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caudalie Brightening… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

caudalie

Brightening Dark Spot Serum

serum

7.0

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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The Ordinary

Buffet

serumbudget

8.8

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Score comparison

The Ordinary Buffet takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

caudalie wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

7.0caudalie

+1.8vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

6.9

8.7

caudalie

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

caudalie

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

2.0

8.4

caudalie

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.5

8.5

caudalie

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

caudalie

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

19caudalie

6Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum

13 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Cococaprylate/ Caprate Squalane Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate Bisabolol Glyceryl Stearate Microcrystalline Cellulose Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Potassium Sorbate+3 more

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Butylene Glycol Glycerin Xanthan Gum Caprylyl Glycol Citric Acid Sodium Hydroxide

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

42 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Glycine

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum's 2.0. Its formula features Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Allantoin in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.7 here versus 6.9 for caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

The Ordinary Buffet brings Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Allantoin as actives, while caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum relies on Palmitoyl Grapevine Shoot Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

The Ordinary Buffet is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

The Ordinary Buffet comes in at budget pricing with a 8.8 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.8 lead

The Ordinary Buffet wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.0caudalie

✶

8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum or The Ordinary Buffet?

Based on ingredient analysis, The Ordinary Buffet scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum and The Ordinary Buffet share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum and The Ordinary Buffet?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: caudalie Brightening Dark Spot Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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