15 Best Moisturizers Malaysia For Dry, Oily & Sensitive Skin

Relieve dry skin with the best moisturizers in Malaysia! Dewy skin gives you a more youthful appearance and if just feels more comfortable too!

Depending on what your skin needs, you might find a drugstore moisturizer that is adequate or you might need a moisturizer that is water-based instead of oil-based.

Whichever the case, here are some hydrating moisturizers that are popular among dry, oily, combination skin types and more!

Table Of Contents:

• How Does Skin Moisturizer Work?
• How To Choose The Right Face Moisturizer
• 15 Best Moisturizers Malaysia

How Does Skin Moisturizer Work?

Firstly, a good skin moisturizer will lock in moisture on your skin. Like a lip balm but for your skin, not your lips!

Their other function is to bring out moisture from inside your skin to the top layer. And there are skin moisturizers with exfoliants too. Or sun protection!

How To Choose The Right Face Moisturizer

Moisturizer should definitely be a part of any basic skin routine along with the best facial cleanser and sunscreen.

And moisturizer is usually as the last step in your night time skincare routine order!

PS: If you use the best vitamin C serum in Malaysia, do apply it first before your moisturizer and sunscreen!  

You especially need moisturizer if you:

• Work in an air-con environment
• Go swimming a lot
• Are above 30 years old
• Have naturally dry skin

Step 1: Identify Your Skin Type

This is so important! If you get a moisturizer that is too rich for your skin, it could lead to a breakout!

Your skin may be any of the following skin type:

• Oily Skin – Naturally well moisturized; skin looks shiny and pores are often visible
• Dry Skin – Appearance of scaly or flaking skin; Can be itchy
• Combination Skin – Oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and dry cheeks
• Sensitive Skin – Gets irritated (e.g. itchy, red, flaky, etc) easily with most products or other external factors (e.g. food or environment allergens)
• Acne Prone Skin – Breakouts and angry pimples are common.

And if your skin doesn’t seem to fall under any of these, then you’ve got normal skin! Which seldom has any problems – we’re jealous!

In that case, you are safe with just a light moisturizer that is non-greasy!

Recommendations according to skin types:

Step 2: Check The Ingredients

It’s not uncommon to see the same ingredients in toners, whitening creams and eye creams!

And you do not need to be overwhelmed by lengthy ingredient labels. The first 5 ingredients are what you should pay the most attention to!

Here are some common ones (besides water):

For sealing in moisture:

• Petrolatum
• Dimethicones (silicones) – there are also reasons to avoid silicones in skincare (Source)
• Lanolin
• Mineral Oils

For providing hydration:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Glycerin
• Propylene Glycol

For exfoliation:

• AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) – something that the best acne creams in Malaysia use

For anti-aging:

• Retinol
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
• Linoleic acid
• Peptides

And here’s an ingredient that you don’t see too often:

Ceramides

Your skin’s barrier is made up of 50% ceramides (or lipids). This barrier is what keeps your skin moisturized.

And it serves as protection against external elements like dust and pollution.

When you don’t have the right balance of ceramides, your skin will feel dry (“tight”). And in worse cases, there may be flaking, itching and redness.

Speaking of that tight feeling:

Switching to a cleansing oil may be better if you have dry skin!

Note: You lose ceramides as you get older. Or if you go out in the sun a lot!

Step 3: Types Of Moisturizer

Moisturizer can be in 3 forms of varying thickness. Knowing which to go for depends on your skin type!

If you decide to buy a different moisturizer for the day and another for night use, the latter is usually richer!

Lotion:

Lotions are lightweight due to their high water content. They are suited to oily skin types.

Cream:

CreaCreams are thicker than lotionsoffering more hydration. And are thus, suitable for normal or combination skin!

Ointment:

Sensitive or dry skin types may need the extra help of an ointment to lock in that precious moisture!

Need more moisture without having to reapply your moisturizer? Try a face mist spray!

