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The Ordinary Buffet for dry skin

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

The Ordinary Buffet

Superior

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best serums for dry skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 suitability for your dry skin is provided by the humectant action of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, which also aids in barrier repair.
  • The formula offers significant plumping and firming benefits due to the inclusion of multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, addressing your goal for hydrated and less flaky skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Allantoin and Urea.

How to apply

  • Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
  • Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 4.1k+ reviews

Based 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 one of the best fits for dry skin?

The Ordinary Buffet serum is an exceptional fit for dry skin because it combines powerful moisture-drawing ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate with multiple peptides that help plump and smooth the skin. This formulation supports your skin barrier and keeps flakiness at bay without any risk of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this serum a great fit by drawing moisture into dry skin and helping repair the skin barrier. Multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 further help smooth and firm your skin while easing dryness and flakiness.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013

What do Peptides do for dry skin?

Peptides help dry skin by supporting skin barrier health and improving moisture retention. Regular use may also enhance skin firmness and smooth out the texture of dry skin over time.

Advanced Science, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?

Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.

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

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

This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the application simple and safe around sun exposure. It is unlikely to irritate dry skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.

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 your dry skin, followed by your retinol. The formula's soothing ingredients and lack of harsh components make it unlikely to cause irritation when layered.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation on dry skin and helps keep it soft and hydrated.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Reviewers report that breakouts are rare.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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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QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play