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Paula's Choice 10% N… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Paula's Choice

10% Niacinamide Booster

serummid-range

8.3

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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 edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

Paula's Choice wins 1

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 2

8.3Paula's Choice

+0.5vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

7.7

8.7

Paula's Choice

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Paula's Choice

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

6.7

8.4

Paula's Choice

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

Paula's Choice WINS

8.8

8.5

Paula's Choice

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Paula's Choice

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

19% overlap

22Paula's Choice

9Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

13 unique

Aqua Niacinamide Acetyl Glucosamine Ascorbyl Glucoside Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Methyl Gluceth-20 Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract Ubiquinone Beta-Glucan Panthenol+3 more

Shared ingredients

9 in common

Butylene Glycol Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Allantoin Xanthan Gum Sodium Pca Sodium Hyaluronate Sodium Hydroxide Phenoxyethanol

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

39 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Glycine Alanine Serine+29 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster's 6.7. 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 7.7 for Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster. 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 paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster relies on Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
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 8.3, Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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

+0.5 lead

The Ordinary Buffet edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster is still a solid pick.

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8.3Paula's Choice

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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 Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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 Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster 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: Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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