The Ordinary Buffet for dry sensitive skin
Peptides
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 compatibility with your dry and sensitive skin is provided by humectants like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, which hydrate and plump the skin, while multiple peptides work to visibly improve elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- The inclusion of soothing Allantoin and Urea further supports barrier repair and alleviates dryness, making it highly suitable for your flaky skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formulation with no harsh ingredients and beneficial soothing agents.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 4.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is a highly-rated, affordable option for anti-aging, with users frequently reporting improved hydration, plumpness, and skin texture. While generally well-tolerated, a notable number of users experience a sticky finish or pilling under makeup, and some sensitive skin types report breakouts.
Highlights
Great value Mostly Mentioned
- “unbeatable for the price”
- “worth the money”
- “affordable solid starter peptide serum”
- “great value compared to luxury brands”
Hydrates and plumps Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels lush and hydrated”
- “gives a bouncy, plump look”
- “my face feels so glowy and plump”
- “relieves dry, tight skin”
Gentle for most Often Mentioned
- “didn't cause any stinging”
- “nice for my sensitive skin”
- “no irritation or redness”
- “calmed my skin barrier”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “left my skin feeling so smooth”
- “improved the texture of my skin”
- “noticeably smoother skin in 8 weeks”
- “softens lines”
Sticky finish Often Mentioned
- “feels a bit tacky after applying”
- “sticky texture”
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “viscosity of maple syrup”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “softened my forehead lines”
- “improvement in nasolabial fold wrinkles”
- “reduces appearance of crow's feet”
- “great for first wrinkles in your 20s”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “idk what it does honestly”
- “didn't see exceptional results”
- “no difference in elasticity”
- “just a basic hydrating serum”
Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “balls up under foundation”
- “peels off if I rub my face”
- “can't wear primer over it”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused whiteheads”
- “broke me out”
- “gave me milia”
- “skin didn't agree with the fermented ingredients”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Buffet serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
The Ordinary Buffet is a great fit because ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw moisture into dry skin, while allantoin and urea soothe flakes and help repair the skin barrier. Multiple peptides also help improve elasticity and reduce fine lines without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw moisture into dry skin, while allantoin and urea soothe sensitivity and help repair the skin barrier. Multiple peptides also support firmness without causing irritation.
What do Peptides do for dry sensitive skin?
Peptides help hydrate dry sensitive skin while smoothing the look of fine lines and keeping the surface calm. They may also improve skin elasticity, though some types need enhanced delivery systems to deeply penetrate the skin barrier.
Advanced Science, 2025International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening provides extra safety around sun exposure and keeps your routine simple.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and soothe your dry, sensitive skin, followed by your retinol. This gentle layering helps minimize dryness while delivering the benefits of both products.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help hydrate and plump the skin, while soothing agents alleviate dryness and support the skin barrier.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as it features a gentle formula with soothing ingredients and a low rate of complaints about breakouts. Reviewers do mention a sticky finish and occasional pilling under makeup.
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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 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, 2019The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Treatment 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, 2019Argireline 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, 2017
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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