Ah, acne. If there’s anything that can put a damper on your confidence, it’s a breakout – especially when it seems impermeable to any sort of treatment. That’s why it’s important to know what the cause of your breakouts are. Is it hormonal? A reaction to a new product? Or maybe it’s something more deeply rooted.
Fungal acne is just one of the plethora of different types of acne there is out there, but it’s definitely among the more stubborn. Your average face wash and moisturizer might not be enough to clear your face up, so you may need to give your skincare routine a bit of a makeover to target what you want to clear up.
A lot of people think that moisturizers are straight-forward, but really, they’re just as important as a cleanser when it comes to taking care of your skin. Moisturizers that specifically target fungal acne are a little more complex than your run of the mill face cream, so doing your research is important.
Luckily for you, we did all the research for you!
So what is the best moisturizer for fungal acne? Choose one that’s packed full of exfoliating acids, sulfur, or natural components like tea tree oil. Since fungal acne, unlike most breakouts, isn’t caused by oily skin, you shouldn’t look for moisturizers that are solely focused on oil production.
Here, you’ll find 11 of our top picks to nipping fungal acne in the bud, so you can leave the days of breakouts in the past!
What Makes A Good Fungal Acne Moisturizer?
AHAs/BHAs
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids have made strides in the skincare world in the recent years, and they’re not going away anytime soon. Exfoliating acids help maintain a smooth skin texture through chemical exfoliation.
People with fungal acne may find they have more “under-the-skin” type bumps than someone who just has whiteheads. Finding a moisturizer with AHAs will help expedite the skin’s cell renewal process, helping you shed those bumps to reveal baby soft skin!
Tea Tree Oil
If you’re not a fan of chemicals, you may want to go for a moisturizer that contains tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is plant based, and contains natural antiseptic and antifungal properties, reducing your skins yeast production, therefore preventing fungal acne from rearing its head.
It also works well on any active texture and breakouts, as it has natural anti-inflammatory and microbiome healing tendencies! It can be a bit harsh to use tea tree oil directly on skin, so mixing it with a moisturizer will dilute it enough to make it better suited for daily use.
Sulfur
Strange as it may seem, sulfur would be a fantastic addition to your skincare routine if you’re suffering from fungal acne!
Yes, sulfur doesn’t have the best reputation due to its strong scent, but when it’s mixed with a moisturizer, the smell isn’t as potent as you may think! Sulfur is a miracle worker for fungal acne, as it reduces sebum production, is antibacterial, and reduces yeast production (the main culprit for fungal acne).
Best Moisturizers for Fungal Acne
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | La Roche-Posay Double UV Face Moisturizer | SPF 30, niacinamide, ceramides |
| 2. | Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Acne Control Moisturizer | Vitamin C, dermatologist recommended |
| 3. | EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex | Ceramides, lipids, oil-control, gentle |
| 4. | Bioderma Intensive Baume | Ultra soothing, hypoallergenic |
| 5. | Neutralyze Renewal Complex Moisturizer | Antifungal, salicylic acid, pH balanced |
| 6. | Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer | Non-comedogenic, non-irritating, squalane |
| 7. | Hero Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer | Prebiotics, no sulfates or silicones |
| 8. | Tea Tree Oil Face Cream by Majestic Pure | Ceramides, tea tree oil, for all skin types |
| 9. | Peach Slices Snail Rescue | Anti-inflammatory, hydrating, cruelty-free |
| 10. | Pili Sulfur Lotion | No-scent sulfur, lightweight, hydrating |
| 11. | Puriya Wonder Balm | For all kinds of ailments and itchiness |
1. La Roche-Posay Double UV Face Moisturizer
Here’s a great pick if you’re the type of person who likes to hit two birds with one stone! La Roche-Posay is climbing the charts in the skincare world, and for good reason.
Their Double UV Face Moisturizer is a staple for people who want to clear off some counter space, since it’s a sunscreen and moisturizer all in one!
Containing niacinamide, ceramide-3, and SPF 30, this moisturizer is a powerhouse in the skincare community.
Niacinamide, which has become a must in tons of peoples skin routines as of late, is extremely helpful in aiding the inflammation and redness caused by fungal acne.
Ceramide 3, on the other hand, acts as a moisturizing agent, as well as helping repair your moisture barrier. And of course, a sunscreen. SPF is a necessity in any skincare regimes that involve the use of AHAs and BHAs, since it helps protect your new skin (which is ultra sensitive) from the suns rays.
What truly makes La Roche-Posay products unique from the rest is their use of prebiotic thermal water, which is rich in selenium.
