The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
3. Cetyl Alcohol
4. Propanediol
5. Stearyl Alcohol
6. Glycerin
7. Sodium Hyaluronate
8. Arginine
9. Aspartic acid
10. Glycine
11. Alanine
12. Serine
13. Valine
14. Isoleucine
15. Proline
16. Threonine
17. Histidine
18. Phenylalanine
19. Glucose
20. Maltose
21. Fructose
22. Trehalose
23. Sodium PCA
24. PCA
25. Sodium Lactate
26. Urea
27. Allantoin
28. Linoleic Acid
29. Oleic Acid
30. Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides
31. Palmitic Acid
32. Stearic Acid
33. Lecithin
34. Triolein
35. Tocopherol
36. Carbomer
37. Isoceteth-20
38. Polysorbate 60
39. Sodium chloride
40. Citric Acid
41. Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
42. Pentylene Glycol
43. Triethanolamine
44. Sodium Hydroxide
45. Phenoxyethanol
46. Chlorphenesin

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains fragranceContains PEG

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

AquaPropanediol

FRAGRANCE

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Cetyl AlcoholStearyl Alcohol

DENATURANT

Glycerin

HUMECTANT

Sodium Hyaluronate

ANTISTATIC

Arginine

Other ingredients

Aspartic acidGlycineAlanineSerineValineIsoleucineProlineThreonineHistidinePhenylalanineGlucoseMaltoseFructoseTrehaloseSodium PCAPCASodium LactateUreaAllantoinLinoleic AcidOleic AcidPhytosteryl Canola GlyceridesPalmitic AcidStearic AcidLecithinTrioleinTocopherolCarbomerIsoceteth-20Polysorbate 60Sodium chlorideCitric AcidTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinatePentylene GlycolTriethanolamineSodium HydroxidePhenoxyethanolChlorphenesin

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Light occlusive and solvent at 1–10%; non-greasy feel, suitable for oily and combination skin

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol for emulsification/thickening; high concentration >10% may irritate.

Propanediol

Polyol solvent at 1–5%; light feel, aids solubilization, propylene glycol alternative

Stearyl Alcohol

Stearic alcohol; fatty alcohol for emulsion thickening/structure, often blended with soaps, moderate comedogenicity.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Arginine

Arginine for moisturizing/conditioning; amino acid, high biocompatibility, often used in blends.

Aspartic acid

Amino acid humectant and conditioner, common in rinse-off products; low levels mild, high levels may shift pH

Glycine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; small molecule, low irritation.

Alanine

Amino acid for antistatic and conditioning; low irritation, slight salty taste at high levels

Serine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; high water solubility, compatible with sensitive skin.

Valine

Amino acid humectant, common in amino acid cleansers and sprays; mild, suitable for all skin types

Isoleucine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning and antistatic purposes; often blended; check taste if high.

Proline

Proline, amino-acid humectant; boosts stratum corneum hydration, stable at pH 4-5.

Threonine

Threonine, essential amino acid for hair/skin; blended with other AAs for balance.

Histidine

Amino acid humectant and antistatic agent; pH-dependent behavior, consider buffering in formulation.

Phenylalanine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning; usually part of a blend, no significant standalone efficacy data

Glucose

Low-MW humectant and buffer; high hygroscopicity requires careful preservation and humidity control.

Maltose

Maltose humectant/skin conditioner; low sweetness, masking; monitor microbial growth.

Fructose

Strong humectant; high levels can increase viscosity and hygroscopicity.

Trehalose

Trehalose; mild humectant and stabilizer for proteins/actives; hygroscopic, light skin feel.

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

PCA

Proline carboxylic acid, NMF component; humectant, generally low irritation but may sensitise.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Urea

Potent humectant and keratolytic, >10% has exfoliating effect; stinging sensation at high levels, sensitive skin caution

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Linoleic Acid

Essential fatty acid for barrier repair and hydration; oxidizes easily, high levels may be comedogenic

Oleic Acid

Oleic acid for emolliency/emulsification; high levels may increase skin penetration

Phytosteryl Canola Glycerides

Phytosterol canola glycerides, support barrier repair and moisture, stabilize lipid membrane

Palmitic Acid

Palmitic acid for emulsification/emollient; solid fat, high melting point, occlusive.

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Triolein

Triolein (glyceryl trioleate), liquid emollient; greasy, prone to rancidity, store cool with antioxidants.

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Isoceteth-20

Not decoded yet

Polysorbate 60

Non-ionic emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W or W/O stability; may cause mild stinging on sensitive skin, typically 1-5%.

Sodium chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.