The INKEY List Q10 Versus The Ordinary "Buffet"

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The INKEY List Q10 versus The Ordinary "Buffet" .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on January 19, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid and peptides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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The INKEY List Q10

The Ordinary "Buffet"

Serum British Brand United Kingdom

Serum Canadian Brand Canada

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Buy Q10

Buy "Buffet"

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

The INKEY List Q10 23 ingredients

The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

The INKEY List Q10 23 ingredients

The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Hyaluronic Acid

Peptides (2)

Benefits

Hydrating

Anti-Aging

Brightening (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Skin Texture

Scar Healing

Brightening

Concerns

Drying

Acne Trigger

Rosacea (2)

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

The INKEY List Q10 23 ingredients

The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients

Water • Butylene Glycol • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Dimethicone • 2-Hydroxyethyl Acrylate • Caprylyl Glycol • Squalane • Lecithin • Glycine Soja Extract • Carbomer • Polysorbate 60 • Tocopheryl Acetate • Ubiquinone • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Glycolipids • Glycine Soja Sterols • Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine • Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminohydroxybutyrate • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Hyaluronic Acid • Phenoxyethanol

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

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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 Water

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 1.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 1.

Butylene Glycol

What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 2.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 37.

Caprylyl Glycol

What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Liked

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 Glycol

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 7.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 48.

Carbomer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Community Rating: Disliked

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.

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 11.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 41.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 16.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 36.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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.

The INKEY List Q10 contains this as ingredient number 23.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 50.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.