BeautyLab dossier / single product / 2026-10-31
The formula formerly sold as Buffet - five peptide technologies, a full amino-acid pool and hyaluronic acid - currently priced at its own all-time high on both channels.
What the listing says this is
This is the serum The Ordinary used to sell as Buffet, renamed and still built the same way: five peptide technologies, a free amino-acid pool and hyaluronic acid, in a 1 fl oz water-based base. The listing is thin where its copper-peptide sibling is talkative - no bullet points rendered at all, and an A+ block that is a storefront menu - so the claim set has to be read off the carousel, which names Argirelox and Syn-Ake, Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl synthe'6, and hyaluronic acid. The commercial fact worth flagging is that $19.90 is both the list price and the all-time high on both channels.
Specification table
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Item weight | 28 g |
| Item volume | 1 fluid ounce |
| Unit count | 1 fluid ounce |
| Date first available | July 17, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | DECIEM |
| List price | $19.90 |
| Best sellers rank | #1,038 Beauty; #33 Facial Serums |
No bullet list rendered
This listing served no bullet points on the capture visit, and its A+ block is a storefront navigation module rather than product content. The claim language therefore lives in the specification table and the image carousel reproduced further down, and nothing has been reconstructed to fill the gap.
How it is rated, and where the disagreement sits
4.6 out of 5 across 3,549 ratings, with 92% of the mass at four stars or above - the most top-heavy distribution of the three products in this batch. The 3-star bucket (4%) outweighs both the 2-star and 1-star buckets combined, which reads as a group that found the texture merely average rather than unacceptable.
Figure 1 - star distribution, share of ratings (percent)
| Stars | Share | Approx. ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 5 star | 83% | ~2,946 |
| 4 star | 9% | ~319 |
| 3 star | 4% | ~142 |
| 2 star | 1% | ~35 |
| 1 star | 3% | ~106 |
| Total | 100% | 3,549 |
At 3,549 ratings one percentage point is about 35 ratings. The 1% and 2% buckets are each a few dozen scores, so their order can flip between refreshes; the 4% three-star bucket is the more stable reading of mild disappointment.
What buyers say, in Amazon's own summary
Customers find the serum effective, with visible results within 60 days, and appreciate its hydrating properties that leave skin smooth and bright. Moreover, the product layers well under both day moisturizer and night creams, and customers consider it affordable. However, experiences with skin irritation are mixed, with some reporting no issues while others find it irritating. Additionally, opinions on texture are divided between those who find it non-greasy and those who describe it as sticky.
Aspect-level sentiment
Figure 2 - share of positive mentions per aspect (percent), bar length only; mention counts in the table
| Aspect | Mentions | Positive | Negative | Positive share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hydration | 90 | 79 | 11 | 88% |
| effectiveness | 78 | 63 | 15 | 81% |
| value for money | 56 | 51 | 5 | 91% |
| texture | 46 | 44 | 2 | 96% |
| skin irritation | 44 | 29 | 15 | 66% |
| skin appearance | 27 | 24 | 3 | 89% |
| non-greasy | 26 | 17 | 9 | 65% |
| application | 20 | 19 | 1 | 95% |
Hydration leads with 90 mentions at 88% positive and texture reads 96%, while value for money is the strongest aspect at 91% - unusual for a serum, and consistent with the low absolute price. The contested readings are skin irritation (66%) and non-greasy (65%), and the latter matches the 'sticky' complaint the summary itself reports.
Review text
No review body rendered on this listing at capture, so no buyer text is quoted and no reviewer identity appears. The reading above is Amazon's AI summary plus aspect counts - a derived signal, not testimony.
The formula, read as a formula
Fifty-one entries, and again the two panels agree exactly - same count, same order, including the emulsifier pair at positions 43 and 44 that the other Ordinary serum does not carry. That pair is the whole difference in the claim matrix: it is what makes this formula fail oil-free and fungal-acne-safe where the copper-peptide serum passes both.
Panel provenance
51 entries, transcribed from the listing's own INCI panel and matched row for row against the database table. Ratings in the final table come from the database layer, read low is safer; a dash means unrated, not zero.
