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Kiehl's Midnight Rec… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
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/The Ordinary Buffet

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Kiehl's

Midnight Recovery Concentrate

serumpremium

6.4

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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.

Kiehl's wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

6.4Kiehl's

+2.4vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

4.3

8.7

Kiehl's

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Kiehl's

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

2.0

8.4

Kiehl's

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.5

8.5

Kiehl's

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Kiehl's

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

0% overlap

15Kiehl's

0Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

15 unique

Squalane Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil Tocopherol Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil Geranium Maculatum Oil Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil Rosa Damascena Flower Oil+5 more

Shared ingredients

0 in common

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

48 unique

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

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate'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 4.3 for Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. 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 kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate relies on Tocopherol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 6.4, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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

+2.4 lead

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

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6.4Kiehl's

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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