If you’ve ever stood in front of the skincare shelves at a chemist or supermarket, you’ll know how overwhelming it can be. Cleansers, serums, toners, moisturisers – each promising clear, glowing skin. But when you’re dealing with acne, it can be hard to know what your skin actually needs.

A question that comes up time and time again is:
“If my skin’s oily and breaking out, do I really need a moisturiser?”

It might feel counterintuitive, but the answer is almost always yes.

Why Acne-Prone Skin Still Needs Hydration

Acne isn’t just about what’s happening on the surface. It begins deeper within the skin, in tiny oil-producing glands called sebaceous glands. These glands release sebum – your skin’s natural oil – which helps to keep things soft and protected.

The problem starts when your glands go into overdrive, producing more oil than your skin needs. That excess mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, clogging pores and triggering inflammation.

It’s easy to assume that drying your skin out will stop the problem, but it usually backfires. When your skin becomes too dry, it tries to fix the issue by producing even more oil. The result? More shine, more clogged pores, and often, more spots.

The Role of Moisturiser in an Acne Routine

Rather than skipping moisturiser, the goal should be to balance your skin. Moisturising helps in a few key ways:

• It supports your skin barrier. Acne treatments like retinoids or benzoyl peroxide can strip away natural moisture, leaving skin irritated and flaky. A good moisturiser helps rebuild and protect that barrier.

• It calms irritation. Hydrated skin is less likely to become red, sore, or inflamed.

• It keeps oil production in check. When your skin feels hydrated, it doesn’t need to overcompensate with excess sebum.

Think of it as giving your skin the hydration it needs, without clogging pores or feeling greasy.

Choosing the Right Moisturiser

Not all moisturisers are created equal, and the wrong one can make acne worse. The trick is to look for something lightweight and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t block your pores.

When you’re scanning the labels, look out for:
Oil-free formulas
Non-comedogenic claims
Fragrance-free options to avoid extra irritation

Ingredients such as ceramides help strengthen the skin barrier, while hyaluronic acid locks in moisture without adding oil. Gel or lotion textures tend to work best for acne-prone skin because they hydrate without heaviness.

A Final Word

Moisturising when you have acne might feel like the opposite of what you should be doing, but it’s one of the simplest ways to help your skin recover and stay balanced. Dryness and irritation only add stress to already inflamed skin.

So instead of skipping this step, make moisturising part of your daily routine – morning and night. The right product will soothe, protect, and actually help your acne treatments work better.

Healthy, hydrated skin is happier skin – spots or not.

Shop our full range of acne approved products including moisturisers here. 

Dr S Ahmed