What's inside - every claim, and whether it holds
- HoldsAlcohol-free
- HoldsEU-allergen-free
- HoldsFragrance-free
- HoldsParaben-free
- HoldsSilicone-free
- HoldsSulfate-free
- HoldsCruelty-free
- HoldsPore-clogger-free
- HoldsReef-safe
- HoldsVegan
- FailsOil-free1 ingredient: PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- FailsFungal-acne-safe2 flagged ingredients: Polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Counted by role class
Figure 3 - ingredients per role class, count of entries in the panel
| Role class | Entries | Share of panel | Where they sit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amino acids and NMF | 11 | 21.6% | positions 14-24 |
| Humectants and sugars | 10 | 19.6% | positions 2-31 |
| Peptides and peptide technologies | 7 | 13.7% | positions 4-10 |
| Emulsifiers, gums and thickeners | 6 | 11.8% | positions 39-44 |
| Preservatives and chelators | 6 | 11.8% | positions 45-51 |
| Solvents, glycols and water | 4 | 7.8% | positions 1-46 |
| pH adjusters and buffers | 3 | 5.9% | positions 32-36 |
| Other functional | 2 | 3.9% | positions 34-35 |
| Soothing and barrier support | 1 | 2.0% | position 13 |
| Botanicals and ferments | 1 | 2.0% | position 3 |
| Total | 51 | 100% |
Counted by concentration band
| INCI position | Entries | What that band means |
|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | 10 | Top of the list - the most concentrated part of the formula |
| 11-20 | 10 | Still structural - the heart of the peptide and humectant block |
| 21-30 | 10 | Mid-list - supporting actives and the amino-acid pool |
| 31-40 | 10 | Lower mid-list - buffers, thickeners, pH control |
| 41-50 | 10 | Tail - preservatives, chelators, the last functional traces |
| 51-70 | 1 | Very tail - trace peptides, colorants and preservative boosters |
The headline actives
| Group | What the database says it does | Entries |
|---|---|---|
| Peptides | Supports skin hydration and improves firmness. | 6 ingredients |
| Hyaluronic Acid | Hydrates by attracting and holding water. | 2 ingredients |
| Urea | Gently exfoliates and deeply moisturizes. | 1 ingredient |
Benefits claimed for the formula
| Benefit | Statement | Ingredients delivering it |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrating | Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin. | 21 ingredients |
| Barrier Repair | Strengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier. | 11 ingredients |
| Anti-Aging | Softens lines and helps skin look youthful. | 9 ingredients |
| Scar Healing | Improves the look of marks and scars. | 6 ingredients |
| Skin Texture | Smooths rough patches and refines texture. | 4 ingredients |
| Redness Reducing | Soothes visible redness and calms irritation. | 3 ingredients |
| Reduces Irritation | Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience. | 2 ingredients |
Class-level flags
Two claims fail and both trace to the same pair of emulsifiers: PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil breaks oil-free, and that ingredient plus polysorbate 20 breaks fungal-acne safety. Everything else holds, including fragrance-free, silicone-free, paraben-free and pore-clogger-free - a combination the copper-peptide serum in this batch does not achieve.
The complete panel
| # | Ingredient | Function | Comedogenic | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water | Skin Conditioning, Solvent | - | - |
| 2 | Glycerin | Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Lactococcus Ferment Lysate | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 4 | Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 | Humectant, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 5 | Pentapeptide-18 | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 6 | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 7 | Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 8 | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 9 | Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 10 | Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 11 | Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer | Humectant, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 12 | Sodium Hyaluronate | Humectant, Skin Conditioning | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Allantoin | Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Glycine | Buffering, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 15 | Alanine | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 16 | Serine | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 17 | Valine | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 18 | Isoleucine | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 19 | Proline | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 20 | Threonine | - | - | - |
| 21 | Histidine | Humectant, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 22 | Phenylalanine | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 23 | Arginine | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 24 | Aspartic Acid | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 25 | Trehalose | Humectant, Moisturising | - | - |
| 26 | Fructose | Humectant | - | - |
| 27 | Glucose | Humectant | - | - |
| 28 | Maltose | Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 29 | Urea | Buffering, Humectant, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 30 | Sodium PCA | Humectant, Skin Conditioning | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | PCA | Humectant, Moisturising | - | - |
| 32 | Sodium Lactate | Buffering, Humectant | - | - |
| 33 | Citric Acid | Buffering, Chelating, Masking | - | - |
| 34 | Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin | Masking, Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 35 | Sodium Chloride | Masking | - | - |
| 36 | Sodium Hydroxide | Buffering | - | - |
| 37 | Butylene Glycol | Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning | 1 | 0 |
| 38 | Pentylene Glycol | Skin Conditioning, Solvent | - | - |
| 39 | Acacia Senegal Gum | Masking | - | - |
| 40 | Xanthan Gum | Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming | - | - |
| 41 | Carbomer | Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming | 1 | 0 |
| 42 | Polysorbate 20 | Emulsifying, Surfactant | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | PPG-26-Buteth-26 | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 44 | PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil | Emulsifying, Surfactant | - | - |
| 45 | Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate | Chelating | - | - |
| 46 | Ethoxydiglycol | Humectant, Solvent | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | Sodium Benzoate | Masking | - | - |
| 48 | Caprylyl Glycol | Emollient | - | - |
| 49 | Ethylhexylglycerin | Skin Conditioning | - | - |
| 50 | Phenoxyethanol | Preservative | - | - |
| 51 | Chlorphenesin | Antimicrobial | - | - |
Comedogenic and irritancy ratings are read low is safer: 0 means no known risk, and a dash means the database prints no rating for that row. Most rows are unrated, so no average across the rated minority is computed and none should be read as a formula risk score. A printed range such as 0-3 is reproduced as typed and judged on its upper bound.
