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The Ordinary Buffet vs The Ordinary Caffein… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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The Ordinary Buffet vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Head to head

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The Ordinary

Buffet

serumbudget

8.8

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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The Ordinary

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

serumbudget

7.0

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Score comparison

The Ordinary Buffet takes this one, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

The Ordinary wins 2

Tied 3

The Ordinary wins 0

8.8The Ordinary

+1.8vs

7.0The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS

8.7

6.1

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS

8.4

2.0

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

27% overlap

48The Ordinary

13Shared

26The Ordinary

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

35 unique

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Sodium Hyaluronate Allantoin Glycine Alanine+25 more

Shared ingredients

13 in common

Aqua (Water)Glycerin Urea Citric Acid Pentylene Glycol Xanthan Gum Ppg-26-Buteth-26 Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Sodium Benzoate+3 more

Only in The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

13 unique

Caffeine Maltodextrin Propanediol Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside Gallyl Glucoside Hyaluronic Acid Oxidized Glutathione Melanin Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract Hydroxyethylcellulose+3 more

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG's 2.0. 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 6.1 for The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG. 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 the Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG relies on Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

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

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

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

+1.8 lead

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

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8.8The Ordinary

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7.0The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: The Ordinary Buffet or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG?

Based on ingredient analysis, The Ordinary Buffet scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do The Ordinary Buffet and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between The Ordinary Buffet and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→Full analysis: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG→

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