✶

Numbuzin No.3 Skin S… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

Products
Ingredients
Brands
K-Beauty
How We Score

Gracie
/Compare
/Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum
/vs
/The Ordinary Buffet

Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

✶

Numbuzin

No.3 Skin Softening Serum

serummid-range

7.4

Buy at Olive Young

Compare

Best Moisturisers
Best Serums
Best Cleansers
Best SPF

Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

K-Beauty

K-Beauty Hub
K-Beauty Moisturisers
K-Beauty Serums
K-Beauty Sunscreens

About

Methodology
About Us
All Brands
All Products

Gracie

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

✶

The Ordinary

Buffet

serumbudget

8.8

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

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

Numbuzin wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

7.4Numbuzin

+1.4vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

5.8

8.7

Numbuzin

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Numbuzin

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

5.0

8.4

Numbuzin

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.8

8.5

Numbuzin

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Numbuzin

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

15% overlap

13Numbuzin

7Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum

6 unique

Water Niacinamide 2-Hexanediol Bifida Ferment Lysate Panthenol Adenosine

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate Carbomer Arginine Ethylhexylglycerin

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

41 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Glycine Alanine Serine+31 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum's 5.0. 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 5.8 for Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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 numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum relies on Niacinamide, Bifida Ferment Lysate, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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 mid-range pricing with a score of 7.4, Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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

+1.4 lead

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

✶

7.4Numbuzin

✶

8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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 Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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 Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening 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: Numbuzin No.3 Skin Softening Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

We may earn a commission from purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gracie free and independent.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission from purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gracie free and independent.