The Ordinary Buffet Serum for oily skin
Peptides
Sodium Hyaluronate
Amino Acids
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This formulation offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, with ingredients like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer providing essential hydration without heavy occlusives. Multiple peptides, such as Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, are present to target fine lines and wrinkles, contributing to anti-aging effects.
- While it supports general skin health and hydration for oily skin, it does not directly address concerns like oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 7.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised as an affordable, effective all-in-one treatment that significantly hydrates and plumps the skin, leading to a softer texture and reduced appearance of fine lines for many users. A moderate number of users report a sticky finish, and a low to moderate number experienced breakouts or irritation, particularly those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Highlights
Hydrates and plumps Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels plump”
- “leaves face dewy”
- “very hydrating”
- “bouncy skin feel”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable price”
- “affordable anti-aging”
- “great bang for buck”
- “wallet-friendly effective skincare”
Smoothes texture Often Mentioned
- “glass skin effect”
- “texture is softer”
- “makeup applies smoother”
- “smoother complexion”
Sticky finish Often Mentioned
- “feels very tacky”
- “sticky residue”
- “takes forever to dry”
- “left face sticky”
Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
- “softened forehead lines”
- “crow's feet diminished”
- “lines look filled”
- “youthful appearance”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do much”
- “no visible difference”
- “just a hydrator”
- “results are minimal”
Pilling issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “balls up”
- “hard to layer”
- “conflicts with Vitamin C”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, deciemchatroom.com, reddit.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Buffet work for oily skin?
This treatment is an average fit for your oily skin because it delivers hydration without heavy ingredients and helps smooth fine lines with peptides, though it does not manage oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and soothing extracts to control excess oil and keep pores clear.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer make this serum a good fit for oily skin by providing essential hydration without heavy occlusives, while multiple peptides target fine lines. To fit oily skin even better, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc to control shine and manage excess oil.
What do Peptides do for oily skin?
Peptides help support skin health and may improve the look of oily skin, but this type of skin needs formulas with ingredients that balance oil production and keep pores clear.
Advanced Science, 2025International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A product of this type for oily skin needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate along with oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin light hydration, followed by your retinol. This product is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but because it is an average fit, an oily skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like glycerin and helpful anti-aging peptides without heavy oils.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It provides lightweight hydration and anti-aging benefits without heavy pore-clogging ingredients, though oily skin of this type needs added oil-control ingredients to properly target shine.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum may occasionally cause breakouts for oily skin, as reviewers moderately report this issue despite its safe, gentle formula. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that balance oil production and prevent clogged pores.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, 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
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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