A lightweight, water-based moisturizer combining natural moisturizing factors (amino acids, fatty acids, minerals) with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and support the skin barrier.
Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Trehalose, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Oleic Acid, Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Triolein, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Guru Score
The Guru Score: every expert's verdict on a product, in one simple number.
Under the score you'll see how many experts weighed in, or "Early verdict" while only a few have. Paid takes count for half in the score.
Guru Certified means at least 6 experts, a score of 85% or more, and almost no Nays.
How we score →Mixed
14 experts · Strong agreementWhat the gurus are saying
This balm earns consistent praise for strengthening the skin barrier and suiting most skin types, especially those with eczema or sensitivity, the natural moisturizing factors replenish what compromised skin already lacks. Gurus note it's lightweight and affordable at $6.50, though a few found it insufficiently hydrating for very dry or mature skin in winter, and one mentioned it can occasionally pill under certain sunscreens. Best suited to normal, oily, and mildly dry skin; those with severely dry skin may want to layer it or try The Ordinary's ceramide versions instead.
What they liked
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Key actives
Formula notes
Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Urea both holds water in the skin and gently loosens dead surface cells. At higher strengths it has good evidence for very dry or thickened skin.
Source: DermNet
Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.
Source: DermNet
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.
A lightweight, water-based moisturizer combining natural moisturizing factors (amino acids, fatty acids, minerals) with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and support the skin barrier.
The gurus are split. 11 of the 14 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 3 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 71%.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA holds a Guru Score of 71%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 14 expert reviewers we have collected.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.
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