Funnily enough, selenium is found in a lot of anti-dandruff shampoos, which some people with fungal acne sometimes use kind of like a face mask while they shower! Selenium slows the skins production of yeast, and reduces the swelling and inflammation caused by it, which is great for a healthy scalp, and also, healthy skin!
We highly recommend this moisturizer to those with skin on the dry, sensitive side. It’s gentle enough for daily use, and is oil-free, so it won’t irritate any existing fungal acne you may have.
2. Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Acne Control Moisturizer
While oily skin doesn’t cause fungal acne, it can exacerbate it – so this Vichy moisturizer is a great choice if your skin is on the oilier side!
If your fungal acne is stubborn, and leaves you not with whiteheads, but with textured bumps (typically on your forehead), this moisturizer can be a fantastic fix.
Containing 2% salicylic acid, this moisturizer will dig deep in your pores to kill any fungal buildup, and then clear away any dead skin, so you’re not left with any scarring that shows it was there to begin with!
Vitamin C also makes an appearance in this moisturizer, and once you witness its power, you’ll never go back!
Vitamin C isn’t naturally produced in our bodies, meaning you can benefit from adding it to your daily diet, and in your daily skincare routine! A natural antioxidant, vitamin C can help rid your skin of any free radicals. High levels of free radicals, if not treated, will actually leave your skin damaged and incapable of self-healing.
This leaves your skin susceptible to the effects of pollution, stress, and, you guessed it, fungus. When added to your routine, vitamin C will heal your epidermis (the outermost layer of your skin), and also promote healthy cell renewal. That means you can say goodbye to damaged, textured skin and hello to healthy, rejuvenated skin!
This product is lightly scented, but fear not! The fragrance added doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not a good pick for people with sensitive skin. It’s been allergy tested, and dermatologist recommended, so you can rest easy with every application. It’s also oil-free, so worrying about potentially increasing your skins oil production is a thing of the past.
3. EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex
If you’re in the market for entirely new skin in under a month, we’ve got the moisturizer for you! EltaMD has formulated a moisturizer that promises to leave you with silky smooth, radiant, healthy skin in just 21 days of use.
While it may take around a month to see the full results, EltaMD is clear to tell you that you’ll see a noticeable difference in the bounce of your skin within 24 hours of initial use.
So how does it do it? Like Korean skincare, this barrier renewal complex works to reform and repair your skins moisture barrier. It’s chock-full of ceramides and lipids, meticulously chosen to work with one another to strengthen your barrier and rebuild your hydration system.
The top signs of a damaged moisture barrier are textured skin, rosacea, sensitivity, redness, extreme dryness, or extreme oil production. You may think it to be counter productive to use a moisture renewing moisturizer if your skin is on the oily side, but repairing the damage is key to welcoming in healthy skin!
Part of what makes fungal acne so hard to shake is how easily it can spread if you give it the chance to. Having a damaged skin microbiome makes fungal acne right at home, giving it ample opportunity to result in deeply impacted breakouts, and texture that seems impossible to get rid off. Lots of people will try to remedy this through exfoliation, when really, they should be looking to moisturize!
You’ll first notice this moisturizer improving your skins inflammation, but what you won’t be able to see is that deep underneath the surface of your skin, it’s working to restructure the way your cells heal.
In a damaged barrier, skin cells will take much longer to turnover, and can leave you with hyperpigmentation and acne scarring long after your breakouts have ended. Thankfully, you can look at those days through the rearview mirror, and all it takes is a couple weeks of regular use.
4. Bioderma Intensive Baume
If you’re someone who loves the feel of a thick, rich moisturizer before bed, look no further than the Bioderma Intensive Baume!
This moisturizer is ultra soothing, and it’s formulated with extra dry skin types in mind. And if you’re sensitive due to allergies, you’ll be happy to hear that this baume is hypoallergenic!
This moisturizer makes bacteria its target, going for the root of the problem upon application. It also contains a powerful mixture of glycerin and mineral oil, which can improve the nourishment of your skin over time.
If your fungal acne is mild, or is only concentrated on one area of the face, this is a good fit for you. But, if your fungal acne is angry, you may find that the glycerin in this product could potentially make your skin aggravated. Glycerin is found to work best on fungal acne if you have drier skin, as glycerin can aid in the production of oil on the face.
So, in short, this is an extremely nourishing moisturizer, and it’s great if you have no problems with oily skin. But, if your oil production is exacerbating your fungal acne breakouts, you should probably stay away!
5. Neutralyze Renewal Complex Moisturizer
If you’re looking for something gentle, but can also do some serious transformation on your skin, look no further! Neutralyze has formulated an entire skincare line that prides itself in nipping acne at the root – and that root is inflammation.
