The Ordinary “Buffet”, my review

I already talked about the fascinating brand The Ordinary in some of my previous articles, I will continue today with the review of one of my favorites, The Ordinary “Buffet” serum.

If you read my The Ordinary presentation and buying guide I wrote a few weeks ago, you know that the launch of this super affordable Canadian skincare brand has been for me one of the major beauty events of the past few months. I ordered several of their products and I intend to do detailed reviews for each one of them! smile (I started with a review on the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum in my hyaluronic acid focus)

The “Buffet” serum is the first The Ordinary product I bought, last May. I’ve been using it for more than 2 months now and I’m ready to give you my thoughts:

The Ordinary “Buffet”, presentation:

What the brand says about it:

“This formula combines a comprehensive array of studied technologies to target multiple signs of ageing at once. The technologies are Matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7), Matrixyl Synthe’6 peptide complex (with palmitoyl tripeptide-38), Syn-Ake peptide complex (with dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate), Relistase peptide complex (with acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine), Argirelox peptide complex (with acetyl hexapeptide-8, pentapeptide-18), Probiotic complex (with lactococcus lactis lysate), in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1%.

Note: The name of this formula was inspired by some brands referring to their expensive products offering combinations of these technologies as a “buffet”, distastefully comparing such products to buffets that offer various kinds of food in one sitting.”

OK cool. Thanks The Ordinary for this very simple description and not at all full of scientific jargon. wink
So in English, it means that this is an anti-wrinkle serum which contains several types of ingredients known in the cosmetic industry and proven to be effective anti-aging ingredients (peptides, probiotics, amino acids and hyaluronic acid).

Indeed, unlike most treatments from the brand The Ordinary, the “Buffet” has a more complex formula, not just based on 1 or 2 ingredients but on several, much like a conventional anti-aging product. But with a big difference compared to a conventional anti-wrinkle serum: its cheap price.
Even if the “Buffet” is the most expensive of The Ordinary products ($14.80 while the prices of the range are between $6 and $10), it’s still much more affordable than its competitors of equivalent quality (= which means, those with a correct concentration of active ingredients. The fact that a product contains one ingredient is not the most important point to check, it’s the concentration of that specific ingredient which will make the difference in terms of efficiency!).

Also, the texture of this serum is more “cosmetically elegant” than most of the other treatments of the brand, which are usually a little sticky or viscous to use (I mentioned it in my article on the hyaluronic acid). Nothing major, but this kind of sticky texture can be explained by the low price of these products: the additives that you put into a product to improve its texture and its ease of use are all “extra” ingredients that can increase the final price.

In the case of the “Buffet”, it has a texture very close to a conventional anti-aging serum. OK, the product is fragrance-free and doesn’t feel super luxurious but honestly, it doesn’t really matter (and I usually prefer when there is no synthetic perfume in my skincare products).

You can use it morning and/or evening, all year round and it’s suitable for all skin types. I would rather recommend it ‘after 30’ but if you want to use it before, I don’t see any harm in it smile

The “Buffet” has a capacity of 30ml (like most serums) and its price is $14.80.

The Ordinary “Buffet”, my test and thoughts:

– Packaging:

It’s a 30ml frosted glass bottle with a dropper.
No fuss, it’s a pretty simple and practical packaging. I just apprehend a little the end of the bottle, because the dropper probably won’t go to the bottom. But, oh well, I think I’ll survive! wink

– Scent:

It’s fragrance-free.

– Texture:

The texture feels like a liquid jelly and it’s not as sticky as the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 from the same brand. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t need to be massaged for long. It’s not the most luxurious texture I’ve tried with a serum but it’s still a nice product to use.

– Formula:

Here is the full ingredients list:

Aqua (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.

Formula wise, there are many anti-wrinkle ingredients:
– different complexes of anti-aging and repairing peptides,
– a probiotic to renovate the skin,
– amino acids to strengthen it,
– several molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and plump it.

Not bad for a serum which costs less than $15! Especially as the concentration of all these elements is quite high (and they’re all coming first in the ingredients list).

And it’s alcohol-free, mineral oil-free and silicone-free! :

– How I use it:

I apply it once a day, morning or evening, before my moisturizer. Quantity wise, I use a dime-size amount of product for the face and neck.

– Result:

I’m gonna be honest, I’m lucky enough to not have a lot of wrinkles on my face, despite being 38. But I still saw some improvement in my nasolabial fold wrinkles, which are my only visible fine lines. I find them slightly smoother than before.

Now, I know, to see a real result with this type of product, it takes more time, not just a few weeks of use. But it’s a good start!

– Value for money:

Its value for money is excellent, especially when you consider the concentration of active ingredients. The competition products’ prices are usually much higher (at least 5 times more expensive for an equivalent quality).

 In summary:

[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]

For me, the “Buffet” is definitely one of the most interesting products in the range The Ordinary. It’s highly concentrated in active ingredients and it’s quite nice to use, so I  will probably repurchase it once it’s finished!

The Ordinary “Buffet” is available on the brand website for $14.80.

And you, have you tried some of The Ordinary products? Thoughts?

Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com