What Are NMF Ingredients & Why Your Skin Craves Them

Written By Ciara Mokeme

Why NMF is the Key to Healthy, Hydrated Skin

If you've ever struggled with dryness, tightness, flaking, or sensitivity, chances are your skin is low on something essential: Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF).

The NMF isn’t a single ingredient, it’s a blend of naturally occurring molecules in your skin that keep it hydrated, smooth, and resilient. Think of it as your skin’s built-in moisture reservoir.

At CACE + CO Skincare, we formulate with bio-identical NMF ingredients to restore what your skin naturally loses due to aging, harsh environments, or barrier damage.

What Is the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF)?

NMF is a complex of water-attracting substances found in the outer layer of your skin (the stratum corneum). These include:

  • Amino acids

  • Organic acids (like lactic acid)

  • Urea

  • Pyrrolidone Carboxylic Acid (PCA)

  • Sodium Lactate

  • Minerals and sugars

They all work together to absorb moisture from the air and deeper skin layers, keeping skin plump, elastic, and protected.

NMF Ingredients We Use in Our Body Lotion

Our Oats and Aloe Barrier+ Restore Body Lotion is crafted to support and replenish your skin’s NMF using proven, dermal-compatible ingredients. Here’s what we use — and why:

  • Glycerin - Classic humectantReplaces lost moisture and mimics skin’s hydration profile

  • Hyaluronic Acid - Deep-penetrating hydratorComplements NMF by retaining water in skin layers

  • Panthenol - Skin-soothing and barrier-restoringBoosts skin’s ability to retain water

  • Sodium Lactate - Humectant with mild exfoliationOne of the most powerful water-binders in the NMF complex

  • Urea - Deeply hydrating and softeningNaturally found in skin; binds water and improves texture

Together, these ingredients mimic the structure and function of your skin’s own NMF, restoring moisture from the inside out.

Why It Matters for Dry, Sensitive, or Compromised Skin

Every day, your skin is exposed to harsh weather, UV, pollutants, detergents, and stressors that deplete NMF components. This leads to:

  • Dehydration

  • Rough texture

  • Barrier damage

  • Increased sensitivity

By replenishing your skin with NMF-identical ingredients, our Barrier+ Restore Body Lotion helps:

  • Strengthen the skin barrier

  • Rebuild resilience

  • Lock in hydration

  • Soothe irritation

It's not just moisturizing, it's functional skin recovery.

Why CACE + CO Skincare Chooses Bio-Compatible Formulation

We go beyond just hydration. Our lotion is also enriched with:

  • Ceramide Complex – to repair the lipid barrier

  • Colloidal Oats – for anti-inflammatory benefits

  • Vegan Collagen – to improve elasticity

  • Resveratrol – a potent antioxidant to fight oxidative stress

All in a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture, no greasiness, no tacky finish.

Key Benefits of Oats and Aloe Our NMF-Boosting Body Lotion:

  • Restores hydration at a cellular level

  • Helps relieve dryness, irritation, and tightness

  • Ideal for daily body care, especially for sensitive, dry, or mature skin

  • Supports long-term skin health, not just temporary moisture

Supporting your skin’s natural barrier is more than skin deep. By replenishing what your skin actually needs — NMF components — you're empowering it to heal, defend, and thrive on its own.

Next time you choose a body moisturizer, look beyond the label. Choose one that speaks your skin’s language.

Ciara Mokeme
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