Versus

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Versus Darphin Stimulskin Plus Absolute Renewal Cream for Normal Skin Types

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
Canadian Brand Canada
French Brand France

Updated on June 28, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
Stimulskin Plus Absolute Renewal Cream for Normal Skin Types

Water

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Masking
4 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Emollient
0-2 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Behenyl Alcohol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Algae Extract

Emollient
May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate

Humectant
0 / 0 Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Humectant
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Skin Protecting
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Bleaching
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract

Skin Conditioning

Crithmum Maritimum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Marrubium Vulgare Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Domestica Seed Extract

Emollient

Castanea Sativa Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

Emollient
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Masking
0-1 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Acetyl Glucosamine

Skin Conditioning

Micrococcus Lysate

Skin Conditioning

Macadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate

Emollient
Oil Icon

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Diglycerin

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Lactobacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Trehalose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Cholesterol

Emollient
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sodium Rna

Skin Conditioning

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Humectant
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Saccharum Officinarum Extract

Moisturising

Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract

Skin Conditioning

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Emollient
3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Emulsifying
4 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hordeum Vulgare Extract

Emollient

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein

Skin Conditioning

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Brassica Campestris Seed Oil

Skin Conditioning
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Glycine Soja Protein

Emulsifying

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Dextran

Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Mannan

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate

Emulsifying

Hexylene Glycol

Emulsifying
0-2 / 0-1

Calcium Chloride

Astringent

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

PEG-100 Stearate

0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

Emulsion Stabilising

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate

Emulsifying

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Sorbitan Isostearate

Emulsifying
1-2 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Copernicia Cerifera Wax

1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polysorbate 60

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Parfum

Masking
Fragrance IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Citronellol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Limonene

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Geraniol

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

Perfuming
Fragrance IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tetrasodium EDTA

May worsen Eczema Icon

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

CI 19140

Cosmetic Colorant

CI 15985

Cosmetic Colorant

Water, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Algae Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Castanea Sativa Seed Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Extract, Trifluoroacetyl Tripeptide-2, Caffeine, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Cucurbita Pepo Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Acetyl Glucosamine, Micrococcus Lysate, Macadamia Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Behenate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Diglycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lactobacillus Ferment, Trehalose, Caprylyl Glycol, Cholesterol, Sodium Rna, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Oryza Sativa Bran Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Phytosphingosine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycine Soja Protein, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Mannan, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Hexylene Glycol, Calcium Chloride, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Lecithin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Polysorbate 60, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, CI 19140, CI 15985

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Masking, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. 

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant, Moisturising

Trehalose is a disaccharide made of two glucose molecules (glucose is sugar!). Trehalose is used to help moisturize skin. It also has antioxidant properties.

As a humectant, trehalose helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

Due to its antioxidant properties, trehalose may help with signs of aging. Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules, unstable molecules that may damage your skin.

In medicine, trehalose and hyaluronic acid are used to help treat dry eyes.

Some animals, plants, and bacteria create trehalose as a source of energy to survive freeze or lack of water.

Learn more about Trehalose
Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid
Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of mixture of phospholipids.

This ingredient has emollient and emulsifying properties.

As an emollient, lecithen helps soften the skin and creates a barrier to keep moisture in.

As an emulsifier, it also helps prevent water and oil ingredients from separating. Lecithin can also help ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.

This is because the phospholipids in lecithin produce liposomes. Liposomes help other ingredients get through the skin barrier.

Depending on the source of this ingredient, lecithin may not be fungal acne safe. This is because some sources of lecithin come from soybean oil, which may feed the malassezia yeast that feeds fungal acne.

We recommend reaching out to the brand you are purchasing from to inquire about the source of their lecithin.

Learn more about Lecithin
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol
Emulsifying

Polysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.

Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.

In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.

Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.

Learn more about Polysorbate 60
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Antimicrobial, Preservative

Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.

Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.

Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.

Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.

Learn more about Chlorphenesin

When to use

3,156 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
97% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA 46 ingredients

2.5 /5
from 35 ratings
No Scent (10) Heavy (8) Doesn't Work (7)
starstellastar_407's avatar

starstellastar_407

1 year ago
Review

You want acne? Try this!

#broke me out
#heavy
Mac_R's avatar

Mac_R

2 years ago
Review

Nice feel, but not for sensitive skin
You cant go wrong with the price point of this moisturizer. I have the self-proclaimed most sensitive skin on the planet and found that this left a burning sensation for minutes after application. tried a few times before giving up but still burning continued.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Absolute Renewal Cream for Normal Skin Types 91 ingredients

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