Should you use moisturizer on acne ?

Have you ever felt the need of a moisturizer but are scared to use because of acne prone skin ? Do you find it difficult to find the best moisturizer for acne prone skin ? Does your skin feel dry after washing your face and you end up skipping the moisturizer ? 

But you don’t realize that this leads to even more acne. Are you wondering how ? When you are struggling to control your acne prone skin, you tend to believe that cleansing and washing your face with harsh chemical products aka FACE WASHES will solve all your problems, but just think does changing face washes help your skin ? NO, because you are “stripping off” the moisture from your skin which in turn will produce more oil in order to balance itself. When I was struggling with acne, I too used to believe the myth "Curing acne required 'drying up' the skin."  But after 4 long years I learnt the importance and technique of moisturizing and this cleared up my acne so quickly. So here are some points that I had learnt from my mistakes about moisturizing. These might help you in controlling your acne prone skin as well :-

• WHY MOISTURIZE : If you don't moisturize, even oily skin can feel dried out or flaky, especially if you're using topical acne medications like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and retinols. If more oil is produced, then more pores are clogged which means more blackheads and more pimples. So, Remember "Oily Skin too needs moisturizer but with the right technique." 
•  WITH WHAT TO MOISTURIZE : Always use Oil-Free Moisturizers if you have oily skin. Look for the terms non-comedogenic. These products won't cause blackheads, whiteheads or acne. Moisturizers with salicylic acid will benefit immensely. Salicylic acid doesn't let blackheads surface your skin, which in turn prevents breakouts. Do not use body lotions or cold creams as a leave-in moisturizer . It will break you out. ( I made this mistake  😞)
•  HOW TO MOISTURIZE : It is best to apply moisturizer just after you have cleansed your skin. You need to pat your face lightly to avoid dripping water, but always apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp.This seals in the moisture completely. 
•  WHEN TO USE MOISTURIZER : Use moisturizer before applying makeup, after washing face in the morning. And do not forget to moisturize at night before sleeping. 
•  NATURAL MOISTURIZERS : If you want to go all-natural, use rose water combined with few drops of honey to moisturize your face. Also, apply raw honey all over your face once a week,  to provide deep hydration. You can also play around with essential oils if you have dry skin. The aim is clear and healthy skin, not dried out and unhealthy skin. And for a healthy skin, you need to moisturize daily and give your skin the nourishment it needs. Just imagine how do dry lips feel...Why do you apply a lip balm when your lips feel dry ? Why do you drink water when your throat is completely dry ? Because the key to life is water aka "hydration" ! Keep your skin hydrated and see the difference it makes to your skin.