
The Ordinary 'Buffet' Serum
Benefits
Promise: Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Combining an array of effective technologies, the serum is able to target multiple signs of ageing in one versatile formula.
This product contains acetyl hexapeptide-8, aspartic acid, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, pentapeptide-18, serine, threonine. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 | MEDIUM | ||
palmitoyl tripeptide-1 | MEDIUM | ||
palmitoyl tripeptide-38 | MEDIUM |
Promise: Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Fine Lines/Wrinkles, Dryness, and Loss of Firmness/Elasticity Formulation.
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
alanine, arginine.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, caprylyl glycol.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, pentapeptide-18, urea
Other benefit: Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (lactococcus ferment lysate). In theory, they could help neutralize free radicals in skin and lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun), but there is no evidence that these ingredients can have a noticeable effect in skin.
Ingredient | Effectiveness | Concentration | Irritancy |
---|---|---|---|
lactococcus ferment lysate | LOW |
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Moisturizing | |
Anti-aging |
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Potential irritants

Ingredient | Irritancy | Skin Benefit |
---|---|---|
sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer | ||
sodium lactate | ||
citric acid |
User reviews (1)
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WIMJ similarity score | 52% | 52% | 52% | 49% | 48% | 48% | 47% | 46% | 45% | 44% | |
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Irritancy | ![]() IRRITANCY
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Ingredients & concentrations
- pentapeptide-18
- urea
- dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate
- palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
- palmitoyl tripeptide-1
- palmitoyl tripeptide-38
- acetyl hexapeptide-8
- glycerin
- glycine
- histidine
- isoleucine
- lactococcus ferment lysate
- sodium pca
- threonine
- trehalose
- pca
- alanine
- serine
- sodium hyaluronate
- sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer
- allantoin
- arginine
- aspartic acid
- sodium lactate
- fructose
- +21 more
Ingredient | Estimated concentration |
---|---|
45% - 55% | |
Plain old water | |
4.8% - 5.8% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant | |
4% - 4.8% | |
Consists of remains of dead bacteria cells. Is likely helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin. Might be helpful in reducing inflammation and neutralizing free radicals in skin | |
3% - 3.6% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
2.2% - 2.7% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
1.9% - 2.3% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
1.5% - 1.9% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
1.3% - 1.6% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
1.1% - 1.3% | |
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.75% - 1.1% | |
0.55% - 0.85% | |
Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin | |
0.45% - 0.7% | |
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated | |
0.3% - 0.6% | |
Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help restore the skin barrier function | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help to lighten the skin, but solid evidence is lacking | |
0.3% - 0.55% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.25% - 0.5% | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
An amino acid that can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and support skin's barrier function | |
0.25% - 0.45% | |
0.2% - 0.4% | |
An amino-acid that helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. In combination with other amino-acids, might help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
An amino-acid that helps increase skin hydration and might help to slightly improve skin firmness, potentially reducing lines and wrinkles | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Could be helpful in restoring the skin barrier function | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Naturally present in skin (urea makes up about 7% of natural moisturizing factors in skin). Attracts water to the upper layer of the skin. Also has a positive effect on the skin barrier beyond the humectant action. Can enhance penetration of other ingredients. Is an exfoliating ingredient when used in high concentrations | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Naturally present in skin and helps to attract water to its upper layer | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Is often used to adjust the pH level of the product | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH | |
0.2% - 0.4% | |
Used to stabilize product formulations and help soften the upper layer of the skin | |
0.2% - 0.35% | |
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Used to adjust the product's pH | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin | |
0.2% - 0.4% | |
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps mask the small of other ingredients and improve the product texture | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Used to create a thicker product consistency | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.15% - 0.3% | |
Helps oil and water mix together | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
Used to improve stability of the formulation | |
0.05% - 0.1% | |
Helps to improve the product consistency | |
0.05% - 0.1% | |
A preservative | |
0.15% - 0.25% | |
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A preservative | |
0.1% - 0.2% | |
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products | |
0.1% - 0.15% | |
A preservative | |
Show more |
Sources
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Profile of wound healing process induced by allantoin
- Effect of Topical Application of Glycine and Proline on Recalcitrant Leg Ulcers of Prolidase Deficiency
- Functional glycine receptor in cultured human keratinocytes
- Combination of amino acids reduces pigmentation in B16F0 melanoma cells
- Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
- Local rhamnosoft, ceramides and L‐isoleucine in atopic eczema: a randomized, placebo controlled trial
- Histidine and/or Histidine Derivative for the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases
- Safety Assessment of α-Amino Acids as Used in Cosmetics
- Acetyl aspartic acid, a novel active ingredient, demonstrates potential to improve signs of skin ageing: from consumer need to clinical proof
- In vivo topical application of acetyl aspartic acid increases fibrillin-1 and collagen IV deposition leading to a significant improvement of skin firmness
- Topical Glucose Induces Claudin-1 and Filaggrin Expression in a Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis and in Keratinocyte Culture, Exerting Anti-inflammatory Effects by Repairing Skin Barrier Function
- Topical urea in skincare: A review
- Amended Safety Assessment of Butyl Polyoxyalkylene Ethers as Used in Cosmetics