Home
/
Comparisons
/
Face Moisturisers
/
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml vs CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml vs CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz

Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml and CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz.

Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 24 reviews

Back to comparison hub View face moisturisers guide

84.0

Quick Answer

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml scores 84.0/100 vs CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz at 83.0/100. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml wins on ingredient quality, skin compatibility, texture experience. CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz is stronger on effectiveness.

Which is better: The Ordinary Natural Moistu... or CeraVe Moisturising Cream, ...?

The Ordinary edges ahead with a higher overall score (84 vs 83) and a lower price (£11.40 vs £13.11), making it the better pick for oily, combination, or sensitive skin seeking lightweight daily hydration. Choose CeraVe instead if you have dry to very dry skin or a compromised barrier — its ceramide trio actively repairs skin lipids in a way The Ordinary's humectant-focused formula cannot match.

— AIScored Editorial Team

How Do the Scores Compare?

The Ordinary Natural Moistu...

CeraVe Moisturising Cream, ...

	The Ordinary Natural Moistu... The Ordinary	CeraVe Moisturising Cream, ... CeraVe
Overall Score	84.0	83.0
Effectiveness	78.0/100	83.0/100 Best
Ingredient Quality	88.0/100 Best	81.0/100
Skin Compatibility	87.0/100 Best	85.0/100
Texture & UX	85.0/100 Best	77.0/100
Value for Money	93.0/100 Best	89.0/100
Best Price	£11.40 Amazon UK → Cheapest	£13.11 Amazon UK →
Form	N/A	N/A
Dose	N/A	N/A
Third-Party Tested	✗ No	✗ No
Reviews Analysed	12	12

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizin...

Pros

✓Rich NMF complex (amino acids, sodium PCA, urea, lactate, polyglutamic acid) closely mirrors skin's own hydration factors
✓Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free — excellent tolerability across skin types
✓Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture praised across reviews; works as makeup base
✓Outstanding value for money — clinically-inspired formulation at drugstore price

Cons

✗Primarily humectant-driven — lacks significant occlusive or emollient content for very dry or compromised skin barriers
✗Urea, while beneficial, can occasionally cause mild tingling on sensitised or freshly-exfoliated skin
✗One reviewer reported persistent dry patches despite consistent use — may need layering with a richer balm for dry skin types
✗Sodium hyaluronate sits lower in the INCI than ideal for HA-seekers; it supplements rather than leads the formula

Best For

normal to combination skin oily and acne-prone skin seeking lightweight hydration sensitive skin (fragrance-free, minimal irritants) layering under heavier creams or facial oils for dry skin morning routine base under SPF or makeup

Amazon UK £11.40

View full review →

CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face ...

Pros

✓Three physiological ceramides (NP, AP, EOP) plus cholesterol actively restore skin barrier lipid composition
✓Fragrance-free and alcohol-free formula — widely tolerated by sensitive and reactive skin types
✓Glycerin positioned early in the INCI ensures meaningful humectant concentration
✓454 g pot offers excellent cost-per-use for a dermatologist-backed formulation

Cons

✗Rich, occlusive texture (cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride) may clog pores for acne-prone or oily skin — moderate comedogenic risk
✗Sodium hyaluronate appears late in the INCI, suggesting a supporting rather than high-dose role
✗Pot packaging exposes cream to repeated finger contamination, which can degrade preservative efficacy over time
✗Not suitable as a standalone facial moisturiser for oily or combination skin types

Best For

dry to very dry skin (face and body) sensitive or reactive skin requiring fragrance-free formulas compromised skin barrier — eczema-prone, post-procedure, or scar tissue peri-menopausal skin with increased transepidermal water loss budget-conscious daily ceramide moisturiser

Amazon UK £13.11

View full review →

What does the data say about The Ordinary Natural M... vs CeraVe Moisturising Cr...?

These two moisturisers sit in the same price bracket — £11.40 for The Ordinary NMF+HA versus £13.11 for CeraVe Moisturising Cream — but they're engineered for quite different skin situations. The Ordinary formula centres on Natural Moisturising Factors: amino acids, sodium PCA, urea, lactate, and polyglutamic acid that mimic what healthy skin already produces. It scores higher on ingredient quality (88/100) precisely because this NMF complex is genuinely biomimetic. CeraVe takes a different structural approach, delivering three physiological ceramides (NP, AP, EOP) alongside cholesterol to actively rebuild the lipid matrix in the skin barrier — the ingredients that hold skin cells together. Its lower ingredient quality score (81/100) reflects the sodium hyaluronate appearing late in the INCI, suggesting it's present in supporting rather than meaningful concentrations.

If your skin is normal to combination or oily and acne-prone, The Ordinary is the more sensible pick. It absorbs quickly, works as a makeup base, and its lightweight humectant profile won't block pores. CeraVe, with cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, and caprylic/capric triglyceride in a rich, occlusive cream, carries a moderate comedogenic risk that oily skin types will likely notice. For dry to very dry skin, eczema-prone skin, or anyone post-procedure with a compromised barrier, CeraVe is the stronger clinical choice — the ceramide restoration it offers goes beyond surface hydration.

One practical note: The Ordinary's urea content, while beneficial for most, can cause mild tingling on freshly exfoliated or sensitised skin — worth bearing in mind if you're pairing it with actives. Both are fragrance-free and alcohol-free, so allergen concerns are minimal either way. Neither carries third-party certification. The Ordinary edges ahead on value (93/100 versus 89/100), and for most people with normal or combination skin it remains a very capable daily moisturiser.

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml Winner 84.0/100

The Ordinary NMF + HA is a minimalist, fragrance-free lightweight moisturiser built around a comprehensive Natural Moisturizing Factor complex — amino acids, sodium PCA, urea, lactate, and sodium hyaluronate — all skin-identical humectants that closely mimic the skin's own moisture-retention system.

Effectiveness

The Ordinary Nat..

78.0/100

CeraVe Moisturis..

83.0/100

Ingredient Quality

The Ordinary Nat..

88.0/100

CeraVe Moisturis..

81.0/100

Skin Compatibility

The Ordinary Nat..

87.0/100

CeraVe Moisturis..

85.0/100

Texture & UX

The Ordinary Nat..

85.0/100

CeraVe Moisturis..

77.0/100

Value for Money

The Ordinary Nat..

93.0/100

CeraVe Moisturis..

89.0/100

What are the key differences?

The Ordinary Natural Mo.. is best for: normal to combination skin, oily and acne-prone skin seeking lightweight hydration

CeraVe Moisturising Cre.. is best for: dry to very dry skin (face and body), sensitive or reactive skin requiring fragrance-free formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml or CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz? ▼

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml scores 84.0/100 overall while CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz scores 83.0/100. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml comes out ahead, scoring higher on effectiveness (78.0 vs 83.0). The Ordinary Natural Moisturiz is best suited for normal to combination skin and oily and acne-prone skin seeking lightweight hydration. CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Fac is better for dry to very dry skin (face and body) and sensitive or reactive skin requiring fragrance-free formulas.

Is The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml worth the price compared to CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz? ▼

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml costs £11.40 while CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz is £13.11. For value, The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml scores 93.0/100 vs CeraVe Moisturising Cream, Face & Body, With 3 essential ceramides & hyaluronic acid, For dry to very dry skin, 454 g/16 oz's 89.0/100. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, Lightweight Hydrator for Skin Barrier Support & Hydration, 100ml delivers better value relative to its quality.