15 Best Moisturizers Malaysia 2023

• Best For Normal Skin – THE INKEY LIST Bakuchiol Moisturizer
• Best For Dry Skin – CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Best For Combination Skin – Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly
• Best For Oily Skin & Acne Prone Skin – IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream
• Best For Treating Acne Prone Skin – Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer With Willowherb
• Best For Sensitive Skin – REMDII Intensive Moisturizing Cream
• Best Budget Moisturizer – Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer

Best Moisturizer For Normal Skin

1. THE INKEY LIST Bakuchiol Moisturizer

This gentle moisturizer from the UK has a star ingredient – bakuchiol! A natural alternative to retinol to encourage collagen and elastin production!

THE INKEY LIST Bakuchiol Moisturizer is similar to the Biossance Phyto-Retinol Serum, but cheaper!

And while it is not exceptionally hydrating, it will not irritate or make your skin oilier or drier either!

THE INKEY LIST Bakuchiol Moisturizer is lovely as a gentle moisturizer for normal, combination and oily skin types that are also sensitive.

However the anti-aging effects are slow going and may not even be noticeable for some users!

• Size: 30ml
• Suitable For: All Skin Types
• Key Ingredients: Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil (Sacha Inchi Oil), Bakuchiol, Vitamin E, Phytic Acid
• Price: ~RM75

Pros:

• Alcohol-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, silicone free, and fragrance free
• Light lotion texture (runny consistency)
• With glycerin, omega-3-packed sacha inchi oil, squalane and vitamin E to hydrate your skin
• Ingredient safety score of 95% (SkinCarisma)
• Does not have a strong smell (smells herb-like, similar to the Bobbi Brown moisturizer)
• Gradually improves skintone
• Hydrating enough for combination skin
• Not greasy

Cons:

• Not hydrating enough for dry skin
• Doesn’t soothe or heal acne prone skin
• Tube packaging is not easy to use

2. Mamonde Rose Water Gel Cream

From South Korea, Mamonde’s Rose Water Gel Cream does not miss out on hydrating ingredients like butylene glycol, glycerin or sodium hyaluronate!

Beware, this face moisturizer has a strong fragrance of roses! Although the smell is well received by most users. And it does fade after a while too.

Besides this, the Mamonde Rose Water Gel Cream has a watery gel texture and great absorption – it is moderately hydrating.

And if you don’t mind the smell, the Mamonde Rose Water Gel Cream is otherwise wonderful moisturizer for normal, combination, and even oily skin types.

The only major con is the addition of artificial rose fragrance and the presence of some comedogenic ingredients (e.g., stearic acid)!

• Size: 80ml
• Suitable For: Normal To Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients: Sodium Hyaluronate, Rose Extract
• Price: RM99

Pros:

• Alcohol-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free
• Don’t need to use a lot
• Skin does not feel or look sticky or oily
• Can double as a primer
• Watery-gel consistency
• 91% ingredient safety (SkinCarisma)

Cons:

• Has stearic acid (comedogenic) and silicones
• Can be sticky for the first 10 minutes after application
• Strong fragrance does fade

Best Moisturizer For Dry Skin Malaysia

Exfoliation is another way to get rid of dead skin from your face, but a thicker moisturizer can do wonders too! (Source)

3. The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA

From Canadian brand, The Ordinary:

Comes their Natural Moisturising Factors + HA moisturizer with generally low-risk ingredients. Like ceramides and other skin-equivalent ingredients (glycerin, linoleic acid, hyaluronic acid)!

The hydration it provides is lasting! And if it’s right for your skin, it absorbs rather quickly! For moderately dry skin types, The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA moisturizer is adequately moisturizing without feeling heavy!

However, you may not want to use The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA moisturizer if you have oily or acne prone skin as it contains some comedogenic ingredients.

• Size: 30ml, 100ml
• Suitable For: All Skin Types
• Key Ingredients: Multiple Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Urea, Ceramides, Phospholipids, Glycerin, Saccharides, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Allantoin
• Price: RM48, RM88.7

Pros:

• Alcohol-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, and fragrance free
• Makes a smooth base for make up
• Thick and creamy with pure vitamin E (tocopherol)
• Ingredient safety score of 96% on SkinCarisma
• Does not pill under makeup or sunscreen
• Not greasy

Cons:

• Contains citric acid (not suitable for sensitive skin)
• Not for oily skin (has comedogenic ingredients – cetyl alcohol)
• Not easy to get the last of the product out

4. CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30

As the name implies:

This face moisturizer by CeraVe contains SPF (Zinc oxide which is also anti-inflammatory)! And it does not feel like your usual sunscreen even though it smells like one!

