Loading…
Comparison
The Ordinary Buffet vs Norva Peptide Serum: an honest comparison
3 min read
Verdict: If you want the most peptide technologies for the least money and no added fragrance, buy Buffet. If you'd rather have a single named peptide at a stated percentage in an oil-enriched, EU-made formula for normal to dry skin, with a subscription that brings the price down, the Norva Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum is the better fit.
| Feature | The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA (Buffet) | Norva Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum |
|---|---|---|
| Price (30 ml) | £15.90 RRP, on offer at £14.31 when checked (September 2026) | £30, or from 80p a day on subscription |
| Peptides | Five peptide technologies: SYN-AKE, Matrixyl synthe'6, Matrixyl 3000, Argirelox and acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine (percentages not stated) | 2% hexapeptide-11 (stated on the label) |
| Hydrators | Hyaluronic acid complex | Hyaluronic acid |
| Other actives | Amino acids, lactococcus ferment lysate | 1% ginkgo biloba extract, blueberry and strawberry seed oils |
| Fragrance | No fragrance in its listed ingredients (checked September 2026) | Scented: delicate floral with soft amber notes |
| Best suited to | Most skin types, including fragrance-sensitive skin | Normal, dry and dehydrated skin |
| Made in | Not stated on the product page | EU |
We sell a peptide serum, so read a comparison written by us with that in mind. We've tried to make this one useful anyway, including the parts that don't flatter us.
What Buffet is
The Ordinary's Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, still widely known by its old name "Buffet", is one of the best-known peptide serums in the UK. According to The Ordinary's own product page (checked September 2026), it combines five peptide technologies (SYN-AKE, Matrixyl synthe'6, Matrixyl 3000, Argirelox and acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine) with a hyaluronic acid complex. It costs £15.90 for 30 ml, and it was on offer at £14.31 when we checked.
That is a lot of peptide technology for the money, and it's the main reason Buffet is so popular. The Ordinary doesn't publish the percentage of each peptide, so you can't tell how much of each one is in there, but that's normal for multi-peptide blends.
What our serum is
The Norva Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum takes a simpler approach. It's built around a single named peptide, hexapeptide-11, at 2%, a figure printed on the label. Hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water for a plumper look, and blueberry and strawberry seed oils plus 1% ginkgo biloba extract add antioxidant support. It's made in the EU, costs £30 for 30 ml, and is designed for normal, dry and dehydrated skin.
Where Buffet wins
Price. Buffet is roughly half the price of ours at full price. If budget is the deciding factor, that settles it.
Breadth. Five peptide technologies against our one. If your idea of a peptide serum is "as many peptides as possible", Buffet fits that better.
Fragrance. No fragrance appears in Buffet's listed ingredients. Ours is lightly scented (delicate floral with soft amber notes). If fragrance bothers your skin, Buffet is the safer pick, and so is our fragrance-free Sensitive Skin Moisturiser for the moisturiser step.
Where ours may suit you better
You know what's in it and how much. A single peptide at a stated 2% is easy to understand and easy to compare.
Drier skin. The seed oils give our serum a more cushioned feel than a water-light serum, which suits normal to dry skin that feels tight after cleansing.
A matched routine. It sits in a range designed to be used together: the Peptide Ageless AM/PM Cream and Peptide Age-Defying Eye Cream. The three come as The Peptide Routine for £73, £13 less than buying them separately.
Subscription pricing. On a 90-day subscription (three bottles per delivery at 20% off), the serum works out at 80p a day. That's still more than Buffet, but it closes the gap.
What neither can promise
Peptide serums are cosmetic products. Both of these aim to improve how skin looks and feels: plumper, smoother, more hydrated. Neither is a substitute for sunscreen, which remains the single most effective anti-ageing step, and neither will do what a prescription retinoid or an in-clinic treatment does. Be wary of any peptide product, ours included, that promises more than that.
The short version
- Buy Buffet if you want the most peptides for the lowest price, or you need a fragrance-free formula.
- Buy the Norva Peptide Anti-Ageing Serum if you have normal to dry skin, prefer a single named peptide at a stated strength, want an EU-made, oil-enriched formula, or want a full peptide routine that works together.
Either way, give any serum at least six to eight weeks of consistent use before judging it, and patch test before first use.
Sources
- 1.The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum (formerly Buffet) — checked 27 September 2026
This page is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. Cold water immersion is not a medical treatment. Consult a professional if you have cardiovascular conditions. Competitor prices and policies were checked at the date shown above and may have changed since.
Gear for this
Related reading
A Simple Peptide Skincare Routine, Morning and Night
How to build a peptide skincare routine that actually gets used: which steps matter, what order to apply them in, and how long to give it before you judge the results.
How to Apply Your Skincare, and in What Order
Where each Norva product sits in a morning and evening routine, how to layer a serum under a cream without pilling, and the order for the Peptide Routine, the Barrier Reset Routine and Sensitive Skin Essentials.