Using this moisturizer increases your skin’s production of Nitric Oxide, which is a natural antifungal, meaning your skin will begin to heal itself.
This means this moisturizer will continue doing it’s job long after you apply it. This production of Nitric Oxide also helps increase blood circulation to your face, which will aid in your skin repairing itself.
But not only does this product help promote healing, it also contains healing elements through its inclusion of exfoliating acids. It’s made with 2% salicylic acid and 1% mandelic acid, both potent antifungal and antibacterial acids. With continued use, you’ll notice your skin turnover (think the cycle of a pimple) will expedite, so even if you do breakout – it won’t last for long!
Since this moisturizer aims to prevent acne, as well as heal existing acne, it’s nothing short of a holy grail product. It’s so full of goodness, that you don’t need to spend money finding multiple products targeting different concerns – this moisturizer does it all.
It’s crazy to think that a moisturizer can do so much of this miracle work, and still be gentle for your skin, but some things are not too good to be true! Made with a low pH balance and advanced oil control, this moisturizer will protect your skin barrier and keep your face hydrated all day long. Oh, and it’s sulfate and cruelty free, in case you needed more convincing.
In fact, Neutralyze is so confident that you’ll love their product, that they’ll refund you 100% of your payment if you don’t like the results. And, you’ll get to keep the moisturizer as their gift to you.
6. Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
Vanicream is known and praised for their gentle skincare line, able to be used by anyone wishing to nourish their skin. But their daily facial moisturizer makes our list because of the added ceramides, which will work wonders for anyone dealing with fungal acne.
If your skin tends to be on the sensitive side, you should keep an eye on the Vanicream brand. It’s non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores), and formulated without the use of sulfates, dyes, parabens, and other chemicals.
It’s also unscented and gluten free. Because it’s oh so natural, dermatologists love it, and find that it stands by its promise of being non-irritating to skin.
This moisturizer contains squalane and ceramides, both of which are great for fungal acne. Not to be confused with the similarly named “squalene,” squalane possesses antifungal properties that slow down the production of fungus on your skin, as well as soothing active acne.
There are 5 active ceramides in this moisturizer which make it a treat for your skin! Ceramides are lipids that are naturally found in your skin’s moisture barrier (aka the thing that keeps irritants from penetrating your skin). With continued use, you can rebuild any damage your barrier may have suffered, effectively protecting your skin from future breakouts and promoting healthy cell turnover.
Extra gentle, this moisturizer is pH balanced, and non-greasy. That means it will sit lightly on the skin, but still be hydrating. It’s not especially rich, which makes it great for morning use, but you can apply throughout the day as needed if you’re feeling in need of a hydration boost!
7. Hero Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer
Hero gained popularity in the skincare world with their incredible acne patches, but with their ‘Clear Collective’ moisturizer, you may not need to reach for a patch in the first place!
Acne products are typically stripping, meaning they wash away all the moisture and good bacterias that your skin needs in order to heal itself. That means that even though you’re trying to prevent breaking out, you may leave your skin no choice!
This moisturizer is packed full of nutrients, prebiotics, and sage extract, and will bring balance back to your skin like no other. Prebiotics help build up and strengthen your skins microbiome, keeping environmental irritants out and moisture in.
Because it helps balance out your skin, that means it also helps reduce your skin’s yeast production, which in turn lessens your chances of a fungal acne breakout. Sage extract, which is derived from plants, contains Ursolic acid. This acid treats acne, eczema, rosacea, and of course, skin fungus.
What’s great about this moisturizer is that it’s perfect for all skin types. Whether you’re dry, oily, combo, or super sensitive – you’re in good hands with Hero. It’s also free of any fragrances, dyes, or irritating ingredients. That means there’s no sulfates, silicones, mineral oils, or parabens.
Those ingredients, while commonly found in tons of different skincare products, will cause breakouts and skin issues after long-term use. Luckily, you can keep this moisturizer in your skincare routine for years to come, with absolutely no worries!
8. Tea Tree Oil Face Cream by Majestic Pure
Crafted with 100% naturally derived tea tree oil from Australia, Majestic Pure’s Face Cream is the perfect fit if you’re not looking to add additional exfoliation to your skincare routine.
The two active ingredients in this moisturizer are ceramides and, of course, tea tree oil, so it’s more gentle on the skin than the moisturizers we mentioned above!
This cream is great for makeup wearers because it absorbs fast. It’s also non-greasy and easy to apply, so you’ll have a primer ready base in no time!
