The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
The Ordinary
Product
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Claims check
You get a credible mix of natural-moisturizing-factor ingredients for daily hydration, but the formula is not a targeted acne, pigment or wrinkle treatment.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Vegan
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Glycerin | Provides central humectant support within the broader NMF-inspired hydration system. |
|---|---|
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Adds water-binding support alongside glycerin and other humectants. |
| Sodium PCA | Contributes a physiologically relevant natural-moisturizing-factor component. |
| Urea | Adds an established NMF component that supports hydration and barrier comfort. |
| Linoleic Acid | Contributes fatty-acid support within the formula's emollient phase. |
Price tier
$ Budget
Value check
At the Budget tier, you get a broad moisturizing system with several humectants and emollients, making the formula practical when you want a basic daily cream.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.
Bottom line
If you want dependable daily hydration at the Budget tier, this cream offers a useful NMF-inspired blend without extra treatment claims. Its cream texture may be more than you need if you prefer a gel, and it does not replace a targeted treatment.
If you want a straightforward daily cream without paying for another treatment active, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA offers a broad mix of water-binding ingredients and emollients at the Budget tier. Its glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, urea, amino acids and fatty components support everyday surface hydration.[1]
The main decision is texture and purpose. If your skin likes a cream, this one covers a basic moisturizing step; if you prefer a light gel or need acne, pigment or wrinkle treatment, you’ll need a different product for those goals.
What it claims
The Ordinary describes this as its original surface hydrator and says it mimics elements of your skin’s natural moisturizing system. The brand promises immediate and ongoing hydration, softer and smoother skin, and support for the skin barrier; it positions the cream for all skin types.[1]
The brand reports a pH range of 6.5–7.0 and recommends applying the cream as needed in the moisturizing step of your routine. Those details help explain how you would use it, but they do not measure its finished-product performance against competing moisturizers.
Claims vs. formula
The hydration rationale is clear from the full ingredient list. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate combine with sodium PCA, PCA, sodium lactate, urea, sugars and a range of amino acids; emollient fatty alcohols, triglycerides and fatty acids help soften skin and make that hydration more comfortable.[1]
Many of these water-attracting compounds occur within the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF). That gives the brand’s NMF-inspired positioning a sensible formulation basis, without showing that this exact product outperforms other well-formulated creams.[2]
If you’re seeking relief from dryness and tightness, this blend serves an understandable purpose. The same ingredient list does not establish a specialized clinical barrier-repair result or make the cream a treatment for acne, pigmentation or wrinkles.
Ingredients that matter
The formula works as a system rather than a single-ingredient treatment. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate bind water, while sodium PCA, amino acids, sugars and sodium lactate contribute to the broad NMF-inspired approach.[2]
Urea is another natural moisturizing factor component; its known moisturizing properties add context, although this product does not disclose an amount that would justify assuming the same effects seen in higher-strength urea treatments.[3] Linoleic acid, oleic acid and other fatty ingredients help round out the cream’s emollient feel. If you already use a hydrating serum, you may not need a second one just to add more of the same humectants.
Glycerin
If your skin feels dry or tight, glycerin helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need a high percentage or a separate serum when your moisturizer already works well.
Read the IngredientBrief
Hyaluronic Acid
If your skin feels dry or tight, hyaluronic acid helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need several HA forms or a separate serum when your moisturizer already hydrates well.
Read the IngredientBrief
Sodium PCA
Sodium PCA is a well-established humectant and component of skin's natural moisturizing system. It supports hydration inside a balanced formula but is highly replaceable and usually does not need a…
Read the IngredientBrief
Urea
Urea is a well-supported humectant for dry skin that becomes more keratolytic at higher strengths. The right concentration depends on whether you need hydration or targeted smoothing.
Read the IngredientBriefWhat to expect in the short term
You can expect a mid-weight, non-fragranced cream rather than a fluid gel. The Ordinary describes its finish as non-greasy and directs you to apply it as needed, after serums and treatments.[1] It suits a routine where you want hydration without extra active-treatment steps.
If your skin is very oily or you dislike creams, the texture may be more substantial than you want. As with any new product, stop using it if irritation develops and follow the brand’s direction to use it only on unbroken skin.
What to expect over time
With regular use, more comfortable hydration and a softer skin surface are realistic goals. The NMF-related humectants and emollients offer several ways to keep your skin from feeling dry between applications.[2]
Don’t read the ingredient list as a promise of deeper wrinkle correction or clinical barrier repair. The product’s role is maintaining moisture; if you have a different skin goal, it is better assessed through a separate, purpose-built product.
Who it fits
If you have dry, normal, combination or sensitive skin and like a cream texture, this is a sensible moisturizer to consider. It can also fit oily skin when you prefer a cream rather than a gel; The Ordinary itself lists it for all skin types.[1] For very dry skin, a richer option may offer a more comfortable finish.
The official product page explicitly identifies Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA as vegan and cruelty-free, which supports those controlled Shopper Preferences for this exact product.[1] The brand also makes a broad no-animal-testing commitment, and PETA lists The Ordinary as cruelty-free.[4] These attributes don’t tell you whether a cream’s texture will suit your skin.
Compare before you buy
The Ordinary offers multiple moisturizer textures, so choose by the amount of comfort you want rather than the ingredient count. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is the lighter, more straightforward cream, while Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides is positioned as a richer choice for more emollient support.[5]
At the Budget tier, this cream brings a substantial range of useful humectants and supporting lipids without charging for an elaborate treatment story. If you already own a hydrating serum, try to avoid duplicating steps unless your skin genuinely needs both.
Final Assessment
If you want affordable daily moisture in a cream, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA offers a practical Budget-tier formula with a broad hydration system. Its limits are texture and scope: a gel may suit you better if you prefer a lighter feel, and this moisturizer does not replace targeted treatment for acne, pigment or wrinkles. You get stronger value from buying it for the moisturizing job it actually does.
Where to buy
Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
- The Ordinary. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Official U.S. product page, accessed October 15, 2026.
- Draelos ZD. Going Beyond Ceramides in Moisturizers: The Role of Natural Moisturizing Factors. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2024;23(6):466–471.
- Piquero-Casals J, et al. Urea in Dermatology: A Review of Its Emollient, Moisturizing, Keratolytic, Skin Barrier Enhancing and Antimicrobial Properties. Dermatology and Therapy. 2021;11(6):1905–1915.
- PETA. The Ordinary Is Cruelty-Free. Current listing, accessed October 15, 2026.
- The Ordinary. How to Find the Best Moisturizer and Why It Matters. Official brand guide, February 18, 2026.
