Why Your Skin’s NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor) is the Key to Its Health

By molly / 18 December 2023

Why Your Skin’s NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor) is the Key to Its Health

It may seem like understanding your skin, and how it functions, requires a medical degree, but actually it’s much easier than that - and really boils down to just three little letters: NMF, that’s your skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor. Here’s what you need to know about it.

Yep, your skin is way smarter than we give it credit for - and it has even figured out a way to keep itself optimally hydrated. Where your skin encounters the most environmental and man made assaults on a daily basis is on the skin’s outer layer, otherwise known as the epidermis. That surface skin has major responsibilities including protecting the body from bacteria, diseases, temperature changes and even physical impacts. Doing all of these things can also make it thirsty, but rather than rely on pulling water from further inside the body, it has a genius layer, the NMF, that works to draw water from the air like a magnet. But, when the climate makes it impossible for the Natural Moisturizing Factor to do its job, skin can get dehydrated, damaged, and suffer from external aging. Pour Moi, the world’s first climate smart skincare line, was created to help support your skin’s NMF whether you’re in your home climate or traveling, so your skin never needs to suffer through another dry day.

What Exactly Makes Up the NMF?

This moisturizing layer is largely comprised of amino acids, lactic acid, lipids and salts. It’s purpose is to protect your skin from transepidermal water loss (TEWL), harmful particles and pollutants and keep the skin barrier strong and supported at all times. Insufficiency of NMF can damage the barrier and lead to skin dryness and roughness.

How Your Climate Impacts the NMF

No matter where you live, your skin over time tries to adapt to your particular climate by adjusting the amount of NMF it naturally produces - that means kicking it up a notch in dry climates, or minimizing it in humid climates. Pour Moi Day Creams and Night Cream work to support your skin’s natural process by keeping it’s NMF production balanced and restored, no matter what climate situations it’s encountering.

Travel Throws the NMF Out of Whack

When you move from one climate to another, even for a brief period of time, it interferes and confuses your skin’s NMF. It can adjust to a new environment after a few days, but in the meantime your skin experiences climate shock, resulting in a change in texture, tone and dryness. Pour Moi’s climate smart Day Creams (Polar, Tropical, Desert and Temperate) are specifically developed with key textures and ingredients to help skin stay in balance no matter what climate you travel to. The Day Creams are designed to work together so you can make the switch from one cream to another, and your skin’s NMF stays consistently working properly. Premium skincare’s job is to help skin restore, and keep intact, the skin barrier functions. This helps to reduce Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and the depletion of the vital NMF. Pour Moi’s antioxidant rich skincare products effectively promote skin barrier health and natural repair functions no matter where you live or travel to. That’s what we like to call a happy face, anyplace.