Product

The Ordinary Buffet: Dermatologist Review

Seven peptide technologies high in the formula for around $17 — the rational way to buy into peptides.
Last Updated: September 8, 2026
The Ordinary Buffet
Key Facts What It Is What It Treats Not the Best For Texture A Dermatologist’s ConcernsMore
How to Use It Where It Fits in Your Routine What It Does Number of Ingredients Full Ingredient List Price per Ounce The Rest of the Line Similar Products FAQ
Dermatologist's Verdict

The Ordinary Buffet is a gentle hydrating serum. Seven peptides is a count, not a dose — they share one budget and none sits high. The hyaluronic acid and amino acid base is what you will feel. Use it if retinoids do not suit you. For wrinkles, retinoids are far better evidenced.

Strongly recommendedRecommendedMixedNot recommendedAvoid

The cheat sheetKey Facts

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Key active7 peptide complexes including Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl Synthe'6, Argireline
TextureLightweight serum
Best forAnti-aging on a budget; skin that cannot tolerate retinoids
Approximate price$16–$20
FragranceNone
Essential oilsNone
Drying alcoholPhenoxyethanol
LanolinNone

The short versionWhat It Is

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The Ordinary Buffet is a thin, fragrance-free serum for around $17, sold for fine lines and firmness. Now called Multi-Peptide + HA Serum — same formula, new name. It does nothing for acne or pigment.

Seven peptide technologies sit at positions four to ten on the ingredient list, ahead of the hyaluronic acid. Behind them is a hydrating base most brands would sell alone — two weights of hyaluronic acid, seventeen amino acids, and a natural moisturizing factor complex of urea, sugars and sodium PCA, the mixture your skin cells use to hold water. It is watery, slightly tacky, and gone in under a minute.

Where it earns its keepWhat It Treats

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Sun Damage (Photoaging)
Sun Damage (Photoaging)
Barely works
Fine lines and slackness come from collagen breaking down faster than the body replaces it. Peptides aim at that in theory, acting as the repair signal broken collagen leaves behind. Seven in one bottle is a marketing count, not a stronger effect. If your skin tolerates a retinoid, use one — the evidence is far better.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive Skin
Good fit
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They do not speed up cell turnover, so they do not flake, sting or flush. If retinoids have never worked for you, this is the cheapest way into the alternative. The evidence for peptides is much weaker.
Normal Skin
Normal Skin
Good fit
Set the peptides aside and it is still a good hydrating serum. The amino acids, sugars and urea are the natural moisturizing factor your skin cells use to hold water, and hyaluronic acid pulls in more. For around $17 that is a fair buy.

Don't expect miraclesNot the Best For

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Acne
Acne
Doesn't work
Peptides do nothing to a clogged pore or to acne bacteria. This is a firmness serum.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation
Doesn't work
Buffet is marketed for overall skin quality, which many read as tone. Nothing in it acts on pigment.

How it feelsTexture

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A thin, watery serum; a couple of drops covers the face.

It absorbs in under a minute but leaves a faint tack, as hyaluronic acid serums do. Let it dry fully or it can pill.

Fragrance-free, with no scent of its own.

ointment texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Ointment
Almost all oil, no water. Sits on top and seals.
Good for very dry, cracked or raw skin. Easiest to use at night. Too greasy for most faces during the day.
balm texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Balm
Waxy and solid until it warms in your hands.
Good for dry patches, lips and hands. Useful in cold, windy weather. Heavy on the face.
cream texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Cream
Thick blend of oil and water.
Good for normal to dry skin. Good in winter. May be too thick for summer.
oil texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Oil
All oil, but spreads far thinner than an ointment.
Good layered over a moisturizer on dry skin. Sinks in faster than an ointment. Some oils clog pores on acne-prone skin.
lotion texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Lotion
Mostly water. Pours and sinks in fast.
Good for normal skin and for large areas like arms and legs. Comfortable in summer. Often not enough for very dry skin.
gel texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Gel
Water based, no oil. Cool and slippery.
Good for oily and acne-prone skin. Good in heat and humidity. The alcohol in some gels stings broken skin.
serum texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Serum · this one
Thin and watery. Absorbs in seconds.
Usually carries active ingredients rather than moisture. Layers under a moisturizer. Rarely enough on its own for dry skin.
spray texture
‹ HeavierLighter ›
Spray
A fine mist. Barely there.
Good for the back and other spots that are hard to reach. Easy in summer. Does little for very dry skin.

