Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum versus The Ordinary "Buffet" .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on June 26, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones 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.
Price
Ingredient Info
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
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 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not 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
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Benefits
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Water • Lactococcus Ferment Lysate • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Polysorbate 20 • Niacinamide • Panthenol • Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract • Beta Vulgaris Root Extract • Daucus Carota Sativa Extract • Avena Sativa Bran Extract • Hydrolyzed Hemp Seed Protein • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Sodium Hyaluronate • Fructooligosaccharides • Biotin • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Cetyl Stearate • Pyridoxine Hcl • Pentylene Glycol • Cetyl Alcohol • Isostearyl Isostearate • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Sodium PCA • Sodium Phytate • Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid • Stearic Acid • Potassium Lactate • Sodium Chloride • Citric Acid • Lactic Acid • Sodium Hydroxide • Potassium Sorbate • Sodium Benzoate • Caprylyl Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Decyl Glucoside • Lauryl Glucoside
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 WaterTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 1.
We don't have a description for Lactococcus Ferment Lysate.
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 3.
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 GlycerinTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 2.
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.
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 37.
Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.
As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.
Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.
The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.
Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 20Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 42.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 12.
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 GlycolTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 38.
Sodium PCA is the sodium salt of pyroglutamic acid and is naturally occurring on human skin.
The PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, a natural amino acid derivative.
Sodium PCA is a has conditioning, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties. Humectants help hydrate your skin by drawing moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin moisturized.
Learn more about Sodium PCATula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 25.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 30.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 30.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 35.
Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 33.
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 HydroxideTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 36.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 47.
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 GlycolTula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 36.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 48.
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.
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum contains this as ingredient number 37.
The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 50.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Usage
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When to use
Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients
Reviews
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Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum 39 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 48 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Tula Skincare Sensitive Skin Treatment Drops Calming Vitamin B Serum.
See 48 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary "Buffet".
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