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Sulwhasoo First Care… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII vs The Ordinary Buffet

Head to head

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Sulwhasoo

First Care Activating Serum VII

serumluxury

7.3

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 4 of 5 attributes.

Sulwhasoo wins 0

Tied 1

The Ordinary wins 4

7.3Sulwhasoo

+1.5vs

8.8The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

6.0

8.7

Sulwhasoo

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Sulwhasoo

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

5.0

8.4

Sulwhasoo

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

The Ordinary WINS

7.8

8.5

Sulwhasoo

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

The Ordinary WINS

8.0

9.0

Sulwhasoo

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

17% overlap

18Sulwhasoo

8Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII

10 unique

Water Propanediol Niacinamide 2-Hexanediol Methylpropanediol Panax Ginseng Root Extract Panthenol Adenosine Disodium Edta Fragrance

Shared ingredients

8 in common

Butylene Glycol Glycerin Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Ethylhexylglycerin Carbomer Arginine Phenoxyethanol

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

40 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Glycine Alanine Serine+30 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII'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 6.0 for Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII. 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 sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII relies on Niacinamide, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, and Adenosine. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII 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 luxury pricing with a score of 7.3, Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII 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

+1.5 lead

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

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7.3Sulwhasoo

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8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII 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 Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII 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 Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII 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: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VII→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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