Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops versus The Ordinary "Buffet" .
Last updated on November 28, 2023. Published on March 24, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 17 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Water • Butylene Glycol • Glycerin • Pentylene Glycol • Propylene Glycol • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Chondrus Crispus Extract • Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Tocopheryl Acetate • Phenoxyethanol • Hexylene Glycol • Tromethamine • Carbomer • Xanthan Gum • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Fructose • Disodium EDTA • Glucose • Dextrin • Urea • Sucrose • Glutamic Acid • Aspartic Acid • Hexyl Nicotinate • Alanine
Water • Glycerin • Lactococcus Ferment Lysate • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 • Pentapeptide-18 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 • Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 • Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 • Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate • Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine • Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer • Sodium Hyaluronate • Allantoin • Glycine • Alanine • Serine • Valine • Isoleucine • Proline • Threonine • Histidine • Phenylalanine • Arginine • Aspartic Acid • Trehalose • Fructose • Glucose • Maltose • Urea • Sodium PCA • PCA • Sodium Lactate • Citric Acid • Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hydroxide • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Acacia Senegal Gum • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Polysorbate 20 • Ppg-26-Buteth-26 • Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Ethoxydiglycol • Sodium Benzoate • Caprylyl Glycol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • Chlorphenesin
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Watere.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 1.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 1.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 2.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 37.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about Glycerine.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 3.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 2.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene Glycole.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 4.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 38.
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a type of hyaluronic acid. In fact, it is modified version of hyaluronic acid.
The structure of Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer allows it to stay in the skin's top layer for a longer period of time. This allows for even more hydration and humectant action than hyaluronic acid.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymere.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 9.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 11.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 11.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 50.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 14.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 41.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gume.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 15.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 40.
We don't have a description for Ppg-26-Buteth-26.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 16.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 43.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl Glycole.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 17.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 48.
Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 18.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 49.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is derived from castor oil and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used as a emollient and emulsifier.
As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps make the other ingredients more soluble; it is often used to solubilize fragrances. This increases spreadability and elongates shelf life in a product.
Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
This ingredient may or may not be vegan, depending on the source.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns.
Learn more about Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oile.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 19.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 44.
Fructose is fruit/plant sugar. It can be found in apples, figs, and honey.
This ingredient is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin, keeping your skin hydrated.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 20.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 26.
Glucose is a simple sugar and is the most important source of energy in all organisms. In skincare, glucose is used to hydrate the skin. It also acts as a prebiotic for our natural biome.
As a humectant, glucose draws moisture from the air and from deeper levels in the skin. This helps hydrate skin.
Our skin's natural microbiome contains many saccharides that act as prebiotics. These prebiotics help strengthen our skin's microbiome. Having a healthy microbiome helps protect our skin from harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Studies show glucose may help with fading discoloration and pigmentation. This is because our skin metabolizes glucose into lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin.
Plants and algae make glucose during the process of photosynthesis. It is then used to make cellulose, the building blocks of cell walls.
Learn more about Glucosee.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 22.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 27.
Urea is also called carbamide and is the diamide of carbonic acid. In cosmetics, urea is used to hydrate the skin. It also provides exfoliation in higher concentrations.
As a humectant, urea helps draw moisture from the air and from deep within the skin. This helps hydrate your skin. Studies show urea is an effective moisturizer for dry skin conditions. 40% urea is typical in medications for treating eczema and other skin conditions.
Urea has the strongest exfoliation effect in concentrations higher than 10%. It is a keratolytic agent, meaning it breaks down the keratin protein in the top layer of skin. This helps remove dead skin cells and flaking skin.
In medicine, urea has been shown to help increase the potency of other ingredients, such as fungal treatments.
Humans and animals use urea to metabolize nitrogen-containing compounds. Urea is highly soluble in water. Once dissolved, it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Learn more about Ureae.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 24.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 29.
Aspartic Acid is an amino acid that our bodies produce naturally. It is an antioxidant.
Our body uses Aspartic Acid to help build collagen and elastin. It also plays a role in hydrating skin.
Antioxidants help mitigate damage from free-radical molecules. These are molecules that originate from external sources such as pollution, cigarette smoke, or the sun.
Learn more about Aspartic Acide.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 27.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 24.
Alanine is an amino acid and is already found in the human body.
Alanine has antioxidant properties and can help with anti-aging.
Alanine is used by fibrous proteins such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. These three help make a strong skin barrier. Having a healthy skin barrier leads to more plump and youthful skin.
Learn more about Alaninee.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops contains this as ingredient number 29.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 15.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
e.l.f. cosmetics Hydrating Booster Drops 29 ingredients
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