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The Ordinary

Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides
Moisturizers

About this product

A rich, occlusive night moisturizer formulated with phytoceramides, natural moisturizing factors, glycerin, and plant oils to nourish and support skin barrier function.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skin
Moisturizers

The Guru Index verdict

74%

Approved

Approved · 74%
6Reviewers
5Approved
0Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

Experts found this delivers serious hydration and barrier support at a drugstore price, making it a standout for dry skin, especially as a nighttime treatment. The formula is genuinely thick and occlusive, which means it locks in moisture beautifully but leaves skin dewy and shiny; people with oily or acne-prone skin may find it too heavy for daytime or under makeup, though those with dryness or sensitivity tend to see it as a game-changer. A small amount goes far, and applying it before bed and letting it work overnight tends to show the best results.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Hyaluronic acidFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate, Isosorbide Dicaprylate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Proline, Threonine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"The Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides is a better option for drier skin types. It's full of ceramides, going to really nourish and hydrate the skin and help with barrier function. It's amazing. I have both because I tend to find the beta glucan one in summer and the ceramides one in winter. I work with what my skin needs."
All 4 takes from Mad About Skin
2023 SKINCARE AWARDS - Best In Skincare 2023
"The best moisturizer of 2023 it goes to The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides. So affordable, a better option if you want a ceramide fix into your skincare routine. Use this over CeraVe. I think it works better, feels better on the skin. This is cruelty free. It's kind of ticking all of the boxes for your ceramide action. The pack of ceramides is going to help support every function of the skin, deeply nourish, hydrate. It's a great option if you've got combination to dry skin. If you've got an oily or acne prone skin type, their version with Niacinamide is probably going to work a little bit better. But for my dry skin friends out there, this is drugstore, it's affordable, and it really really packs a punch."
THE ORDINARY SALE - Top 10 The Ordinary Products
"The Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides is a better option for drier skin types. It's full of ceramides, going to really nourish and hydrate the skin and help with barrier function. It's amazing. I have both because I tend to find the beta glucan one in summer and the ceramides one in winter. I work with what my skin needs."
REMOVE SEBACEOUS FILAMENTS FAST - Blackhead Removal With La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume
"The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides, very similar ingredient profile to other balms, but cruelty-free. Rich enough that it's going to prevent some of that water loss but also has that nice oil blend in there to kind of start dislodging everything. I love this, really inexpensive, you get a better product. Do this every single night, 90 seconds massage in, leave it on, you don't need to wash it off or anything, just leave it on, let it work its magic as you sleep, you'll notice some great results."
THE ORDINARY ARE BACK - Full New Products Review ( The Ordinary Review 2024 )
"The phytoceramides one is thicker, more occlusive, which you need if you've got a dryer skin type. I think the reason that these are so special is the price point. You often have to pay a lot for a good ceramide moisturizer, not anymore. I use both. I tend to use the phytoceramides one on a night, I'll tend to use the beta glucan one in the morning, but I would encourage everyone to kind of buy both because I think then you can match to what your skin needs. In summer when my oil levels go through the roof, the beta glucan one is my daily Holy Grail. It gives me just the right amount of moisture but it doesn't leave me feeling like I'm wearing a mask. You can sweat through it, which is important to us oily folk in summer. We have to let our skin breathe, and if we're wearing like a sheet of product that doesn't feel good, this lets your skin breathe. The phytoceramides one, if you've got a particularly dry skin type, you might want to use year round. I have both, I use them interchangeably depending on what my skin needs."
Approved
