouts? Praised for its simple but powerful ingredients including ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, the CeraVe PM Lotion is a good nighttime moisturiser that helps to combat acne. Avid readers of the Skincare Addiction subreddit will be familiar with this moisturiser too!

To know just how great these ingredients are and an in-depth review, check out Simple Skincare Science’s blog post!

Shop the CeraVe PM Lotion for S$23.89 on Amazon. 

23. Elizavecca Hyaluronic Acid Water Drop Cream

The most affordable of the lot, this moisturiser is not so much a cream as it is a gel. The moment it touches your skin, it spreads like water, and is oh-so-refreshing. Perfect for daytime, this melts and disappears immediately into even oily skin, leaving you with a smooth, hydrated canvas for makeup!

Shop this moisturiser for S$7.45 on Shopee.