8 Powerful Moisturizers Safe for Oily Skin

Here's to a shine-free summer.

By Danielle Fontana Dooley, Senior Digital Editor · Jun 5, 2017

For fear of creating even more excess oil and unnecessary midday shine, those with oily (or combination) skin types often tip-toe around the crucial step of moisturizing skin. But, because plump, hydrated skin is also the most youthful-looking, hydrating should never be skipped. Here, powerful hydrators that deliver oily skin types the exact moisture they need while also packing some serious skin-perfecting benefits to prepare for those makeup-free summer days we’ve been waiting for.

1 / 8

Ole Henriksen Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator ($34)

Green tea, eucalyptus and algae (along with their relaxing scents) merge with alphahydroxy acids in this lightweight cream to curb blemishes, minimize pores and keep skin matte, all while keeping it healthy and hydrated. Even better, the formula was designed to extend your foundation’s wear for up to eight hours, keeping shine, pores and sweat from peeking through until it’s time to take it all off.

2 / 8

Lancer The Method: Nourish Blemish Control ($125)

Celebrities by the dozen seem to flock to Dr. Lancer for his dermatologic expertise, and this hydrator is no exception when it comes to bottling his skin-whispering secrets. Surprisingly lightweight for all of the benefits it delivers—the formula itself feels like it’s been watered-down compared to your usual rich moisturizer—this must-have promises regulated sebum, cleared pores and youthful-looking skin with continued use. If that wasn’t enough, Lucy Hale trusts her finicky skin to this line, meaning we can too, right?

3 / 8

Renée Rouleau Daily Mattifying Solution ($40.50)

It looks more like a treatment than a moisturizer—the liquid-gel formula boasts a botanical scent that may remind you of a prescription-grade product, but the formula delivers serious skin-loving benefits you’ll keep chasing after: regulated oil production; unclogged pores, bumps and breakouts; hydrated skin and a balanced complexion thanks to a blend of natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

4 / 8

3LAB WW Day SPF 40 ($385)

This luxe hydrator wears like a shine-shielding primer (it fills in pores and wrinkles to deliver a velvet-smooth canvas for easy and gorgeous makeup application), but packs the added benefits of SPF 40, anti-aging ingredients and brightening factors—think apple stem cells and the brand’s Cell Renewal Complex—into each application for better skin with every use.

5 / 8

ILIA Beauty Cucumber Water Stick ($42)

Perfect for oily skin that just can’t catch a break, this hydrator-meets-toner delivers a soothing dose of moisture when and where you need it (its convenient stick formulation lets you simply swipe and pat for best results) sans any irritation. Ingredients like cucumber pulp, aloe extract and chicory root help to depuff, hydrate and curb blemishes while delivering the perfect amount of moisture to keep skin looking fresh.

6 / 8

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($27)

Ideal for combination skin that’s stuck between oily and dry, this oil-free cult-classic (thousands are sold every minute) is known for its ability to maintain a balance of moisture while keeping shine at bay. The gel boasts a cooling effect straight out of the bottle, but users also like to refrigerate it to boost the refreshment (perfect for post-sun application) even more.

7 / 8

Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer ($45)

Shortly after applying this milky emulsion, troubled skin transforms into a soft-as-silk complexion and shine is completely eliminated for hours on end. Even better, the high-tech formula is hard at work the entire time while you wear it, reversing the appearance of unevenness, blemishes and roughness around the clock.

8 / 8

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream ($27.50)

Specifically formulated for normal-to-oily skin types, this cooling, never-greasy option acts as a tall drink of water the second it’s applied. The best part: The fast-absorbing formula is so lightweight, it’s virtually impossible to apply too much—something those with oily skin rarely ever hear when it comes to creams and moisturizers.