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The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides for oily skin

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin, as ceramides and hyaluronic acid provide excellent moisturization and enhance barrier resilience without causing irritation. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate offer general hydration, but lack specialized ingredients to manage oily shine.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
  • It provides good moisturizing benefits and supports barrier function, making it a generally safe option for your skin type.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 1.7k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this ultra-rich moisturizer is widely celebrated by users with dry, dehydrated, or mature skin for its ability to repair the moisture barrier and provide a plump, dewy finish. Users with oily or acne-prone skin frequently find the texture too heavy and greasy, with some reporting congestion or breakouts.

Highlights

  • Intense hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Immediately moisturised skin”
    • “Boosts skin hydration significantly”
    • “Skin looks so hydrated”
    • “Quenches tight, dehydrated skin”
  • Greasy finish Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves an oily residue”
    • “Too shiny for day use”
    • “Feels heavy and sticky”
    • “Sits on top of skin”
  • Barrier repair Sometimes Noted
    • “Restores my barrier”
    • “Heals flaky patches”
    • “Great for damaged skin”
    • “Soothes sore areas”
  • Rich texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Feels luxurious and thick”
    • “Melts into the skin”
    • “Leaves skin soft and glowy”
    • “Creates a smooth base”
  • Value for money Sometimes Noted
    • “Rivals expensive creams”
    • “Little goes a long way”
    • “Better than high-end brands”
    • “Great price for ceramides”
  • Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “Gave me closed comedones”
    • “Broke me out immediately”
    • “Caused fungal acne”
    • “Clogged my pores”
  • Scent Rarely Noted
    • “Has an earthy smell”
    • “Smells like ingredients”
    • “Slightly off-putting scent”
    • “Not completely odorless”
  • Slow absorption Rarely Noted
    • “Takes time to sink in”
    • “Hard to spread evenly”
    • “Too heavy under sunscreen”
    • “Pills if rubbed too much”

Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kohls.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides work for oily skin?

This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily skin, as it hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier without causing irritation. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to manage oily shine. A product for this skin needs lightweight textures, peptides, and ingredients that manage oil while maintaining hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and urea make this cream a good fit by providing hydration and strengthening the skin barrier without causing irritation. However, a moisturizer for oily skin also needs specialized ingredients to manage oily shine and a lightweight texture that does not contribute to excess oiliness.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What do Natural Moisturizing Factors do for oily skin?

Natural Moisturizing Factors help keep oily skin properly hydrated without feeling heavy. They support a balanced skin barrier by holding onto water and maintaining moisture levels.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2004Molecules, 2021

What do Phytoceramides do for oily skin?

Phytoceramides help restore the skin barrier, which tends to be disrupted when you have oily skin and acne. Using them may reduce irritation and inflammation while improving skin hydration and overall balance.

Cureus, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

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

This moisturizer goes in the morning and evening routine after your toner and treatments, and before your sunscreen in the morning. It helps keep your skin soft and hydrated while supporting your skin barrier, though oily skin also needs specialized ingredients to manage shine.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then following with the cream to help keep your skin comfortable and support its barrier. This type of routine is generally safe and helps reduce unwanted skin irritation when using strong treatments, though oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that manage shine.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2016

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this cream twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and supports its natural barrier without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This cream is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, but some reviewers report that it can lead to breakouts and a greasy finish. To work better for oily skin, a moisturizer needs ingredients that help manage oily shine while providing hydration.

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

You can safely use this cream around your eyes and on your body, as it offers good moisturizing benefits and a safe profile without harsh ingredients. Because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, applying gentle hydrating ingredients helps maintain comfort and smoothness in delicate areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • 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 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
  • Topical application of a formulation containing natural moisturizing factor components increased strongly bound water, decreased weakly bound water at 30-40% stratum corneum depth, and prevented intercellular lipids disorganization compared to placebo in 12 volunteers.

    Molecules, 2021
  • 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 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

Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Hydrogenated 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, Triolein, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, 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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