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Murad Retinol Youth… vs the ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum vs the ordinary Buffet

the ordinary Buffet scores 8.8/9.8 vs Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum at 8.4/9.8. the ordinary Buffet wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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Murad

Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

serumpremium

8.4

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

the ordinary

Buffet

serumbudget

8.8

Buy at Amazon

Score comparison

the ordinary Buffet edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

Murad wins 1

Tied 2

the ordinary wins 2

8.4Murad

+0.4vs

8.8the ordinary

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Murad WINS

9.8

8.7

Murad

the ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Murad

the ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

the ordinary WINS

5.1

8.4

Murad

the ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Murad

the ordinary

Formulation Safety

the ordinary WINS

8.5

9.0

Murad

the ordinary

Ingredient face-off

22% overlap

49Murad

11Shared

48the ordinary

Only in Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum

38 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Dimethicone Cyclopentasiloxane Isopropyl Palmitate C14-22 Alcohols Polymethylsilsesquioxane Propanediol Glyceryl Stearate Peg-100 Stearate Shea Butter Ethyl Esters+28 more

Shared ingredients

11 in common

Sodium Hyaluronate Urea Trehalose Glycerin Dimethyl Isosorbide Butylene Glycol Polysorbate 20 Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Chlorphenesin+1 more

Only in the ordinary Buffet

37 unique

Aqua (Water)Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Pentapeptide-18 Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer Allantoin Glycine Alanine+27 more

Why the ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where the ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum's 5.1. Its formula features Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum scores 9.8 here versus 8.7 for the ordinary Buffet. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

the ordinary Buffet brings Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 as actives, while murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum relies on Retinol, Ceramide Np, and Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Sodium Hyaluronate
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

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 premium pricing with a score of 8.4, Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is a decent pick. the ordinary Buffet sits at the budget level with a 8.8 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.4 lead

the ordinary Buffet edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is still a solid pick.

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8.4Murad

8.8the ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum or the ordinary Buffet?

Based on ingredient analysis, the ordinary Buffet scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum 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 Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum and the ordinary Buffet?

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

Full analysis: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum→Full analysis: the ordinary Buffet→

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