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The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA for dry sensitive skin

Superior

  • SuperiorDry Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best moisturizers for dry sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Excellent suitability for your dry and sensitive skin as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide superior hydration and barrier support, while Linoleic Acid aids in replenishing lipids. Urea and Allantoin further enhance skin comfort by soothing and promoting moisture retention.
  • The formulation is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of emollients and humectants to support your skin's barrier function.
  • This product is exceptionally safe for your skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients and including beneficial components like Glycerin and Urea that actively soothe and hydrate.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 8.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly favored by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its hydrating properties without causing greasiness or breakouts. It is also frequently praised for its affordability and gentle, fragrance-free formula. The packaging size is also a common point of complaint.

Highlights

  • Non-greasy finish Mostly Mentioned
    • “Sinks in immediately”
    • “leaves a natural matte finish”
    • “perfect for my oily t-zone”
    • “zero greasy residue”
  • Unbeatable price Mostly Mentioned
    • “Insanely affordable”
    • “can't beat the price tag”
    • “great budget staple”
    • “bang for your buck”
  • Fragrance-free, gentle Often Mentioned
    • “No irritation at all”
    • “doesn't sting my sensitive skin”
    • “completely scent-free”
    • “didn't break me out”
  • Insufficient moisture Often Mentioned
    • “Skin felt tight an hour later”
    • “not enough for dry patches”
    • “need to apply two layers”
    • “too lightweight for winter”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes Noted
    • “Makeup sits beautifully on top”
    • “acts like a gripping primer”
    • “no pilling under foundation”
    • “smooth base for concealer”
  • Small packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “Wish it came in a pump”
    • “tube is too small”
    • “finished it in two weeks”
    • “hard to squeeze the last bit out”
  • Thick texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Hard to spread”
    • “feels like a thick paste”
    • “stiff consistency”
    • “requires warming up in hands”
  • White cast Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves white streaks at first”
    • “takes work to rub in”
    • “looks white until fully absorbed”
    • “ghostly cast if you use too much”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, spacenk.com, theordinary.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA one of the best fits for dry sensitive skin?

This moisturizer is one of the best fits for your dry sensitive skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide deep hydration and barrier support while linoleic acid replenishes your skin's lipids. Urea and allantoin also help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable by boosting moisture retention.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012Skin Research and Technology, 2022

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Urea, Allantoin, and Linoleic Acid make this cream a great fit by providing deep hydration, calming the skin, and helping repair the protective barrier. These ingredients work together to lock in moisture and keep dry and sensitive skin feeling soft and comfortable.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012Skin Research and Technology, 2022

What do Natural Moisturizing Factors do for dry sensitive skin?

Natural moisturizing factors help dry sensitive skin by holding onto water and keeping the outer barrier strong, which reduces visible dryness and rough feelings. Using formulas with these ingredients makes the skin feel much softer and keeps it comfortable throughout the day.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This moisturizer goes near the end of your evening routine as the final step to lock in hydration and soothe your skin. Using a daily moisturizer helps improve clinical scores and visual dryness in dry skin.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the moisturizer first to help calm and protect your dry and sensitive skin. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer alongside retinol is unlikely to cause irritation and may help your skin adjust to the treatment more comfortably.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This moisturizer is suitable for twice-daily application in your morning and evening routines to support your skin barrier and maintain hydration. Regular daily use helps improve skin moisture levels and keeps dry, sensitive skin feeling comfortable and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because its ingredients are well-balanced and free of harsh additives. It helps keep skin calm and soft while supporting your natural barrier.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cream on the body and around the eyes because its gentle ingredients like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate hydrate and support thin and dry skin safely.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012
  • A 10% urea plus NMF moisturizer significantly improved total stratum corneum water content and the water gradient down to a depth of 15 μm compared to its vehicle in subjects with dry skin.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2022
  • Natural moisturizing factor-enriched ceramide cream and lotion increased skin moisturization significantly more than a ceramide-based cream alone in participants over a 10-day application and 5-day regression period.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
  • Topical 40% urea cream achieved improvement in less time and showed superiority over 12% ammonium lactate lotion in skin roughness, fissure reduction, thickness, and dryness at day 14 in patients treated for moderate to severe xerosis.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical treatment with K101 achieved a significantly higher mycological cure rate compared to placebo in patients with ≤50% nail involvement (27.2% vs 10.4%), while showing early visible improvements in nail appearance and no safety issues.

    Mycoses, 2012

Ingredients

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, Trioleic Acid, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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