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Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide vs The Ordinary Buffet

Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide scores 9.1/9.8 and The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.9/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide
Arencia

Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide

serummid-range
9.1
VS
The Ordinary Buffet
The Ordinary

Buffet

serumbudget
8.9

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.

1
2
2
Arencia wins 1
Tied 2
The Ordinary wins 2
9.1Arencia
vs
8.9The Ordinary

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

The Ordinary WINS
7.2
8.7
Arencia
The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
Arencia
The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

The Ordinary WINS
7.5
8.4
Arencia
The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

Arencia WINS
8.8
8.5
Arencia
The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
Arencia
The Ordinary

Why these two are neck and neck

These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.4 here versus 7.5 for Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide brings Niacinamide, Arginine, and Adenosine as actives, while the Ordinary Buffet relies on Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
  • Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

The Ordinary Buffet is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
  • Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 9.1, Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide delivers strong value. The Ordinary Buffet sits at the budget level with a 8.9 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

9.1Arencia
vs
8.9The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide or The Ordinary Buffet?

Based on ingredient analysis, Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide and The Ordinary Buffet share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Arencia Holy Hyssop Brightening Serum 30 for Post-Acne Marks with Vitamin A, C, E, and Niacinamide and The Ordinary Buffet?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

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