Product Review: The Ordinary "Buffet" Peptide Serum

Last week, I talked about the popularity of LipSense - today, I'm going to talk about a product from The Ordinary, another company that has taken the beauty world by storm. Some of their products have been so popular, it's near impossible to get them (their foundation), while others may take extra shipping time depending upon what, when, and where you order.

The popularity of their skincare products revolves around the fact that you get more bang for your buck. The products have good amounts of active ingredients for astoundingly reasonable prices. They've been reviewed by several YouTube beauty gurus, and most, if not all, are very positive in their comments. So you know that meant I had to get my hands on some!


(This post may contain affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). You are free to use the links or not - if you do, I thank you!)

My first order was back in April 2017, and included the "Buffet" (which I will be reviewing today), the Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, and the Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. Deciem is the parent company, and if you order from their website you can combine items from all of their brands into one order. The products are also on Amazon.

The "Buffet" is a multi-peptide serum that is packaged in a clear frosted glass 1 oz. bottle with a dropper top. I have long been a user of Matrixyl 3000 and other peptides, so to find a product that contains Matrixyl 3000, Matrixyl Synthe'6, Syn-Ake, Relistase, and Argirelox in a base of 11 amino acids and several hyaluronic acid complexes was awesome. It's an anti-aging cocktail at an amazingly affordable price!


The serum is fragrance-free, which as you know, is something that I look for in my skin care products. It is clear, and has a slightly watery gel-like consistency that is easily applied to skin. I usually leave my face and hands damp, place 4-5 drops in the palm of one hand, gently rub my palms together to distribute the serum, then apply it to my face (all over, even my eyelids and lips) and décolleté, concentrating on the areas with lines. Any residual is rubbed onto the backs of my hands. I apply twice daily, and my first 1 oz. bottle lasted about 6-7 weeks.

Another thing I like about this serum is that it plays well with others. I didn't have any issues with sunscreen, primers, or makeup application with the Buffet on my skin. I use a good number of skin care/beauty products both in the morning and at night, so it's important to me that they all work well together.

I didn't take any before and after photos, and this is why: I'm in my third month of using tretinoin (Retin-A), so I have some changes taking place because of that. I also just advanced to a 0.5mm dermaroller after using the 0.25mm for 3-4 months. Yes, I believe my skin looks better now than it did 2 months ago - but I can't say for sure how much of that is due to the Buffet. However - I do like the product and feel it is a good one to have in my arsenal because of all the peptides, so I have ordered a second bottle.

The Buffet offers several peptides in one products, and some are peptides that are not in any of the other products I use. Peptides are like shoes - you can never have too many. Obviously, I recommend this product, and I've already repurchased, so you know I would buy it again!

Since writing this post, I have reviewed several other products from The Ordinary: Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum, Argireline™ Solution 10%, Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Matrixyl 10% + HA.

Are you using peptides for anti-aging? Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite anti-aging  product!