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SK-II GenOptics Spot… vs The Ordinary Buffet — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence vs The Ordinary Buffet

The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.8/9.8 vs SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence at 8.3/9.8. The Ordinary Buffet wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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SK-II

GenOptics Spot Essence

serumluxury

8.3

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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

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Score comparison

The Ordinary Buffet edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

SK-II wins 1

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 2

9.0

SK-II

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

13% overlap

35SK-II

6Shared

48The Ordinary

Only in SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence

29 unique

Aqua Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate Cyclopentasiloxane Niacinamide Triethylhexanoin Nylon-12 Inositol Polymethylsilsesquioxane Boron Nitride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride+19 more

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Butylene Glycol Glycerin Pentylene Glycol Phenoxyethanol Sodium Benzoate Xanthan Gum

Only in The Ordinary Buffet

42 unique

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

Why The Ordinary Buffet comes out ahead

Where The Ordinary Buffet really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 8.4 compared to SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence's 5.9. Its formula features Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. The Ordinary Buffet scores 8.7 here versus 8.2 for SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

The Ordinary Buffet brings Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 as actives, while sK-II GenOptics Spot Essence relies on Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, and Inositol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence 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
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 luxury pricing with a score of 8.3, SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence 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

+0.5 lead

The Ordinary Buffet edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence is still a solid pick.

✶

8.3SK-II

8.8The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence 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 SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence 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 SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence 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: SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence→Full analysis: The Ordinary Buffet→

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