Users that are always in a rush appreciate the dual functionality of the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30. There’s a 4.5/5 score on Amazon from over 30,000 ratings for this moisturizer.

Your skin will get moisture from glycerin and hyaluronic acid with ceramides to retain the moisture.

Overall, the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a good choice for a daily moisturizer (with SPF) that suits dry and sensitive skin. However, for very dry skin, you may need reapplication every 2 hours.

On the other hand, the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is too rich for oily skin types.

• Size: 88ml
• Suitable For: Normal To Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients: Ceramide 1, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 3, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide
• Price: RM105

Pros:

• Oil-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Allergy tested
• Fragrance-free
• Niacinamide for brightening
• Dries matte
• Layers well under make up

Cons:

• Not reef safe (contains ortocrylene and homosalate)
• Takes a while to absorb
• If not fully absorbed, there is piling and some white cast
• Feels greasy on oily skin types

5. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Lotion

Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Lotion has anti-aging properties through ingredients like beta-carotene, vitamin A (retynyl palmitate) and E (tocopheryl acetate)!

Users say this face moisturizer gives them a smooth base for makeup! It’s creamy but doesn’t feel heavy.

The resulting finish is not fully matte. But rather, it gives a dewy glow to the skin.

In conclusion, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Lotion is skincare and primer in one!

It’s rich enough to be a night cream too if you have combination skin.

But despite the label and official product description:

We think the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Lotion is better for dry skin than oily skin or acne-prone types since it does have shea butter which is comedogenic.

• Size: 50ml
• Suitable For: Normal, Combination, and Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients: Shea Butter With Vitamins B, C And E
• Price: RM248

Pros:

• Phthalate-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and alcohol free
• Vegan
• Smells good (citrus)
• While butylene glycol, squalane, sodium hyaluronate and shea butter to moisturize your skin!
• Easy application
• Don’t need to use a lot
• Does not feel sticky or heavy on the skin
• Beautiful packaging
• Doubles as base for powder foundation

Cons:

• Has comedogenic ingredients (e.g. shea butter)
• Expensive

6. Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream

If you love the smell of roses:

The Rose Damascena flower oil in this lightweight moisturizer works as an anti-oxidant too! And the hydrating formula has cucumber, glycerin, butylene glycol, and sodium hyaluronate!

More than just feeling nice on the skin, users also find that their skin feels soft and plump the next day! The rating on Sephora for this product is 4.5 from 600+ reviews!

The texture of the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream is favorable for a night time cream for normal and combination skin. Or as a go-to moisturizer for dry skin types!

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Mamonde Rose Water Gel Cream is significantly cheaper than the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream (almost double the price).

Something to think about if you are just looking for a light face moisturizer that is rose-scented.

• Size: 50ml
• Suitable For: Normal To Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients: Rosewater, Rose Flower Oil, Angelica Leaf Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Cucumber Fruit Extract And Vitamin E
• Price: ~RM200

Pros:

• Alcohol-free, paraben-free and sulfate-free
• Has other anti-aging ingredients (e.g. angelica keiskei extract, tocopheryl acetate)
• 86% Ingredient Safety rating on SkinCarisma
• Absorbs well
• Flaky skin becomes dewy
• Smells like roses
• Thick creamy texture that is neither sticky or oily
• One jar lasts ~3 months
• Sits good under makeup

Cons:

• Contains fragrance
• Has comedogenic ingredients (e.g. isostearyl isostearate)

We have even more suggestions for dry skin types under the sensitive skin section! Be sure to check that out!