"This is one of the best and it's inexpensive. This is the natural moisturizing factors plus phytoceramides and if you are looking for one of the richest most hydrating but inexpensive creams that The Ordinary has to offer this is going to be it. This is kind of the updated version of their NMF moisturizer which I personally love but this is the phytoceramides, phyto coming from plants and ceramides relating to those fatty acids that are so amazing in our skin and they actually make up half of the very outside layer of our skin. The problem is as we get older as weather changes as temperature changes and as our stress levels change our skin can kind of start breaking those ceramides down or not building them back and replenishing them as needed and that's why a great moisturizer is essential. This is so good but it is so hydrating. For me acne and oily prone, not my top one, not my favorite, but this one is amazing for dry skin. It's like butter, it's like vegan ceramide butter. It is so nice and I have used this as like a night mask but for dry skin this is perfect for everyday. What's great about this formula is that it's also got glycerin, remember that's that humectant that we also found in the cleanser, so this is giving you a leave on form of the same ingredient that was in here that's so good for the skin."
All 2 takes from Cassandra Bankson
3 Best Ordinary Products (Under $15) For Dry Skin
"This is one of the best and it's inexpensive. This is the natural moisturizing factors plus phytoceramides and if you are looking for one of the richest most hydrating but inexpensive creams that The Ordinary has to offer this is going to be it. This is kind of the updated version of their NMF moisturizer which I personally love but this is the phytoceramides, phyto coming from plants and ceramides relating to those fatty acids that are so amazing in our skin and they actually make up half of the very outside layer of our skin. The problem is as we get older as weather changes as temperature changes and as our stress levels change our skin can kind of start breaking those ceramides down or not building them back and replenishing them as needed and that's why a great moisturizer is essential. This is so good but it is so hydrating. For me acne and oily prone, not my top one, not my favorite, but this one is amazing for dry skin. It's like butter, it's like vegan ceramide butter. It is so nice and I have used this as like a night mask but for dry skin this is perfect for everyday. What's great about this formula is that it's also got glycerin, remember that's that humectant that we also found in the cleanser, so this is giving you a leave on form of the same ingredient that was in here that's so good for the skin."
Best Winter Moisturizers
"The Natural Moisturizing Factors Plus Phytoceramides is fantastic but it is super thick if you are an oily prone person and you're not struggling with dryness this might not be for you but for the price this is one of the most luxurious moisturizers that you can get. It does feel like melted butter on the skin and it really locks in that moisture. The phytoceramides in this product come from plants that's why they're called phytoceramides and the natural moisturizing factors help to actually draw water into the skin as well as having ingredients that seal it in and kind of sit on top of it. Once you rub it in it's not overly tacky but it does take a second to dry down and for the price if you are budget sensitive this is one of the best ones."
Approved
"This is their natural moisturizing factors in phytoceramides, this is a hardcore moisturizer that isn't for everyone. I love it. There are a lot of moisturizers out there that claim to be rich but not daring enough to really go there. The texture of this reminds me of Crème de la Mer original formula. This is dense. This is not the kind of moisturizer that just sinks in and dries down after you apply it. It will keep your skin feeling really well coated and lubricated throughout the day. This would be too much for a lot of people during the daytime and also makeup doesn't apply as smoothly over this, but when it is cold out there, my skin just feels incurably dry and sensitive. This just injects long-lasting life. It's like I have a glow again. I'm not cracking in certain areas of my face when I make expressions. It just makes everything look healthy. It's a great nighttime treatment."
Skip
"The phytoceramide version has a lotion cream texture, however once you start smoothing it into skin it feels really greasy, very greasy, and it doesn't really set. It just stays radiant with a shiny finish, so if you want to use this during the daytime, it's probably not going to be your best option because of how shiny it is. It takes a long time to soak and absorb, but once it does, it sets to a shiny finish and is not ideal for daytime use because of how shiny it is."
Approved
"It is on the heavier side and is going to help reduce water loss. This actually really does make you look like a glazed donut, it's good. If you have oily skin you may find this is uncomfortable, you may not like it, it may make you look oilier, shinier. If you put it on in the morning and try and put sunscreen on over it, I suspect many sunscreen formulations will pill going on over this because it is so emollient. If you have rosacea, sometimes heavy moisturizers they actually can make you feel a bit overheated and precipitate a flush of redness, so you may not care for it in that regard. But overall, I really like it. The Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides is a great addition to their portfolio for offering something that when you need extra barrier support, especially as a rich night cream, I think this is nice."
