Good moisturiser for acne prone mature skin

[Theonlywayicanloveyou]

I’m mid forties, early perimenopausal and my skin is noticeably more dry and sore thanks to age and hormone shifts. But I have always suffered with acne, and still do. Daily comodones if using wrong products and hormonal deep cystic acne too.

I’ve found looking after my skin a real challenge through my whole life and though my acne is less significant as I age it’s still a consideration every day.

Ive tried tret - it didn’t help at all, it increased my acne and I used it for over six months so it wasn’t just purging. It’s not for me. Absolutely all SPF - even those designed for acne skin - cause immediate breakouts so I tend to avoid products with it and accept that I will age quicker. At least that doesn’t hurt physically!

I need a daily nourishing moisturiser that helps with signs of ageing and skin hydration that doesn’t block my pores. I’m currently using 47 Skin which doesn’t contribute to acne but also isn’t moisturising enough now I’m older.

Does anyone have any idea at all of a product that might fit the bill? There must be something. I don’t mind paying £££ if it makes my face more comfortable to live in.

Even Simple’s basic range causes breakouts for me. Gel based formulations don’t but then they now cause me to be far too dry and get sore dry patches.

Hi OP

I don’t share your challenge but am slightly older than you and do have complex and difficult skin, so understand.

mine has been totally stabilised since changing to Heaven skincare by Deborah Mitchel. I have a core range of products now, they will help over the phone, and spend so much less as I am not wasting money trying different ranges and brands all the time.

i totally recommend you look into this.

Huge fan of Clinque moisture surge. It is watery in texture, amazingly hydrating and v ungreasy.

This one

My SIL with oily skin uses Origins Ginzing.

I have found Nivea q10 pore minimising day cream for oily/combination skin does the job well.
My skin is similar to yours so this might be worth a try?
£15 but frequently on half price offer.

Korean skincare? I dont bother much with anything else these days as its so reasonable and the technology is so brilliant. Aestura barrier cream is good. Not too heavy. Also illyoon ceramide cream. And Dr Althea 345 relief cream is specifically for skin with acne. It sounds like your skin barrier is compromised but its tricky when you are older. No fragrance (fragrance user to give me spots) but you probably know that already.

Thank you, this has given me some ideas. Moisture surge wasn’t that great for me last time I tried but admittedly I was younger then. Maybe I’ll give it another go.

Thank you! I will give it a whirl as it’s not much to lose if it doesn’t work out

I like Laneige water bank.

Another vote for this - I have dry skin but PCOS so prone to acne breakouts. Game changer

Take a look at La Roche Posay Effaclar H moisturiser or Dr Sam Bunting's range

Hi. For your needs, I'd look for moisturizers with lightweight but nourishing ingredients like squalane, which is non-comedogenic and mimics your skin's natural oils without clogging pores, or niacinamide, which helps regulate sebum production while supporting barrier repair and hydration. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid are also essential for rebuilding that moisture barrier without heaviness, and they're typically well-tolerated by acne-prone skin when formulated properly. Since gel formulas are too drying now but creams are breaking you out, you might need something in between, like a lightweight emulsion or serum-cream hybrid that layers humectants and emollients without heavy occlusives. Avoid anything with coconut oil, shea butter, or fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol high up in the ingredient list, as those are common triggers for comedonal acne. Also watch out for silicones like dimethicone in high concentrations, as some people find they trap oil and cause congestion even though they're technically non-comedogenic. The SPF situation is tough because you're right that chemical filters especially can be pore-clogging, but mineral sunscreens with just zinc oxide and a very light base might be worth trying if you haven't already, as they sit on the surface rather than absorbing. Your skin barrier sounds compromised from years of managing acne and dryness, so repairing that with targeted hydration and barrier-supporting ingredients should help both the dryness and potentially reduce some of the hormonal breakout severity over time. Hope this helps.

I’m mid 40s, PCOS sufferer with skin that occasionally resembles a 13yo!

I was using La Roche Posay Effaclar M for a long time but I found the oil slicks were appearing sooner rather than later in the day.

Recently I’ve tried Murad Superactive Pore Control, which is good but pricey

https://murad.co.uk/products/superactive-moisturiser-spf-40-mattifying-oil-pore-control

And currently using Caudalie Vinopure Mattifying Fluid which is also good and half the price!

https://uk.caudalie.com/p/501R1/vinopure-moisturizing-mattifying-fluid-501r1.html

Ultimately I don’t think you can truly tame oily skin, it’s about keeping on top of it throughout the day and being thankful, through gritted teeth, that the wrinkles might not set in as early…

I echo this. I tend to avoid moisturiser as it causes spots but when my skin is dry I use q10. It’s not perfect but I’ve tried an awful many and this is the best

Another vote here for La Roche Posay Effaclar H. I also use Effaclar Mat during the day.
I could have cried when I found moisturisers that didn't irritate my skin or make my spots worse.
I'm just out of peri now and over the last year or two I've finally stopped getting spots so have started using others. I love Laneige Water Bank. But when everything was pissing my skin off I made an executive decision to focus on that rather than any anti aging, extra hydration etc.

Another vote here for La Roche Posay Effaclar H. I also use Effaclar Mat during the day.
I could have cried when I found moisturisers that didn't irritate my skin or make my spots worse.
I'm just out of peri now and over the last year or two I've finally stopped getting spots so have started using others. I love Laneige Water Bank. But when everything was pissing my skin off I made an executive decision to focus on that rather than any anti aging, extra hydration etc.

Another vote here for La Roche Posay Effaclar H. I also use Effaclar Mat during the day.
I could have cried when I found moisturisers that didn't irritate my skin or make my spots worse.
I'm just out of peri now and over the last year or two I've finally stopped getting spots so have started using others. I love Laneige Water Bank. But when everything was pissing my skin off I made an executive decision to focus on that rather than any anti aging, extra hydration etc.

Le roc posay effacler is for acne prone skin

edited to add, ah just saw it recommended above too!

I'm 50 with very similar issues. I think first off, nothing with fragrance. Took me years to realise this is a completely unnecessary irritant.

I like CeraVe PM for both AM and PM. Cost is a factor for me, not because I couldnt afford an expensive moisturiser here and there but because I expect to repurchase on repeat for years. Skin likes consistency the most.

I've found tret to be a game changer for my skin quality, but from Dermatica not neat like something like Retirides which I found far too harsh.

Hey OP
I was in this exact situation only a few years back I'm the same age as u I tried everything and nothing works on hormonal acne the GP changed my cyclic hrt to continuous hrt so I had a flat supply of hormones instead of the going up and down and around with perimenopause and it's worked my skin is clear now ! I do still have a natural period but for acne the continuous has worked ( most GPS prescribe it once u haven't had a period for over a year )
I hope this can help because I was in a low place when my skin was like yours if your not on any hrt going on it may help x

And I'm not joking I used so many creams from expensive to recommendations even Korean skincare nothing worked !
I stripped back to just cleaning face with la Roche posay gel for sensitive skin and used la Roche posay hydraulic serum then I added in Paula's choice azeliac acid and I use the green tint moisturiser from la Roche posay ! When skin was clear I also added Paula's choice liquid exfoliating into the mix in morning after clean e and Paula's choose mandelic acid evening after cleansing Only add things slowly once your skin starts to clear thou too much will be causing problems xxx

La roche posay is good. Here goes the routine which I use:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf
Evening:
LRP moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel