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Some By Mi Retinol I… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum
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/The Ordinary Buffet

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Some By Mi

Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

serumbudget

7.9

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 edges ahead, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Some By Mi wins 0

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 3

7.9Some By Mi

+0.9vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

6.2

8.7

Some By Mi

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Some By Mi

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

7.5

8.4

Some By Mi

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.8

8.5

Some By Mi

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Some By Mi

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

15% overlap

15Some By Mi

7Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

8 unique

Water Niacinamide 2-Hexanediol Retinol Bakuchiol Centella Asiatica Extract Adenosine Panthenol

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 hydration efficacy, scoring 8.7 compared to Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum's 6.2. With Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Trehalose in its top ingredients, The Ordinary Buffet delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.4 here versus 7.5 for Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating 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 some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum relies on Niacinamide, Retinol, and Bakuchiol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting
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

Both sit in the budget bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. The Ordinary Buffet gets the nod here with its 8.8 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.9 lead

The Ordinary Buffet edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum is still a solid pick.

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7.9Some By Mi

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating 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 Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating 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 Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating 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: Some By Mi Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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