The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
The Ordinary
Product
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan
Claims check
You get a convincing water-binding blend for lightweight hydration, but the brand's all-day and one-use barrier claims lack detailed publicly available product-study methods.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Vegan
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Beta-Glucan | Helps bind water within the light gel alongside other humectants. |
|---|---|
| Betaine | Adds water-binding and skin-conditioning support in the gel base. |
| Urea | Contributes a natural-moisturizing-factor component at an undisclosed concentration. |
| Sodium PCA | Supports the natural-moisturizing-factor blend that retains surface water. |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Adds hyaluronic-acid-derived water binding without a rich finish. |
Price tier
$ Budget
Value check
At the Budget tier, you get a broad hydration blend in a light gel, while your skin may get better value from a richer cream when it needs more occlusion.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you prefer a non-greasy gel, this Budget moisturizer offers a practical mix of humectants for oily, combination or normal skin. If your skin is very dry, a cream is a better fit, and the all-day hydration claim is less transparent than the formula's basic moisturizing role.
If you want a moisturizer without a rich cream finish, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan combines a refreshing gel texture with beta-glucan, betaine, amino acids and other water-binding ingredients. It offers a sensible Budget option when your skin needs hydration but you dislike oily residue.[1]
The main tradeoff is moisture sealing. If your skin is combination or oily, a lightweight gel can feel comfortable; if your skin is very dry, the same light finish may not provide the richer protective feel you need.
What it claims
The Ordinary says this gel provides all-day hydration after one application and supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The brand highlights beta-glucan, natural moisturizing factors and ceramides, and positions the product for all skin types, including sensitive skin, with particular appeal for oily and combination skin.[1]
All-day moisture and barrier support describe different outcomes, so it is useful to separate what the ingredient list makes plausible from what has been demonstrated in finished-product testing.
Claims vs. formula
Betaine, beta-glucan, amino acids, sodium PCA, PCA, sodium lactate, urea, sugars, sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide several routes for binding water. Phospholipids and sphingolipids add a lipid-related component, although this is still a gel rather than a substantial occlusive cream.[1]
A scientific review explains that natural moisturizing factors, including amino acids, urea, lactate and PCA, are important for holding water in the skin’s outer layer. This supports the formulation rationale, not the exact performance of The Ordinary’s finished gel.[2]
A 2025 review of beta-glucans found that their properties vary with source and molecular structure. The Ordinary says its beta-glucan comes from reishi mushroom, so you should not assume that results from oat, yeast or modified beta-glucan preparations apply directly to this moisturizer.[3][1]
The brand claims all-day hydration and barrier improvement after one use, but does not publish enough detailed, independent-to-assess product-study methods on the U.S. product page to judge the precise magnitude or duration. The most reliable buying case is its combination of humectants and light texture, not a guaranteed number of hours.
Ingredients that matter
The gel works through a broad moisture-binding system, not a single hero ingredient. Betaine and beta-glucan add conditioning and water attraction, while urea, sodium PCA and the amino-acid blend reflect components associated with the skin’s natural moisturizing factor. These ingredients complement one another when your goal is comfortable surface hydration.
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin contribute additional water-binding support. Phospholipids and sphingolipids introduce barrier-associated components, but the label does not establish a clinical barrier-repair outcome or mean the product replaces a richer cream when your skin needs more occlusion.
Beta-Glucan
Beta-glucan is a family of skin-conditioning ingredients with some human support for hydration and comfort. Source, form, and the complete formula matter more than a large beta-glucan percentage or broad…
Read the IngredientBrief
Betaine
Betaine is a well-established humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient that adds lightweight moisture support. It is useful but replaceable, and it should not be confused with similarly named betaine surfactants or…
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 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 IngredientBriefWhat to expect in the short term
You can expect a fast-absorbing gel designed for a non-greasy feel. The Ordinary recommends applying a small amount to your face in the morning and evening after serums; the brand also recommends patch testing before use and discontinuing use if irritation develops.[1]
If you prefer minimal layering, this can be your moisturizer step. If your skin still feels tight soon afterward, that is a useful sign that you need a more cushioning or occlusive product instead.
What to expect over time
With continued use, look for more consistent moisture and a comfortable skin surface. The natural-moisturizing-factor ingredients offer a sound rationale for hydration, but ingredient evidence cannot establish a precise all-day result for this finished gel.[2]
You do not need to keep adding separate beta-glucan products if your moisturizer already meets your hydration needs. If dry patches persist despite regular use, a richer formula may solve the problem more effectively.
Who it fits
If your skin is oily, combination or normal and you dislike heavy creams, this is an especially logical format. The Ordinary also positions it for dry and sensitive skin; the official product page explicitly labels it vegan and cruelty-free.[1] Those brand-declared preferences do not guarantee that your skin will tolerate every ingredient.
If your skin is extremely dry or you need a substantial moisture-sealing layer, choose a cream with more emollient or occlusive support rather than relying on the gel’s all-day claim.
Compare before you buy
Within the same brand, Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA comes in a conventional cream format. The Ordinary describes that version as its original surface hydrator, whereas Beta Glucan is the lighter gel option.[4] The cream is worth considering if you prefer a more cushioned finish.
At the Budget tier, Beta Glucan offers multiple moisturizing components without the heavier feel of a rich cream. Its value is strongest if you actually want a gel; paying for a light formula that leaves your skin uncomfortable is not better value than choosing the right cream.
Final Assessment
If you want light, non-greasy hydration, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan is a practical Budget moisturizer with a broad humectant system, particularly for combination and oily skin. The formula supports moisture retention, but publicly available product-level detail does not establish the precise all-day hydration or barrier claims. If your skin is very dry, you are likely to get better comfort from a richer cream.
Where to buy
Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.
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Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
- The Ordinary. Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan. 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.
- Feng X, et al. Exploring the Properties and Application Potential of β-Glucan in Skin Care. Food Science & Nutrition. 2025;13(4):e70212.
- The Ordinary. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Official U.S. product page, accessed October 15, 2026.