Best Moisturizer For Combination Skin

Sponsored Product:

7. SK-II R.N.A.POWER Airy Milky Lotion

Truly milky and light in consistency, the SK II R.N.A.Power Airy Milky Lotion is not greasy either!

Which makes it a very comfortable daytime moisturizer for both combination and oily skin types!

Skin generally looks smoother too. And feels softer with daily use!

• Size: 50g, 80g
• Suitable For: All skin types
• Key Ingredients: RNArchitect Complex, Chlorella Extract, Water, Glycerin, PITERA™, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
• Price: ~RM420 (50g), ~RM630 (80g)

Pros:

• Doubles as a primer under makeup
• Pleasant fragrance
• Not sticky after application
• Absorbs well
• Plumps up skin from within
• Contains powerful hydrating ingredients

Cons:

• Not fragrance or coloring-free

8. Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly

4 ingredients in the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly are great for hydration – Cucumber, butylene glycol, hyaluronic acid and glycerin!

And there is caffeine too (an anti-oxidant).

The Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly moisturizer scores 93% for ingredient safety on SkinCarisma.  Which means sensitive skin types can give it a go.

We generally recommend it for a daytime use as it is comfortable to wear in humid environments!

Most of all, the Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly is suitable for combination and oily skin types if you don’t have underlying skin problems.

• Size: 125ml
• Suitable For: All Skin Types
• Key Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Cake, Barley Extract And Cucumber Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine
• Price: ~RM149

Pros:

• Oil free, alcohol free, fragrance free, and silicone free
• No parabens
• No phthalates (phthalates are linked to endocrine disruption)
• No essential oils
• Layers well under foundation
• One bottle lasts for months
• Doesn’t smell of anything
• Lightweight with a gel-like texture

Cons:

• Contains citric acid (unsuitable for sensitive skin)
• Not very moisturizing
• A little bit tacky upon application (disappears later)

9. Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer

Simple’s Hydrating Light Moisturizer has UV protection from titanium dioxide and 2 key anti-aging ingredients, vitamin E and lactic acid. Said lactic acid can be irritating to sensitive skin though.

This moisturizer stays true to its name from what we gather from the mostly positive (4.3 rating) 100+ reviews on shespeaks.com! Light, sufficiently hydrating, and not greasy!

It feels light but is sufficiently hydrating, and not greasy. It moisturizes without making the skin look shiny too!

The Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer is compatible with combination skin types as a day moisturizer with SPF.

It’s also worth noting that the Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer is a much cheaper alternative to the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 if you’re looking for a moisturizer with SPF!

However, the formula is not perfect and it does disappointingly contain parabens and silicones! We do appreciate that there is no scent with this moisturizer though.

• Size: 125ml
• Suitable For: All Skin Types (Even For Sensitive Skin)
• Key Ingredients: Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Glycerin, Borage Seed Oil, Allantoin, Lactic Acid
• Price: RM21.8

Pros:

• No artificial perfume or colors
• Alcohol-free
• Safe moisturizing ingredients (Panthenol and Glycerin)
• Allantoin to soothe skin
• No sticky feel
• With brightening agent, alpha-bisabolol
• Doesn’t leave a white cast
• Can be layered under makeup
• Light texture
• Has no scent

Cons:

• Has parabens and silicones
• Not hydrating enough for dry skin

10. Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion

Natural antioxidants are present in this moisturizer. Including ginger, turmeric, centella, vitamin E, etc. And Reishi mushrooms to fight skin irritation and to act as antioxidants!

According to multiple reviews on Sephora, the Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion hydrates skin without causing any irritation or making it oilier.

Instead, it does appear to calm the skin and reduce redness! So the Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion might be for you if you have acne prone skin.

Although, the Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb might be even better for acne prone skin types than the Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion (see the full review next).

Note: Shake before use.

The Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion is hydrating enough for combination skin with butylene glycol, sodium hyaluronate and glycerin in the formula.

But if you have sensitive skin, just be wary of the citrus components and lavender oil in this moisturizer.

