the-ordinary The Ordinary Buffet

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Glycerin
3. Lactococcus Ferment Lysate
4. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
5. Pentapeptide-18
6. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
7. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
8. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
9. Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
10. Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine
11. Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
12. Sodium Hyaluronate
13. Allantoin
14. Glycine
15. Alanine
16. Serine
17. Valine
18. Isoleucine
19. Proline
20. Threonine
21. Histidine
22. Phenylalanine
23. Arginine
24. Aspartic Acid
25. Trehalose
26. Fructose
27. Glucose
28. Maltose
29. Urea
30. Sodium PCA
31. PCA
32. Sodium Lactate
33. Citric Acid
34. Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
35. Sodium Chloride
36. Sodium Hydroxide
37. Butylene Glycol
38. Pentylene Glycol
39. Acacia Senegal Gum
40. Xanthan Gum
41. Carbomer
42. Polysorbate 20
43. PPG-26-Buteth-26
44. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
45. Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
46. Ethoxydiglycol
47. Sodium Benzoate
48. Caprylyl Glycol
49. Ethylhexylglycerin
50. Phenoxyethanol
51. Chlorphenesin

Highlights

Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesFree of sulfatesFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains fragranceContains PEGContains mineral oil

Formulation view Aqueous base with a multi-peptide complex, lactobacillus lysate, and hyaluronic acid. Focuses on firming and barrier health. Suitable for mixed or neutral skin with fine lines. Factory observation: The complex peptide mixture requires strict pH control and microbial management to ensure batch stability.

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

DENATURANT

Glycerin

SKIN CONDITIONING

Lactococcus Ferment LysatePentapeptide-18Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

HUMECTANT

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Other ingredients

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide DiacetateAcetylarginyltryptophyl DiphenylglycineSodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerSodium HyaluronateAllantoinGlycineAlanineSerineValineIsoleucineProlineThreonineHistidinePhenylalanineArginineAspartic AcidTrehaloseFructoseGlucoseMaltoseUreaSodium PCAPCASodium LactateCitric AcidHydroxypropyl CyclodextrinSodium ChlorideSodium HydroxideButylene GlycolPentylene GlycolAcacia Senegal GumXanthan GumCarbomerPolysorbate 20PPG-26-Buteth-26PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor OilTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateEthoxydiglycolSodium BenzoateCaprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerinPhenoxyethanolChlorphenesin

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Lactococcus Ferment Lysate

Lactococcus lysate; provides amino acids and polysaccharides for moisture, fermentation reduces allergens.

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Acetyl hexapeptide-8; signal peptide, low concentration, used for firming and hydration, low irritancy.

Pentapeptide-18

Peptide for skincare; added at low levels, check supplier data for stability.

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 for repair; requires lipid carrier, unstable in aqueous phase

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 boosts collagen; use 0.1–1%, formulate with lipid carriers

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Palmitoyl tripeptide; signaling peptide for collagen and antioxidants; 0.1-1% typical, light-sensitive

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Dipeptide skin conditioner for moisturizing and repair; low concentration, minimal irritation or comedogenic risk.

Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine

Acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine, peptide texture enhancer; improves skin feel at <0.1% concentration.

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Crosslinked high-MW HA; forms surface hydrogel for long-lasting hydration, minimal penetration, physical film-forming.

Sodium Hyaluronate

Potent humectant at 0.1–2%; different MW for penetration depth, high levels may draw moisture

Allantoin

Skin soother at 0.5-2%; promotes cell regeneration

Glycine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; small molecule, low irritation.

Alanine

Amino acid for antistatic and conditioning; low irritation, slight salty taste at high levels

Serine

Humectant amino acid, 1–3%; high water solubility, compatible with sensitive skin.

Valine

Amino acid humectant, common in amino acid cleansers and sprays; mild, suitable for all skin types

Isoleucine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning and antistatic purposes; often blended; check taste if high.

Proline

Proline, amino-acid humectant; boosts stratum corneum hydration, stable at pH 4-5.

Threonine

Threonine, essential amino acid for hair/skin; blended with other AAs for balance.

Histidine

Amino acid humectant and antistatic agent; pH-dependent behavior, consider buffering in formulation.

Phenylalanine

Amino acid for hair and skin conditioning; usually part of a blend, no significant standalone efficacy data

Arginine

Arginine for moisturizing/conditioning; amino acid, high biocompatibility, often used in blends.

Aspartic Acid

Amino acid humectant and conditioner, common in rinse-off products; low levels mild, high levels may shift pH

Trehalose

Trehalose; mild humectant and stabilizer for proteins/actives; hygroscopic, light skin feel.

Fructose

Strong humectant; high levels can increase viscosity and hygroscopicity.

Glucose

Low-MW humectant and buffer; high hygroscopicity requires careful preservation and humidity control.

Maltose

Maltose humectant/skin conditioner; low sweetness, masking; monitor microbial growth.

Urea

Potent humectant and keratolytic, >10% has exfoliating effect; stinging sensation at high levels, sensitive skin caution

Sodium PCA

Sodium PCA, NMF component, 1-10% humectant; salty/tacky at high levels.

PCA

Proline carboxylic acid, NMF component; humectant, generally low irritation but may sensitise.

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate for moisturizing and exfoliation; pH buffering agent

Citric Acid

Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH

Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrin to complex fragrances/actives; boosts solubility and stability.

Sodium Chloride

Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps

Sodium Hydroxide

Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care

Butylene Glycol

Polyol humectant and solvent at 1–5%; aids solubilization, light feel

Pentylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 1-3%; low irritancy, suitable for sensitive skin

Acacia Senegal Gum

Natural film-former and fragrance agent; used for viscosity or film, check purity for allergens

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Carbomer

Gelling thickener requiring neutralization; watch out for ion compatibility

Polysorbate 20

Non-ionic emulsifier and cleansing surfactant; contains PEG, control microbial load.

PPG-26-Buteth-26

Not decoded yet

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Solubilizer and emulsifier for oil-soluble ingredients; high concentrations may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive skin.

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Mild chelator replacing EDTA; water-soluble, very low irritation, stabilizes metal ions

Ethoxydiglycol

Ethoxydiglycol; high-perf solv/humectant; low irrit, EU limit 20%, watch total PEG load

Sodium Benzoate

Preservative booster, effective below pH 4.5; combinable with sorbates

Caprylyl Glycol

Polyol conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–3%; emollient feel, often paired with 1,2-hexanediol

Ethylhexylglycerin

Mild conditioner and preservative booster at 0.5–1%; reduces preservative load, smooth feel

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Chlorphenesin

Phenolic antimicrobial; strict EU limits apply, potential allergen, careful dosing required for leave-on products.

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