🇪🇸Spain

The Ordinary Buffet Serum for combination skin

The Ordinary Buffet Serum

High

  • SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your combination skin is provided by glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, which offer humectant action and support barrier repair, while multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
  • The formula also offers moderate benefits for oily shine by providing hydration and supporting skin elasticity.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
  • Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 7.5k+ reviews

Based 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

What makes The Ordinary Buffet serum a great fit for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit for your combination skin because ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate dry areas, support skin barrier repair, and help minimize fine lines with multiple peptides. It also provides moderate benefits for oily shine while maintaining an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Annals of Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer make this serum a great fit by providing deep hydration and supporting barrier repair, while multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 help minimize fine lines. This combination gives your skin excellent suitability and smooth texture without any harsh irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Annals of Dermatology, 2019

What do Peptides do for combination skin?

Peptides help combination skin by keeping it smooth, supporting firmness, and boosting hydration. They also help reduce the appearance of lines and encourage skin repair, though absorption depends on the formula.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Food & Function, 2019

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

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

Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and smooth your skin, followed by your retinol. The gentle ingredients make it unlikely to cause irritation when paired with stronger treatments.

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is used in the evening routine. The formula is a great fit for your combination skin, offering hydration and minimizing fine lines without irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Annals of Dermatology, 2019

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum may occasionally cause breakouts, as some reviewers note, but it is unlikely to irritate your skin thanks to its gentle ingredients. It helps keep your combination skin hydrated and smooth without harsh additives.

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, 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Dissolving 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

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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Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

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

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