Believe it or not, oily skin and acne-prone skin need to moisturize, too. If you experience excess oil or acne, you may feel like the last thing your skin needs is an emollient, but it’s actually essential to your skin’s health! The truth is, a good acne moisturizer may even help your skin become clearer and more beautiful.

Moisturizing success for acne-prone skin lies in your product choice. Choose wisely, and your skin will thank you. Choose poorly, and you risk breakouts and even oilier skin. So, the first step is to know exactly what you’re looking for.

Skin care moisturizers formulated with exfoliators and natural skin care oils are great for oily and acne-prone skin. Just be sure that the oils are truly natural — great ingredients to look for include jojoba seed oil, meadowfoam oil, and tea tree oil, which is highly beneficial for acne-prone skin. Exfoliators that may help your skin include salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acids.

Your moisturizer for oily skin should be labeled non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t cause pores and lead to breakouts. As far as texture is concerned, skin care lotions are usually lighter-weight and may be more comfortable for very oily skin, while moisturizers or skin care creams are usually heavier and may be uncomfortable for acne skin.

Finally, your problem skin may not stop at oil and acne. If your skin is also sensitive, choose a hydrating product that is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. These attributes will help ensure that your skin doesn’t experience a reaction caused by the moisturizer.

With these tips, you’re sure to comfortably and efficiently moisturize your oily, blemish-prone skin without risk of breaking out. Properly moisturized, your skin may be able to balance itself while appearing healthier and more beautiful than ever.