The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
The Ordinary
Product
Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan
Claims check
The formula strongly supports lightweight hydration and barrier comfort, while the current product page does not provide public finished-product study detail establishing the claimed all-day hydration duration after one application.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Vegan
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Beta-Glucan | Provides humectant support central to the lightweight hydration positioning. |
|---|---|
| Betaine | Adds water-binding and conditioning support. |
| Urea | Adds a separate natural-moisturizing-factor component that supports water retention in the lightweight gel. |
| Sodium PCA | Adds another component of the natural-moisturizing-factor system. |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Adds hyaluronic-acid-based hydration support. |
Price tier
$ Budget
Value check
The Budget tier is well supported by a broad humectant and natural-moisturizing-factor system plus barrier-related lipids in a lightweight gel; the main tradeoff is limited occlusion for shoppers who need a richer cream.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
This is a strong Budget lightweight moisturizer with broad humectant support and a gel texture that especially suits oily and combination skin. The brand positions it for all skin types, including sensitive skin, while dry skin may still need a richer format and the claimed all-day hydration duration is not independently detailed on the public product page.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan is a Budget lightweight gel moisturizer for dry, normal, combination, oily, and sensitive skin that wants hydration without a rich or oily finish. Beta-glucan, betaine, amino acids, sodium PCA, urea, sodium hyaluronate, phospholipids, sphingolipids, and glycerin create a broad water-binding and barrier-support system.[1]
The main tradeoff is occlusion. The Ordinary says the formula suits all skin types and is particularly useful for oily and combination skin because of its non-greasy gel texture. Dry skin can use it, but shoppers who need more occlusion may prefer a richer cream.[1]
What it claims
The Ordinary says the moisturizer provides all-day hydration after one application and supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier. The brand highlights natural moisturizing factors, beta-glucan, amino acids, and ceramides and positions the gel for all skin types, including sensitive skin.[1]
Claims vs. formula
The hydration claim is well matched to the formula. Betaine, beta-glucan, amino acids, sodium PCA, PCA, sodium lactate, urea, sugars, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin create multiple routes for water binding. Phospholipids and sphingolipids add barrier-lipid context without turning the product into a heavy cream.[1]
The brand also claims all-day hydration after one application. The current product page does not provide public finished-product study details supporting that duration, so BB treats the all-day wording as a brand claim rather than a verified performance endpoint.
Ingredients that matter
Beta-Glucan: Provides humectant support central to the lightweight hydration positioning.
Betaine: Adds water-binding and conditioning support.
Urea: Adds a separate natural-moisturizing-factor component that supports water retention in the lightweight gel.
Sodium PCA: Adds another component of the natural-moisturizing-factor system.
Sodium Hyaluronate: Adds hyaluronic-acid-based hydration support.
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
Expect a light gel that absorbs quickly and leaves less residue than a traditional cream. Oily and combination skin are especially clear texture fits, while sensitive skin has the advantage of a formula without fragrance, drying alcohol, or silicone under the brand’s current formulation disclosures.[1]
What to expect over time
Continued use should be judged primarily on whether the formula maintains comfortable surface hydration and works consistently within the routine. The broad natural-moisturizing-factor system supports that role, while the exact all-day duration remains less transparent than the formula’s basic hydration logic.
Who it fits
Dry, normal, combination, oily, and sensitive skin all fit the brand’s current positioning. Oily and combination skin are especially clear texture fits because The Ordinary specifically highlights the non-greasy gel format for those skin types.[1]
Dry skin may still prefer a richer cream when the environment is very dry or when barrier impairment makes a lightweight gel feel insufficient.
Compare before you buy
The Budget tier is easy to justify for shoppers who want a broad humectant and natural-moisturizing-factor system in a lightweight gel. The main decision is texture rather than ingredient count: shoppers who need stronger occlusion should compare a cream, while shoppers who dislike rich moisturizers have a clear reason to choose this format.
Final Assessment
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan is a strong Budget lightweight moisturizer with broad humectant support and a gel texture that especially suits oily and combination skin. The brand positions it for all skin types, including sensitive skin, while dry skin may still need a richer format and the claimed all-day hydration duration is not independently detailed on the public product page.
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. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
- The Ordinary. Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan. Current official U.S. product page. Accessed October 6, 2026.
Used to verify current product identity, complete ingredient list, all-skin-type and sensitive-skin positioning, oily/combination texture fit, all-day hydration and barrier claims, directions, and current product status.
