Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides

Name: The Ordinary - Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides
Brand: The Ordinary

Efficacy 100/100·Medium irritancy · In 17 routines

Efficacy measures how well the formula delivers the claims the brand advertises · 1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

"The Ordinary - Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides" is effective for: MoisturizingThis product could be helpful for: Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.Ingredient calloutsAnother hel…

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Product summary

"The Ordinary - Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides" is effective for: Moisturizing

This product could be helpful for: Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

Another helpful ingredient in this product is Linoleic Acid. It is one of the fatty acids naturally present in skin. It is part of the skin barrier. Preliminary research shows that it might be able to reduce clogged pores.
Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.25% - 0.40%, urea 0.20% - 0.40%, sodium lactate 0.20% - 0.40%, pca 0.25% - 0.40%, sodium pca 0.20% - 0.40%, trehalose 0.20% - 0.40%, fructose 0.25% - 0.40%, anhydroxylitol 0.25% - 0.40%, xylitylglucoside 0.20% - 0.40%, betaine 0.20% - 0.40%, glutamic acid 0.25% - 0.40%, alanine 0.25% - 0.45%, glycine 0.25% - 0.50%, arginine 0.25% - 0.50% and glycerin 2.40% - 3.00%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

About the brand

According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "The Ordinary" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.

Price

The product retails for 22.50$ in the United States, for 55.00A$ in Australia and for 26.50CA$ in Canada.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

Product claims breakdown

Moisturizing

25 ingredients contribute at the levels below

Strong evidence

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: alanine, anhydroxylitol.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, caprylic/capric triglyceride.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: isosorbide dicaprylate, linoleic acid, urea

ANHYDROXYLITOLRole: HeroHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrir function~0.25–0.4%

LINOLEIC ACIDRole: Key activeAn excellent emollient. Helps soften the skin, restore its barrier function, and can help to calm down inflammation. It can be helpful to prevent blemishes and clogged pores~0.55–0.8%

UREARole: Key activeNaturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations~0.2–0.4%

ISOSORBIDE DICAPRYLATERole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin. Early studies suggest that it can help strengthen the skin barrier~0.95–1.15%

CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDERole: Key activeA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~5.7–7%

FRUCTOSERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.25–0.4%

GLUTAMIC ACIDRole: Key activeAn amino-acid that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin~0.25–0.4%

GLYCERINRole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.4–3%

GLYCINERole: Key activeHelps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function~0.25–0.5%

GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDSRole: Key activeA type of lipids naturally present in skin. They can be converted to ceramides in skin~0.5–0.75%

LYSINE HCLRole: Key active~0.2–0.4%

PCARole: Key activeNaturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer~0.25–0.4%

SERINERole: Key activeAn amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles~0.25–0.45%

SODIUM HYALURONATERole: Key activeOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin~0.25–0.4%

SODIUM LACTATERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product~0.2–0.4%

SODIUM PCARole: Key activeNaturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer~0.2–0.4%

THREONINERole: Key activeAn amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles~0.25–0.45%

TOCOPHEROLRole: Key activePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.2–0.4%

TREHALOSERole: Key activeA sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin~0.2–0.4%

TRIOLEINRole: Key activeHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~0.2–0.4%

ALANINERole: Key activeAn amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking~0.25–0.45%

XYLITYLGLUCOSIDERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and repair the skin barrier function~0.2–0.4%

ALLANTOINRole: Under-dosedHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.2–0.4%

ARGININERole: Key activeAn amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin~0.25–0.5%

BETAINERole: Key activeHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture~0.2–0.4%

Irritancy

9 low-risk flags; mostly mild

Some risk

We flagged 9 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinLow~5.7–7%est.

Cetyl ethylhexanoateAn emollient that helps soften the skin and creates a thicker product textureLow~4.4–5.4%est.

Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleateHelps oil and water mix togetherLow~1.7–2%est.

Oleic acidHelps soften the upper layer of the skin. At the same time, it can weaken the skin's barrier enhancing penetration of other ingredients and increasing the risk of skin drynessLow~0.45–0.7%est.

Sodium lactateHelps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the productLow~0.2–0.4%est.

Pentylene glycolUsed to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product textureLow~0.25–0.5%est.

Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHLow~0.2–0.35%est.

Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateUsed to improve stability of the formulationLow~0.15–0.3%est.

ChlorphenesinA preservativeLow~0.1–0.2%est.

Comedogenic

Hydrogenated vegetable oil ~1.4–1.7% — rinse-off or low %

Low risk

We flag 1 ingredient with a low-to-moderate comedogenic rating — at these concentrations, or in rinse-off use, they're unlikely to clog pores for most skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Hydrogenated vegetable oilAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skinMed~1.4–1.7%est.

~ marks concentrations estimated from label position and typical use levels