Best Face Moisturizer for Oily Skin in 2026: Image Skincare CLEAR CELL Mattifying Moisturizer

A mattifying daily moisturizer made for oily and breakout-prone skin

Christopher Hatfield
Christopher Hatfield ✓ Verified Researcher
Last Updated: June 5, 2026 · 4 min read
Independent product researcher
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate partner with Awin, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All opinions are our own. Full disclosure.
CLEAR CELL mattifying moisturizer
★ Our Top Pick

CLEAR CELL mattifying moisturizer

$67.00 · at Image Skincare

A simple, do-one-thing moisturizer. You get real hydration plus a matte, shine-reducing finish for oily and breakout-prone skin.

Pros
  • Matte finish that plays down the look of excess shine
  • Hydrates without the heavy, greasy feel a lot of creams leave behind on oily skin
  • Made specifically for oily-prone skin, so it isn't a normal-skin formula reworked after the fact
  • Part of Image Skincare's CLEAR CELL acne and oily-skin line, so it slots into a matching routine
Cons
  • At $67 it costs more than most drugstore moisturizers for oily skin
  • It's aimed at oily and breakout-prone skin, so it's the wrong call if yours runs dry or sensitive
  • You'll likely get the most out of it inside the wider CLEAR CELL routine rather than on its own

Our top pick for oily skin is the Image Skincare CLEAR CELL Mattifying Moisturizer. It hydrates oily-prone skin and plays down the look of excess shine, so your face stays comfortable instead of going greasy by lunch.

Here's the thing people get wrong: oily skin still needs moisture. Skip moisturizer and your skin can feel tight, and that can actually push it to make more oil. This one tries to solve both sides at once. You get hydration, but the finish lands matte rather than dewy.

It comes from Image Skincare's CLEAR CELL line, the brand's range built around acne and oily skin. So it's meant to sit next to the rest of a routine made for the same skin type, not work against it.

What to look for in Skincare

Hydration that doesn't add grease. Oily skin still needs water-based hydration, full stop. Reach for a moisturizer that hydrates while staying light, like this one's stated hydrate-and-mattify approach, instead of a rich cream meant for dry skin.
A matte, shine-reducing finish. With an oily-skin moisturizer, the finish is the whole point. A mattifying formula like CLEAR CELL aims to cut the look of excess shine across the day, rather than leaving the dewy glow you get from heavier creams.
Made for your actual skin type. A product built for oily-prone skin is a safer bet than a general moisturizer you're hoping won't feel too heavy. This one was made for oily skin from the start, as part of a dedicated line.
Fits into a full routine. Moisturizer is just one step. Picking one from a coordinated line, here the CLEAR CELL acne and oily-skin range, means your cleanser, treatment, and moisturizer were built to work together instead of clashing.
Budget versus a targeted formula. At $67 this sits at the pricier end. You've got a choice to make: a focused, skin-type-specific formula, or a cheaper all-purpose moisturizer. Both can work. They're just different trade-offs.

Who it's for

This is for people with oily or breakout-prone skin who want light daily hydration that finishes matte, and who don't mind paying up for a formula built around their skin type. If your skin is dry, sensitive, or normal, you'll want something else. This one was made with oil control in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does oily skin really need a moisturizer?

Yes. Skipping it can leave skin tight and may nudge it to make more oil. What you want is light hydration with a matte finish, which is exactly what this mattifying moisturizer aims to give you.

Will this make my skin look greasy?

It's built to do the opposite. This is a mattifying moisturizer that hydrates while playing down the look of excess shine, so the goal is a comfortable, non-greasy finish.

Is it good for acne-prone skin?

It's part of Image Skincare's CLEAR CELL line, the brand's range for acne and oily skin, so it's meant for breakout-prone skin. We can only speak to what the product itself describes. If your acne is active or severe, check with a dermatologist.

What does it cost?

It's $67.00, which puts it above the typical drugstore moisturizer for oily skin and into the premium tier.

Should I use it with other products?

It's made as part of the CLEAR CELL acne and oily-skin line, so it pairs naturally with the rest of that range. You can use it on its own, but it really fits into a coordinated routine for oily skin.

The bottom line

If your skin runs oily or breaks out and you want hydration without the shine, the Image Skincare CLEAR CELL Mattifying Moisturizer is a focused, purpose-built pick. Yes, $67 is premium, and yes, it's made for oily skin and not dry or sensitive. But inside that lane it does one job well: hydrate while keeping you matte.

See CLEAR CELL mattifying moisturizer at Image Skincare → (paid link)

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