Price history and where today sits inside it
Two channels, both tracked since February 2024, both printing the same value on the same date. The current price is the highest either channel has ever recorded, and it is also the list price.
| Price type | Lowest ever | Highest ever | Current | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $15.32 (Apr 15, 2026) | $19.90 (Oct 23, 2026) | $19.90 (Oct 23, 2026) | $17.89 |
| 3rd Party New | $15.89 (Sep 28, 2026) | $25.96 (Feb 12, 2024) | $19.90 (Oct 23, 2026) | $19.91 |
| 3rd Party Used | - | - | - | - |
Figure 4 - lowest, highest, current and average price side by side, in USD
Current price against every benchmark
Figure 5 - deviation of the current price from each benchmark (percent); green is below the benchmark, rose is above it
| Benchmark | Deviation | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| vs Amazon lowest ever | +29.9% | how far above the floor the current price sits |
| vs Amazon average | +11.2% | distance from the typical Amazon price |
| vs 3rd-party lowest | +25.2% | distance from the marketplace floor |
| vs 3rd-party average | -0.1% | the marketplace premium or discount |
| vs list price | +0.0% | whether the offer is discounted at all |
Pricing read
This is the only product in the batch whose current price is also its all-time high: $19.90, reached on 23 Oct 2026 on both channels, eight days before capture. The Amazon floor was $15.32 in April 2026, so the climb is 29.9% inside six months. The third-party high of $25.96 is a launch observation from the first day of monitoring and inflates that channel's average to $19.91; the Amazon average of $17.89 is the more useful benchmark, and the current price is 11.2% above it.
USD, no conversion. Both channels are complete and both carry a launch-week high that distorts their averages - $25.96 on the marketplace side in February 2024. The current values are 8-day-old observations and both channels agree exactly, which is the strongest parity signal in the batch.
What the product actually looks like
Three carousel frames: the pack shot, the key-ingredients frame naming the peptide technologies, and the three icon claims. No buyer photos were rendered for this ASIN.
Three main images and no review-media tiles at capture, so the gallery is listing imagery only, with no user photography reproduced.
How this dossier was assembled
Capture conditions
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Marketplace | Amazon.com, US catalogue |
| Delivery context | New York 10001 - a US address, so every amount is native USD |
| Currency control | USD session preference, plus verification that the buy box renders dollar amounts; no FX conversion at any step |
| Product data | Listing detail page read cold, with the delivery address switched before any price was read |
| Rating data | Star histogram and count taken from the rating widget on the same page |
| Price history | Third-party tracker record; the summary block is all-time |
| Reviewer privacy | Names, handles, profile links and avatars are discarded at parse time; no review text is quoted in this dossier |
| Ingredient panel | Listing INCI block, reconciled row for row against an independent database table - 51 against 51, identical order |
| Item identity | The detail table returns an item ASIN of B0H99V1XPH with a first-available date of 17 July 2026, while the tracked and published identifier is B0BLHW7JZM; Amazon pools star ratings at parent level, so the count is the shared pool |
Confidence by element
| Element | Confidence | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Title, brand, category path | High | Read from the page's own labelled nodes |
| Rating and rating count | High for the figure / medium for attribution | Pooled at parent level, so the count is not this variant's own |
| Current price | High | Single buy-box price in a US context |
| Price history | High for printed values / medium for averages | Transcribed from the tracker; the marketplace average is inflated by a launch observation |
| Ingredient panel | High | 51 rows, identical to the independent table |
| Aspect sentiment | Medium | Machine-derived summary; aspect counts overlap |
| Review text | Not available | No review body rendered at capture |
Limitations
- Point-in-time snapshot: price, rank and rating counts are as of 2026-10-31.
- The 3,549 figure counts star ratings pooled at parent level, not written reviews.
- No bullet points rendered on the listing, so the claim set is taken from the carousel rather than body copy.
- No review body rendered, so every qualitative statement is machine-derived.
- Price history is all-time only; the current price is also the all-time high, which limits what the series can say about a normal band.
- No buyer photography was rendered, so no user imagery appears.
- Ingredient safety grades are community aggregates, not regulatory determinations, and are presented as reference only.