The house rulesHow to Use The Ordinary Buffet

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How much: A few drops. A thicker layer just sits there.
Layering: Let it dry completely before moisturizer or sunscreen. If it pills, use less and pause between steps.
What to expect: Plumper, better hydrated skin within days — that is the hyaluronic acid and amino acids, not the peptides. Judge it as a hydrating serum; treat firming as a bonus.

Where It Fits in Your Routine

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Pick what fits you and the routine rebuilds around it. The Ordinary Buffet is marked in the steps it belongs to.

This product is good for

What's insideHow The Ordinary Buffet Works

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Peptides are short chains of amino acids. When collagen breaks down it leaves fragments, and the cells that build collagen appear to read those fragments as a signal to repair. Apply the fragments and you send the signal without the damage.

The evidence does not carry that far. A 2026 systematic review in Frontiers in Medicine pooled 19 randomized peptide trials; only two tested topical peptides, and the wrinkle benefit came mostly from oral collagen studies. Elasticity showed no meaningful effect. Peptides are also large molecules, and skin keeps large molecules out, so most stay near the surface rather than reaching the depth where collagen is made. Much of the research comes from the suppliers who sell them.

The Ordinary Buffet is still the rational way into the category — seven peptide complexes high in the formula for around $17, though seven sharing one budget means none is at a high dose. The base is what reliably works — hyaluronic acid, amino acids and a natural moisturizing factor complex. Peptides are fine for skin that cannot use a retinoid, but not a replacement for one.

Tap an ingredient to see where it works

In the pore

In the skin barrier

BARRIEREPIDERMISDERMISCOLLAGENTELLS THE SKIN TO BUILD COLLAGENHARD TO GET INPROTECTS FROM NEW DAMAGE

Collagen is the framework in the dermis that keeps skin firm. The Ordinary Buffet signals the cells that make it, the fibroblasts, to build more. It is slow work — months, not weeks — because the framework is rebuilt from the inside. Signal the skin to build. The evidence is thinner than for retinoids.

Peptides are chains of amino acids — water-loving and, by skincare standards, large. Very little crosses intact skin, which is the honest limit on what a peptide cream can do.

Ultraviolet light and pollution create unstable molecules that damage cell structures and collagen. An antioxidant neutralizes them. That is protection against new damage rather than repair of old damage, which is why it belongs alongside sunscreen and not instead of it.

The outer film of dead cells and oil. It holds water in and keeps irritants out, and it is thinner than a sheet of paper. Almost every dry, itchy, stinging skin problem starts here.

The outer layer, and the only one anything in a jar reaches. It renews itself constantly: a cell made at the bottom takes about a month to reach the surface and flake off. Most of what a skincare product does, it does here.

The living layer underneath, holding the blood vessels, the nerves and the collagen. It is where lasting change happens and it is hard to reach: most of what is sold for the skin never gets this far.

PULLS WATER INPULLS WATER INPULLS WATER IN

Holds water in the top layers, so skin feels less tight after washing.

Pulls water into the surface and holds it there.

Holds water and loosens dead cells at the same time.

The outermost layer, and the one every moisturizer is aiming at. It is dead — flattened cells stacked like bricks, with a mix of fats as the glue between them. That glue is what holds water in and keeps irritants out.

The outer layer, and the only one anything in a jar reaches. It renews itself constantly: a cell made at the bottom takes about a month to reach the surface and flake off. Most of what a skincare product does, it does here.

The living layer underneath, holding the blood vessels, the nerves and the collagen. It is where lasting change happens and it is hard to reach: most of what is sold for the skin never gets this far.

Short list or longNumber of Ingredients

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This is how many ingredients are on the label. The more a product contains, the more chances one of them bothers you. That matters most if you have sensitive skin, eczema, or a known allergy. If your skin tolerates most things, a long list is not a problem by itself.