Approved
"The Natural Moisturizing Factors plus Phytoceramides is their moisturizer. I really like this one out of the other two. If you have dry sensitive skin or normal skin you might really like the phytoceramides. This one is more rich, more emollient. It does give your skin that dewy complexion which I really like, great for the winter months. This also sits really nice underneath sunscreen and makeup from my experience with this. This is my favorite moisturizer out of the three that they have. A little bit goes a long way, you don't need much."
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All 5 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
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"The Natural Moisturizing Factors plus Phytoceramides is their moisturizer. I really like this one out of the other two. If you have dry sensitive skin or normal skin you might really like the phytoceramides. This one is more rich, more emollient. It does give your skin that dewy complexion which I really like, great for the winter months. This also sits really nice underneath sunscreen and makeup from my experience with this. This is my favorite moisturizer out of the three that they have. A little bit goes a long way, you don't need much."
THE BEST MOISTURIZERS FOR DRY SKIN | WINTER 2023
"This is very moisturizing and it's very rich and thick, perfect for everyday twice a day. I mainly use this at night time just because it is quite rich. If you're someone that used to use The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors plus Hyaluronic Acid and you felt like that formulation just wasn't moisturizing enough, then you'll want this one because this one has that oil ingredient that really helps to nourish the skin even more. If you don't like oil in your moisturizers then you probably won't like this, but out of the three moisturizers that The Ordinary has, this is the most moisturizing and it's fabulous. It has those ceramides in there and it really keeps your skin comfortable and it will leave your skin with that dewy complexion as well."
THIS DRY SKIN SKINCARE ROUTINE WILL GIVE YOU THE MOST HYDRATED, MOISTURIZED SKIN EVER!
"This is their newest moisturizer and this is very rich, very moisturizing. It's satisfying to use especially when your skin is super dry and flaky and tight. There is oil in the formulation so again it's very moisturizing. I like this way better than the original Natural Moisturizing Factors plus Hyaluronic Acid. My skin never felt content with the original formulation. If you want something that is really moisturizing, I would say go with the Phytoceramides."
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"This is thicker, it's richer, and it's more moisturizing. If you were using the original Natural Moisturizing Factors plus hyaluronic acid and you thought that formula wasn't moisturizing enough, then try this one because this really is more satisfying to use when your skin needs that additional moisture. This one has two times more humectants with hyaluronic acid and amino acids in here, so it's very hydrating and very plumping. But this one also has four times more moisturizing emollients with fatty acids and glycolipids, and it really is a beautiful, rich formulation. I like to use this at nighttime because when I'm using tretinoin and active ingredients, this keeps my skin comfortable when these products could create additional dryness and irritation. This really helps to repair and strengthen the skin barrier with the ceramides. You could use this in your morning routine as well if you really wanted to, but because of the sunscreens I use and because I wear makeup, I just found that this was a little too rich and heavy underneath my sunscreen and makeup, so I much prefer to use this at night time. You don't need a lot of this, a pea-sized amount, maybe a little bit more, will cover your face."
THE BEST ORDINARY PRODUCTS FOR DRY/DEHYDRATED SKIN | GET PLUMP, HYDRATED & MOISTURIZED SKIN FAST!
"If you're looking for that really rich moisturizing cream, go with this one. This is very satisfying to use when you need it. This one has your glycol lipids as well, but it also contains ceramides which help to strengthen and repair the skin barrier. There's urea, there's amino acids in here, there's hyaluronic acid as well, so very plumping and very hydrating. This one contains oil, so because this has that oil, I'm telling you this really is moisturizing. A little bit goes a long way, it spreads really nicely, you will get this nice glow to your skin. It doesn't dry down skin-like or dry down matte, you will have a little bit of that glow. I much prefer to keep this for nighttime."
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