Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

The science of skin hydration is not complicated. Your stratum corneum produces a cocktail of small, water-attracting molecules — amino acids, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, urea, sugars, minerals — collectively called Natural Moisturizing Factor. These compounds hold water in your skin cells, keeping them plump and functional. When NMF levels drop — from aging, harsh cleansing, UV exposure, or low humidity — your skin gets dry. A good moisturizer replenishes those molecules and provides a lipid layer to slow their evaporation. That is the entire science. Everything else is marketing.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA takes this science literally. The ingredient list reads like a transcription of a dermatology textbook chapter on stratum corneum hydration: eleven amino acids, PCA, sodium PCA, sodium lactate, urea, allantoin, four sugars including trehalose, sodium hyaluronate, lecithin, and a blend of fatty acids. These are the actual components of NMF, supplemented by hyaluronic acid for additional humectant capacity and phospholipids for barrier support. It is the moisturizer equivalent of replacing lost electrolytes with an electrolyte solution — giving your skin back what it already uses, in the proportions it already uses it.

The product launched in 2017, early in The Ordinary's existence, and it was designed to be the brand's default moisturizer — the product you recommend first, the one that works for everyone, the base layer that makes all the treatment serums feel comfortable. It has succeeded at this goal quietly and consistently, accumulating nearly 20,000 reviews and the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance along the way.

The cream itself is medium-weight. It is not the airy, whipped texture of a Korean gel-cream, nor is it the rich, dense consistency of a nighttime barrier repair cream. It sits in the middle — thick enough to feel substantive, light enough to absorb within a minute and leave a non-greasy, semi-matte finish. The application requires a brief moment of working; it does not glide on with the effortless slip of silicone-based moisturizers because it does not contain silicones. Once it settles, it is comfortable and nearly invisible under sunscreen or makeup.

For normal, combination, and oily skin types, NMF + HA provides all the hydration most days require. The amino acids and PCA draw moisture into the stratum corneum, the hyaluronic acid binds additional water at the surface, and the fatty acids and cetyl/stearyl alcohols provide a mild occlusive layer that prevents transepidermal water loss without feeling heavy. For sensitive and eczema-prone skin, the NEA certification is meaningful — this product meets clinical standards for barrier compatibility and contains none of the common triggers (fragrance, essential oils, harsh preservatives) that reactive skin types must avoid.

For dry skin, the honest assessment is that NMF + HA may not be enough on its own. The occlusive layer is mild, and in dry climates or during winter, the water-binding ingredients need something heavier on top to lock in their work. Layering a few drops of squalane or a facial oil underneath — or applying an occlusive like Aquaphor over it at night — transforms the experience for drier skin types. Used this way, NMF + HA becomes an excellent first moisturizing layer, but it needs backup.

The conflict-free profile is perhaps this product's most underrated feature. NMF + HA contains no actives that interact problematically with any other skincare ingredient. You can use it over retinol, after AHA exfoliation, under vitamin C in the morning, or on top of a peptide serum at night. The arginine in the formula even creates a beneficial interaction with AHAs, producing a time-release effect that can reduce acid irritation. For people with complex multi-product routines, having a moisturizer that never causes problems is practically priceless.

The two available sizes — 30 mL at .70 and 100 mL at 4.00 — represent different value propositions. The 100 mL tube costs roughly 36% less per milliliter and lasts three to four months with twice-daily use. The 30 mL exists primarily for trial purposes, running out in about a month of regular use. If you have used this product once and know it works for your skin, the 100 mL is the obvious choice.

At .70 for the standard size, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA makes a quiet but devastating argument against the prestige moisturizer market. The amino acids, PCA, urea, and hyaluronic acid in this formula are the same compounds — chemically identical — in moisturizers that cost 0, 0, even 00. The fatty acids and phospholipids serve the same barrier-support function. The difference is the packaging, the marketing budget, and the brand story. None of those things make your skin less dry.

This is not the most exciting product The Ordinary makes. It does not have a novel mechanism like EUK 134 or a cutting-edge peptide complex like Matrixyl. It is a moisturizer. It moisturizes. It does so using the same molecules your skin naturally produces, in a formula that the National Eczema Association has certified as safe for compromised skin, at a price that rounds to a large coffee. There is nothing to argue with.

Formula

The Science

Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) is a complex of hygroscopic molecules found within corneocytes — the terminally differentiated keratinocytes that form the stratum corneum. NMF is primarily derived from the proteolysis of filaggrin, a structural protein that breaks down into its constituent amino acids and their derivatives as keratinocytes mature and flatten. NMF components constitute approximately 20-30% of the dry weight of the stratum corneum and are essential for maintaining cell hydration even at relatively low environmental humidity.