• Size: 100ml, 200ml
• Suitable For: Normal To Dry Skin
• Key Ingredients: Reishi, Fermented Chaga & Coprinus Mushrooms, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitamin E
• Price: RM99, RM168

Pros:

• Alcohol-free, silicone free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free
• Reduces redness
• Pleasant herbal scent
• No greasy or oily after feel
• Doesn’t make acne worse
• Absorbs quickly into the skin

Cons:

• Not fragrance-free
• Hit and miss product for dry and oily skin types

Best Moisturizer For Oily Skin/ Acne-Prone Skin

11. Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer With Willowherb

With eucalyptus leaf oil, salicylic acid, scutellaria baicalensis root extract and lemon peel oil to treat acne:

The Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb is a light moisturizer that is perfect for combination and oily skin types with acne.

It’s comfortably light enough for day wear. Furthermore, combination and oily skin users like that it makes your skin look (and stay) matte!

As an additional bonus, the Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb smells good and there is some UV protection as the formula has titanium dioxide too. Even if that’s not the main selling point of this face moisturizer.

One reason that might hold you back from getting the Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb is the price. It is not cheap.

Sensitive skin types may want to give the Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb a miss altogether since lemon peel oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, salicyclic acid, etc are possible irritants.

• Size: 30ml, 50ml
• Suitable For: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination
• Key Ingredients: Willowherb, Salicylic Acid, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Caffeine, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract
• Price: RM92, RM142

Pros:

• Sulfate-free and paraben-free
• Some UV protection from titanium dioxide
• With anti-oxidants (e.g. rosa damascena flower oil, caffeine, vitamin E)
• Smells pleasant
• Mattifies face
• Lightweight
• Easy to apply
• Don’t need to use a lot
• Controls oil for up to 3-6 hours
• Not sticky or greasy
• Doubles as a primer

Cons:

• Contains alcohol (denatured), silicones, and fragrance (Not suitable for sensitive skin!)
• Herbal scent does not appeal to everyone
• Pricey

12. iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream from South Korea has a combination of soothing, hydrating and healing natural ingredients! Like licorice root, centella asiatic leaf water, and tea tree leaf water!

Although this moisturizer not particularly moisturizing (not hydrating enough for dry skin types):

Oily skin users that are prone to acne usually only have good things to say about the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream! It helps to calm breakouts and provide hydration at the same time!

And at such a reasonable price point, the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream is a lot more appealing than the pricier Origins Original Skin™ Matte Moisturizer with Willowherb .

Therefore, the iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream is worth a shot if you have combination or oily skin that is prone to acne and that needs oil control.

• Size: 60ml
• Suitable For: All Skin Types
• Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatic Leaf Water, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Hyaluronate, etc
• Price: RM42

Pros:

• Not sticky
• Reduces redness
• Fungal-acne safe
• Mild scent
• Gel texture
• Dries matte
• Can be used under makeup
• 91% ingredient safety score on SkinCarisma
• 96.8% customer satisfaction on YesStyle (~3.5K reviews)
• Absorbs easily
• Good oil control

Cons:

• Not silicone free
• Not hydrating enough for dry skin

Best Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin

13. CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

This lightweight moisturizer (CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator) from CLINIQUE replaces the previous CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.

The gel consistency of the CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator may be too light for severely dry skin but:

Those with combination and oily skin find that this moisturizer makes their face feel fresh and hydrated throughout the day, especially in air-conditioned environments!

Moreover, the new CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is even more hydrating than its predecessor, the CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator.

And just like the previous CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, the new CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is also a good make up base.

If you have moderately dry skin (some flaking) or oily skin, the butylene glycol present in the CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator will help too. The best part is, it doesn’t leave that sticky feeling but leaves your skin supple and smooth.

Even those with sensitive skin, can use this moisturizer since it is fragrance and alcohol-free. Many users with sensitive skin report that they do not have issues with the product either.

With all that said, if you have a larger budget and have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin:

The CLINIQUE Moisture Surge 100H 100-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator is a great fragrance-free and alcohol-free daily moisturizer if you are constantly indoors in an air-conditioned environment.