If on top of fungal acne, you find your skin to be unevenly toned, saggy in areas, or just lacking a youthful glow – this moisturizer can take care of those areas of concern too.
While this is a great pick for all skin types, it’s especially great for those who suffer from dry skin because of how deeply it penetrates, leaving you with lasting hydration throughout the day. It’s supple, and has even been called therapeutic because of its relaxing scent and spa-like texture.
If your fungal acne is itchy (which is a normal side effect of overproduction of yeast) this moisturizer can help offer some relief as well.
Rosacea on your cheeks is a common sidekick when you deal with fungal acne, but you’ll be glad to hear that the combination of ceramides and oil will reduce inflammation and expedite healthy skin cell growth.
Since it’s tea tree oil content is a potent 5%, you’ll get all the benefits that the oil has to offer, without the abrasiveness of using the oil directly. It’s so gentle, that you can even use it on your body and feet.
9. Peach Slices Snail Rescue
Peach Slices is a brand little known in the American skincare world, but we think that’ll change soon.
This is a Korean brand, and if you’ve looked into anything regarding Korean skincare, you’ll know that they approach acne prevention and treatment in a much different way than American skincare does.
American acne treatments focus on the drying out of active acne, but the difficult thing about this method is that you could potentially dry out the skin surrounding the pimple, leaving your skin weak and more easily penetrated by acne-causing agents.
Korean skincare formulates products under the belief that breakouts are actually caused by a disruption in the moisture barrier – so they focus on hydration.
In the recent months, snail slime has made its way into the spotlight by having impressively effective skin renewing properties. In a goldilocks scenario, this moisturizer is “just right” approved! If you over moisturize your skin, you run the risk of irritating your fungal acne more, while too light of a moisturizer can increase oil production. This moisturizer hangs in the balance, leaving your skin supple without clogging your pores.
Working alongside the snail mucin is cica, which is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Cica also aids in circulation to the face, promoting cell health and skin renewal, which can shed any texture caused by fungus. Birch juice and strawberry extract also make an appearance, brightening your skins tone and keeping the surface of your skin bouncy, respectively.
And don’t worry, no snails were hurt in the making of this moisturizer. Snail Rescue is 100% cruelty free- certified by globally recognized company Leaping Bunny, a program dedicated to the rights of animals. You have great skin, and the snails stay happy! It’s a total win/win in our book.
10. Pili Sulfur Lotion
Unlike Bioderma’s Intensive Baume, Pili’s Sulfur Lotion was created with oily skin in mind! It’s an affordable option when it comes to a moisturizer, and it’s most active ingredient is one of fungal acnes mortal enemies: sulfur.
This lotion is safe to use on both face and body, and will leave skin feeling pure and detoxified after use. So, if you’re suffering from back or chest acne, this lotion may be your new best friend!
And don’t worry, while sulfur is a primary ingredient, this lotion doesn’t have that eggy smell you may be expecting.
Extremely lightweight, this moisturizer won’t leave your pores feeling clogged. Instead, it’s lightly exfoliant, and helps to control the production of oil and sebum in your skin. Sulfur is great at drying skin out in a way that isn’t too abrasive, making it perfect for those with oily skin, because it takes away excess sebum without stripping your skin dry.
Camphor works alongside sulfur in this product, and we are lucky that it does! Naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, camphor acts like an astringent for your skin, working to unclog pores and dissolve any foreign irritants like dust and dirt. This leaves you with afresh, happy face instead of heavy feeling oily skin.
11. Puriya Wonder Balm
While this balm is on the pricier side, you can rest assured that it will do the job. Puriya’s Wonder Balm is nothing short of a miracle worker, and can have your whole body experiencing relief from all things caused by fungus: acne, itchiness, rashes, etc!
This balm’s active ingredient is nothing other than tea tree oil, but it also features eucalyptus, lavender, and rose geranium oils as well.
Fungal acne tends to thrive in sweatier environments, but these ingredients work hard to slow the spread of a breakout due to their antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
It’s quick to absorb, and that means it’s quick to work. You’ll feel relief after the first use, and see visible results after consistent application.
Imagine your skin having its own personal defense team. A group of people that work to keep foreign bodies out, wicking away moisture and sweat, and the fatty acids that fungal acne loves to snack on. This moisturizer will add a barrier between your healthy skin, and all the things that tend to flare up fungal breakouts.
It’s sweatproof, super lightweight, and grease-free, but because it has so many plant based oils in it, we recommend only using it on the areas where you flare the most, instead of using it on your face as a whole.
Up Next: The Best The Ordinary Products For Fungal Acne