The composition of NMF has been well-characterized in dermatological literature. Free amino acids account for approximately 40%, with PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, derived from glutamic acid) comprising another 12%, lactate 12%, urea 7%, and various sugars, organic acids, and minerals making up the remainder. Research published in the British Journal of Dermatology (Rawlings and Harding, 2004) established that NMF levels decline with age, UV exposure, and impaired filaggrin expression — the latter being a genetic factor in atopic dermatitis.

This moisturizer replicates the NMF composition topically: eleven amino acids, PCA and sodium PCA, sodium lactate, urea, allantoin, and sugars including trehalose — a disaccharide with unique protein-stabilizing properties that has been shown to protect cellular structures from dehydration stress. The supplementary sodium hyaluronate adds humectant capacity beyond what endogenous NMF provides, while the lipid components (lecithin, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid) replicate the intercellular lipid matrix of the stratum corneum.

The clinical relevance of topical NMF supplementation is supported by research showing that application of NMF components measurably increases stratum corneum hydration and reduces transepidermal water loss. The National Eczema Association's certification of this product further validates its barrier compatibility, as NEA standards require demonstration of non-irritancy on compromised, atopic skin.

Dermatologist Perspective

Dermatologists widely recommend barrier-supporting moisturizers as a foundational element of any skincare routine, and NMF + HA aligns closely with the principles of barrier-repair moisturization that have been established in dermatological practice. Board-certified dermatologists note that the NMF-mimicking approach — topically replenishing the same molecules the skin naturally produces — is pharmacologically sound and supported by decades of stratum corneum research. The NEA certification makes this a practical recommendation for patients with atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and post-procedure skin. Dermatologists often recommend this as a gentle, conflict-free moisturizer during retinoid initiation, when the barrier is most vulnerable to disruption.

Guidance

DECIEM developed NMF + HA to be The Ordinary's entry-level moisturizer — the product you recommend to someone who has never used the brand and wants a no-frills, works-for-everyone daily cream. The formulation draws on decades of dermatological research into Natural Moisturizing Factor, translating published science about the stratum corneum's endogenous hydration system into a consumer product at a fraction of the price competitors charge for similar concepts. It has since become one of the brand's highest-volume products.

About The Ordinary Established Brand (5–20 years)

The Ordinary launched under DECIEM in 2016 and rapidly became the most disruptive force in skincare by offering clinical-grade actives at unprecedented price points. Now owned by Estée Lauder Companies, the brand has built nearly a decade of consumer trust through ingredient transparency and accessible pricing.

Brand founded: 2016 · Product launched: 2017

Myth vs. Reality

Myth

A .70 moisturizer cannot possibly be as effective as a 0 one

Reality

The ingredients in this moisturizer — amino acids, PCA, urea, hyaluronic acid, phospholipids, fatty acids — are the same compounds found in moisturizers costing 5-10 times more. The price difference reflects marketing, packaging, and brand positioning, not ingredient quality or efficacy. The National Eczema Association does not certify products based on their price tag.

Myth

Natural Moisturizing Factors are just another name for hyaluronic acid

Reality

NMF is a complex of approximately 20+ different molecules that the skin naturally produces. Hyaluronic acid is one component, but the amino acids, PCA, urea, sugars, and minerals that make up the bulk of NMF are equally important. This moisturizer replicates the full NMF complex, not just the HA component — which is why it lists over a dozen NMF-specific ingredients alongside sodium hyaluronate.

FAQ

Common Praise

"Exceptional value — .70 for a well-formulated daily moisturizer"

"Lightweight, non-greasy hydration that works well under makeup and sunscreen"

"Fragrance-free and gentle enough for sensitive and eczema-prone skin"

"Works beautifully as a base layer over The Ordinary serums"

"NEA Seal of Acceptance provides clinical credibility for barrier support"

Common Complaints

"Not moisturizing enough for very dry skin or dry climates as a standalone"

"Can feel thick and draggy during application — does not spread as easily as gel-creams"

"Occasional pilling when layered over thick water-based serums"

"The 30 mL tube runs out quickly with twice-daily use"

"Utilitarian packaging lacks the premium feel of competing moisturizers"

Notable Endorsements

National Eczema Association Seal of AcceptanceAllure Best of Beauty Award

Appears In

best moisturizer for sensitive skin best budget moisturizer best the ordinary products best moisturizer for eczema best moisturizer under 10 best moisturizer for combination skin

Related Conditions

dehydration compromised skin barrier sensitivity eczema dryness dullness

Related Ingredients

hyaluronic acid glycerin sodium pca urea allantoin