🇩🇪Germany

The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%

Average

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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

  • Offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer provide hydration without adding excess oil. While excellent for plumping and minimizing fine lines with Copper Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, these ingredients do not directly target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula includes Allantoin and other amino acids which offer general skin support and hydration, contributing to overall skin health.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum for its "well-aging" benefits, reporting significant improvements in skin firmness, elasticity, and radiance. Many users also appreciate its ability to refine skin texture and pores, leading to a smoother complexion. While the unique blue color and metallic scent are polarizing, the majority find the plumping and smoothing effects justify the higher price point. Some users note that the serum can be difficult to incorporate into routines with other active ingredients and a small number experienced breakouts or texture issues.

Highlights

  • Firming and plumping Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels bouncier”
    • “face looks snatched”
    • “noticeably plumper cheeks”
    • “restored elasticity”
  • Radiance and glow Often Mentioned
    • “instant healthy glow”
    • “skin looks brighter”
    • “removed dullness”
    • “radiant complexion”
  • Smoother texture Often Mentioned
    • “glass skin texture”
    • “softened forehead lines”
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “makeup glides on”
  • Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells like vinegar”
    • “strong metallic scent”
    • “smells like rust”
    • “unpleasant copper odor”
  • Healing properties Sometimes Noted
    • “healed picking scars”
    • “calmed redness quickly”
    • “faded post-acne marks”
    • “soothed irritation”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs instantly”
    • “layers well”
    • “not greasy”
    • “lightweight gel texture”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “priciest TO item”
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “bottle runs out fast”
    • “pricey but worth it”
  • Usage conflicts Sometimes Noted
    • “hard to layer”
    • “conflicts with everything”
    • “can't use with Vitamin C”
    • “complicated routine”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “broke me out”
    • “gave me whiteheads”
    • “clogged my pores”
  • Texture issues Rarely Noted
    • “leaves sticky residue”
    • “too runny”
    • “blue color is weird”
    • “feels tacky”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, lookfantastic.ie, theordinary.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% work for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration without adding excess oil, but it does not directly target your acne and breakouts. A product for this skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and propolis that provide excellent skincare benefits, control excess oil, and address blemishes without any risk of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer make this serum a good fit for your oily skin by providing hydration without adding excess oil. To best suit oily and acne-prone skin, a treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C that actively target acne and blemishes while helping control excess oil.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What do Copper Peptides do for oily acne-prone skin?

Copper peptides help calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and soothing inflammation while supporting the skin barrier. They are unlikely to clog pores and may improve overall skin texture.

Skin Research and Technology, 2026International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018

What does Argireline do for oily acne-prone skin?

Argireline is unlikely to treat acne or oiliness directly, as it focuses on reducing fine lines and making skin smooth. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that clear pores and calm breakouts.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type to include acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to directly target breakouts.

Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?

This treatment works for your oily acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it does not directly target breakouts and blemishes. Oily acne-prone skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-control components to properly manage breakouts while receiving hydration.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this treatment in the evening routine, as it is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also targets breakouts and blemishes with clarifying and balancing ingredients.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and provides hydration without adding excess oil. However, because it does not directly target acne, this skin type needs additional ingredients that clear blemishes and regulate oil.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017

  • 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, 2013

  • Treatment 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, 2019

  • Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

  • The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2026

  • Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.

    Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006

  • A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.

    Cureus, 2024

  • Copper applied transdermally as a tripeptide on human skin ex vivo permeated the tissue and was retained in amounts potentially effective for treating inflammatory diseases.

    Inflammation Research, 2010

  • Acetyl 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, 2017

  • Daily 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, 2013

  • Argireline 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, 2013

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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, 2019

Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, Copper Tripeptide-1, 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, Dimethyl Isosorbide, 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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