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Herbivore Prism AHA… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum
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Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Herbivore

Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum

serumpremium

7.0

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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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.

Herbivore wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

7.0Herbivore

+1.8vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

5.7

8.7

Herbivore

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Herbivore

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

3.6

8.4

Herbivore

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.5

8.5

Herbivore

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Herbivore

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

10% overlap

11Herbivore

5Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum

6 unique

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Glycolic Acid Water/Aqua Squalane Panthenol Tocopherol

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Sodium Hyaluronate Citric Acid Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

43 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Allantoin Glycine Alanine+33 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum's 3.6. 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 5.7 for Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow 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 herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum relies on Glycolic Acid and Tocopherol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow 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

At premium pricing with a score of 7.0, Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum is a decent pick. The Ordinary Buffet sits at the budget level with a 8.8 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.8 lead

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

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7.0Herbivore

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow 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 Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow 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 Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow 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: Herbivore Prism AHA + BHA Exfoliating Glow Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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