This product has
51 ingredients
7 ingredients
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F
45 ingredients
51 ingredients
The Ordinary Buffet · this one
52 ingredients
Anua Dark Spot Correcting Serum
752

39 serums reviewed, from The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F (7) to Anua Dark Spot Correcting Serum (52). Tap a dot to see which.

Full Ingredient List

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Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

The fine printA Dermatologist’s Concerns

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Seven peptides split one budget: more is not better. Spreading one formulation budget across seven technologies means none of them is present at a high individual dose. "Kitchen sink" is a fair description.

Price does not fix the evidence: a cheap peptide serum and an expensive one rest on the same thin foundation.

The name has changed: "Buffet" is now sold as "Multi-Peptide + HA Serum." Same formula, different name.

A retinoid does more for wrinkles: if you can tolerate a retinoid, use one. The evidence is not comparable, and a $10 retinol will do more for wrinkles than any peptide serum here.

What it runsPrice per Ounce

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The Ordinary Buffet costs $20 per ounce. That is cheaper than 29 of the other 38 serums priced on Dermapedia, which run from $4.14 to $190 per ounce.

Price per ounce is a fair way to compare value, but not the whole story — a thicker product goes further per application, and an expensive active costs what it costs.

This product costs
$20 per ounce
$4.14 per oz
$20 per oz
The Ordinary Buffet · this one $20
$190 per oz
Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30% $190
$4.14$190

39 serums priced, from Cosrx Peptide Serum ($4.14) to Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30% ($190). Priced on the 1.01 oz size at $19.90. The scale is logarithmic. Tap a dot to see which. Prices current as of September 2026.

Its siblingsThe Rest of the Line

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The Ordinary sells four peptide serums that overlap heavily. What changes is the number of complexes and the price.

Simplest formulaMost loaded
Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
A smaller peptide blend in a hydrating base. The simplest way in.
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
The same idea in a small bottle for the eye area. Nothing in it is reserved for eyes.
Buffet
Buffet
Seven peptide complexes, high in the ingredient list. The sensible default.
You are here
"Buffet" + Copper Peptides
"Buffet" + Copper Peptides
This formula with copper tripeptide-1 added, at roughly double the price.

Shop aroundSimilar Products

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These are the options if you want a retinoid instead, or a single peptide at a stated dose.

The Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides
The Ordinary "Buffet" + Copper Peptides
The same seven peptides plus a disclosed 1% copper peptide, at double the price. Only worth it if copper peptides are the reason you are buying.
About the same
Cosrx Peptide Serum
Cosrx Peptide Serum
Fragrance-free, about $20 for 150 ml, and its niacinamide is better evidenced than any peptide.
About the same
Medik8 Liquid Peptides
Medik8 Liquid Peptides
Peptide positioning just as good, but $62 to $72 instead of about $17, with equally thin evidence.
We recommend less

Questions Patients Ask

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Is The Ordinary Buffet the same as the old Buffet?

Yes. Same formula, now sold as Multi-Peptide + HA Serum.

Will The Ordinary Buffet reduce my wrinkles?

Maybe slightly, over time. Retinoids do more.

Can I use The Ordinary Buffet morning and night?

Yes. It is gentle and layers under other products.

Is The Ordinary Buffet fragrance-free?

Yes.

Is The Ordinary Buffet good for beginners?

Yes. Cheap, simple and low-risk.

References

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  1. Oral and topical peptides for skin aging: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsThis 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs (1,341 participants) found peptides improve hydration and brightness with only a modest effect on wrinkles, backing the page's 'honest picture' framing that peptides are oversold, and is the '2026 systematic' review the page references.
  2. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 in Cosmeceuticals-A Review of Skin Permeability and EfficacyReviews the mechanism and efficacy of acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline), one of the page's named actives, showing wrinkle/elasticity benefits are real but limited by poor skin penetration, supporting the cautious 'peptides are oversold' framing.
  3. Effectiveness of topical hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in xerosis cutis treatment in elderly: a double-blind, randomized controlled trialA double-blind RCT showing topical hyaluronic acid (especially low molecular weight) significantly improves skin hydration, supporting the page's claim that the multi-weight hyaluronic acid base hydrates well independent of the peptides.