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Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vi… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Skin&Lab

Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum

serummid-range

7.7

Buy at Olive Young

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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

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

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

Skin&Lab wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

7.7Skin&Lab

+1.1vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

6.9

8.7

Skin&Lab

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Skin&Lab

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

5.4

8.4

Skin&Lab

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.8

8.5

Skin&Lab

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Skin&Lab

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

13Skin&Lab

6Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum

7 unique

Water Ascorbic Acid 2-Hexanediol Niacinamide Panthenol Tocopheryl Acetate Tromethamine

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Carbomer Ethylhexylglycerin

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 Glycine Alanine Serine+32 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum's 5.4. 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 Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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 skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum relies on Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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 7.7, Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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

+1.1 lead

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

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7.7Skin&Lab

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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 Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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 Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening 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: Skin&Lab Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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