• Size: 50ml
• Suitable For: Oily, Dehydrated, Sensitive and Combination skin
• Key Ingredients: Aloe Bioferment + HA Complex, Vitamin C and E, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Lady’s Thistle Extract, Birch Bark Extract, Caffeine
• Price: RM188

Pros:

• Allergy tested
• 100% fragrance free, alcohol-free, oil-free, and paraben-free
• Works as a primer
• Absorbs well without residue
• No sticky feeling
• Lasting hydration even in an air-conditioned environment

Cons:

• Not hydrating enough for severely dry skin
• Expensive

14. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

Marketed towards normal and oily skin folk, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is an absorbent, lightweight moisturizer.

Unfortunately for those with oily skin, the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream doesn’t help much with oil control (I.e. doesn’t remove or prevent the shine on oily faces despite the marketing claims) and it can leave a sticky feeling on your face.

So, we definitely do not recommend the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for those with severely oily skin.

However, if you have mildly oily skin or combination skin, we recommend the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream. It does control oil to a certain extent and doesn’t have any icky ingredients.

But while the ingredient list does not raise no red flags, there has been issues with breakouts concerning the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream. Something that sensitive skin types need to be aware of.

Furthermore, because the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream is not cheap, you might want to try other moisturizers first.

Or try out small sample first so you can test the moisturizer out before committing to a larger size.

• Size: 50ml
• Suitable For: Oily, Combination & Normal Skin
• Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Glycerin
• Price: RM136

Pros:

• Allergy tested
• 100% fragrance free, alcohol-free, oil-free, and paraben-free
• Pleasant gel cream consistency
• Smells nice
• Minimal ingredient list that has glycerin as the second ingredient after water (glycerin is a great skin-compatible and hydrating ingredient)
• Sufficiently hydrating for combination and oily skin types

Cons:

• Not suitable for severely oily or sensitive skin
• Poor oil control
• Leaves a sticky feeling on face
• Expensive
• Not cruelty free

15. REMDII Intensive Moisturizing Cream

UPM researchers (Professors & PhDs) came up with the patented technology behind REMDII Sensitive cream. This is the original life-changing formula. Created for eczema sufferers, including babies!

I personally use this to keep my perioral dermatitis symptoms in check. Reapplication is necessary throughout the day. But relief is quick and moisture lasts longer than other moisturizers I’ve tried.

And hence, we highly recommend it for sensitive skin with eczema-like problems.

For night time, use the Ultra Sensitive version with a richer (and pricier) shea butter base instead of the mineral oil base.

Update (2022): I’ve since switched to the Ultra Sensitive version which has a shea butter base rather than a petroleum base. The moisture lasts a lot longer so I end up using less product in the long run even though the Remdii Ultra Sensitive Intensive Barrier Repair Cream costs more than the REMDII Intensive Moisturizing Cream (30 sen/ml more).

• Size: 28ml, 50ml, 112ml, 250ml
• Suitable For: Sensitive (Not Good For Oily Skin)
• Key Ingredients: Full-Spectrum Tocotrienols, Tocopherols, Carotenoids And Vitamin C
• Price: RM30, RM50, RM85, RM147

Note: I personally use this. It’s the only thing that keeps my perioral dermatitis symptoms in check.

Pros:

• No steroids
• No parabens
• No fragrances
• Has natural ingredients too (e.g. Vitamin E, Karotin)
• Hygienic packaging
• Reasonably priced
• 1 bottle can last a month with frequent use
• It has a subtle neutral scent that does not linger
• Feels light on the skin
• Relieves dry and itchy skin (tightness in skin goes away)

Cons:

• Not easy to get the last remaining product out
• May be too rich for oily skin types (mineral oil base)

Conclusion

To reflect the diversity of skin types, moisturizers are made differently. Thus, it’s important to find the best moisturizer in Malaysia for your particular skin type!

You don’t need as much moisture as dry skin types if you’re an oily skin type! And oily skin types can take certain ingredients (e.g. skin brighteners and exfoliants) better as long as they are not comedogenic.

Further reading:

• 15 Best Shampoo Malaysia
• 11 Best Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo Malaysia
• 17 Best Face Serums In Malaysia