Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum 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 Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum versus The Ordinary "Buffet" .

Last updated on March 29, 2024. Published on April 21, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

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Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum

The Ordinary "Buffet"

Serum American Brand United States

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

Ingredient Info

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

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum 21 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

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum 21 ingredients

The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients

Benefits

Reduces Irritation

Concerns

Acne Trigger

Rosacea

Eczema

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.

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum 21 ingredients

The Ordinary "Buffet" 51 ingredients

Dimethicone • Xanthan Gum • Sorbitan Sesquioleate • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Water • Propanediol • Glycereth-26 • Peg-12 Dimethicone • Sodium Hyaluronate • Aminomethyl Propanol • Biosaccharide Gum-2 • Panthenol • Citric Acid • Benzophenone-4 • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Dehydroacetic Acid • Benzyl Alcohol • Hc Violet No. 1 • CI 42090

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.

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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.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

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 Gum

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 40.

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

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

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

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

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 Hyaluronate

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 12.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

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 Acid

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 33.

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.

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

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.

Valjean Labs Hydrate Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

The Ordinary "Buffet" contains this as ingredient number 49.

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