If you know me IRL, you more or less have had an idea of how bad my skin was since puberty hit. My first pimple reared its ugly head at age 10, and it’s been a battle ever since.

Hydration, Not Grease

Just because you’ve got oily skin doesn’t mean you don’t need moisturizer. No, it’s quite the opposite! Moisturizer actually helps your skin feel less need to produce sebum. Think skin hydration, not additional grease. In fact, for people with acne-prone skin, we tend to use products whose active ingredients dry our skin, and that’s just as troubling. Things like Retin-A, isotretinoin, and benzoyl peroxide are drying af, which explains why parts you apply them to would flake and peel.

However, this poses a problem in itself – how do you find skincare that won’t make your skin break out? In my experience, my skin still gets pimples even if a product is supposedly for oily skin if it’s cream-based. I’ve noticed that gel moisturizers are my go-to. I feel there’s something in creams that block my pores. True enough, the American Academy of Dermatology says that we oily-skinned peeps should stick to lightweight moisturizers that are non-comedogenic (meaning it doesn’t block pores).

Finding skincare that your skin will agree with is a bit of trial and error, but here’s a nice list to start with. They work for me so hopefully something here would work for you as well. In no particular order, are 5 gel moisturizers I swear by!

Pond’s Flawless Radiance Derma+ Hydrating Day Gel SPF 15 PA++

I discovered and ended up using this when Pond’s decided to (as far as I know) discontinue my holy grail – the Pond’s Flawless White Dewy Rose Gel (RIP) – which I could barely find anymore. A friend of mine was also approached by Pond’s to promote their Flawless Radiance Derma+ line, and the products worked for her. Since I knew creams don’t work on my skin, I was excited to find out they had a Day Gel variant with SPF 15, which makes it perfect for daytime use.

Its active ingredient is 5% DermPerfect complex (patented by the Pond’s Institute) which is a combo of six ingredients including Vitamin B3 and Hexyl Resorcinal, and this is apparently 20 times more effective than Kojic Acid.

Use: Daily

Price: Php 605 for 50 g (1.7 oz)

Where to buy: Pond’s Flagship Store – Lazada | Unilever Personal Care – Shopee Mall | Amazon | also available in groceries and drug stores in the Philippines

Ole Henriksen C-Rush™ Brightening Gel Crème

I discovered this brand through a few influencers I follow on Instagram. They always rave about it, so when I found out the brand has a gel moisturizer, I just had to check it out. Fortunately, I was able to cop a 7 ml (0.25 oz) size reward from Sephora. It’s my current moisturizer, and you can use it both day and night. It’s got a gel-cream consistency which makes it a bit thicker than my usual gel moisturizers, but it still feels light on the skin. Did I mention it smells like orange candy?

It’s free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. It has three(!) sources of vitamin C: ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C), 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (the last two have antioxidant properties). They also added rose of winter extract, which is a flower from Jeju Island in Korea. It’s also rich in antioxidants.

Use: Daily / Nightly

Price: $45 for 50 g (1.7 oz)

Where to buy: Ole Henriksen | Sephora US | Amazon

Fourth Ray Beauty Good Mood Gel Moisturizer

Cruelty-free and vegan, at a price point you simply cannot beat, Good Mood is one of the best moisturizers I have ever used. It smells great, is super lightweight, and can be used for both day and night! No wonder it’s such a cult fave.

Its active ingredients are watermelon extract (hydrating), rose water (antioxidant), hyaluronic acid (binds moisture to your skin), and marshmallow extract (softening). It’s cruelty-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free as well.

Use: Daily / Nightly

Price: $12 for 50 g (1.7 oz)

Where to buy: Fourth Ray Beauty | ColourPop Cosmetics

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer

Tarte is a pretty well-known brand, so when I had a chance to get a 10 ml (0.33 oz) size as a Sephora reward I immediately jumped at it. Because it’s a fairly small size, I had used this for a summer trip to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines (meaning it was hot and humid af). I was pleasantly surprised that it smelled kind of minty and fresh – I rarely associate such scents with skincare. I read on their website that it’s for a cooling effect, as the formula has hyaluronic acid and sea salts, the latter of which balances electrolytes.

Other active ingredients include marine plant extracts filled with antioxidants, which protect skin from both pollution and free radicals (which basically means it’s anti aging). It’s free from parabens, phthalates, gluten, mineral oil, triclosan, and sodium lauryl sulfate.

Use: Daily / Nightly

Price: $39 for for 50 g (1.7 oz)

Where to buy: Sephora US | Amazon

Innisfree Jeju Orchid Gel Cream

Korean brands are very popular in the Philippines, but I was yet to try anything from Innisfree. On a recent trip to Macau, I went into one of their stores out of curiosity and went out with a bunch of goodies. This anti-aging gel cream piqued my interest because: 1) I am obsessed with gel moisturizers, and 2) I often run out of the gel kind back home so I tend to stock up. I took a small amount from the sampler and was instantly impressed – the texture was so nice and light! Smells great too, which is also a plus.

The moisturizer contains their Precious Orchid Elixir™ which is an antioxidant coming from Jeju orchids (what is it with Jeju Island and flower-based skincare?). It also has a brightening and anti-wrinkle effect. In addition, they refer to its texture as “memory gel cream” which promotes elasticity and clings to the skin well.

Use: Daily / Nightly

Price: $29 for 50 g (1.7 oz)

Where to buy: Innisfree | Althea | Lazada | Shopee Preferred | Amazon