NMF, as it’s sometimes called, is a real thing and it is very attractive to water. It’s a water magnet. How does it work? A series of amino acids that suck in water from deeper in the skin, and sometimes from the outside environment. All the skin cells at the surface of our skin – the bricks – are filled with NMF. It’s central to the skin’s ability to keep water circulating through the system. Another unsexy way of describing NMF is that it’s a humectant. You should look for low molecular weight humectants, like vegetable glycerin in effective moisturizers.
NMF is essential, but it’s also very particular. Something of a catch-22, but if there’s not enough water, skin can’t create it. If there’s too much, skin will shut down production as well. NMF is also reduced by sun exposure, acne, and too much bathing with harsh soaps.
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