Personal care compositions and methods for increasing the production of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) and increasing the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in skin are provided. The personal care compositions may include a carrier, one or more plant oils, and one or more salts of pyrrolidone carboxylate. The one or more plant oils and the one or more salts of pyrrolidone carboxylate are each present in an effective amount to increase NMFs and AMPs in skin when applied to the skin.