There was a time in skincare when peptide serums came in two flavors: very expensive and very disappointing. Then The Ordinary released a product called Buffet — a name that captured both its formulation philosophy (pile everything on the plate) and its price-to-performance ratio (all you can eat, surprisingly good). That product has been renamed and reformulated into the Multi-Peptide + HA Serum, but the DNA is the same: throw every proven peptide technology at the problem of aging and let the user decide whether the results justify the approach.
The approach is comprehensive by any standard. Five distinct peptide technologies are present: Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline), which modulates the neuromuscular signals behind expression lines; Pentapeptide-18, which complements Argireline's mechanism through a different neurotransmitter pathway; Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 (Matrixyl synthe'6), which stimulates six structural proteins in the dermal matrix; the Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Tetrapeptide-7 duo (Matrixyl 3000), which boosts collagen while reducing the inflammation that breaks it down; and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate (Syn-Ake), a venom-mimicking peptide that targets muscle relaxation. Each addresses a different mechanism of aging. Together, they're essentially the topical equivalent of a combination therapy.
What distinguishes this from its more expensive sibling — the Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum — is what it doesn't contain. No copper tripeptide-1 means no blue color, no metallic smell, no restriction against retinoids, and a $12 lower price tag. For many users, these absences are features rather than limitations. The Copper Peptides version demands routine restructuring; this version demands only that you avoid direct acids and vitamin C in the same sitting — a much more manageable constraint that still leaves room for retinoids, the gold standard of anti-aging.
The supporting formula is where The Ordinary's thoughtfulness shows. Lactococcus Ferment Lysate provides a probiotic-derived matrix of amino acids and growth factor-like molecules. Eleven amino acids plus a full complement of NMF components — urea, sodium PCA, sodium lactate, sugars — replenish the skin's natural hydration infrastructure. Dual-form hyaluronic acid (standard and crosspolymer) provides immediate and sustained moisturization. Allantoin adds soothing and skin-conditioning properties. This isn't a formula where peptides float in water and hope for the best — the delivery vehicle is engineered to support both the actives and the skin they're working on.
The texture is pleasant and undemanding. A lightweight, clear serum with a slight gel consistency, it absorbs quickly without stickiness, greasiness, or visible residue. No metallic smell, no unusual color, no sensory drama. Under moisturizer and sunscreen it layers cleanly. The 60ml size — a welcome addition to the reformulated product — makes economic sense for a twice-daily serum and lasts four to six months.
Results follow the standard peptide timeline, which is the one thing about this product that requires managing expectations. Peptides work by signaling your skin's own biological machinery to produce more collagen, assemble more structural proteins, and reduce the inflammatory processes that degrade what's already there. These are real biological processes, and they operate at biological speed — not marketing speed. Hydration improves immediately. Texture smooths within a couple of weeks. Fine-line reduction becomes noticeable at four to eight weeks. Meaningful firmness and elasticity improvement requires eight to twelve weeks of consistent use.
This timeline is where many users part ways with peptide products. In a world of immediate-gratification actives — retinoids that visibly peel within days, AHAs that brighten overnight, vitamin C that delivers an instant glow — peptides ask you to trust a process you can't see working. The users who stick with this product and report positive results are invariably the ones who gave it the two to three months it needs. Those who abandoned it after two weeks were never going to see what it could do.
The review count on Ulta (around 100) reflects the product's relatively recent reformulation rather than any lack of interest. The original Buffet was one of The Ordinary's bestsellers globally, and the reformulated version inherits that reputation while updating the delivery technology. Early reviews are positive for those who gave it adequate time, with the main complaints centering on individual sensitivity reactions (burning or breakouts) that suggest this formula doesn't work for every skin type — a honest reminder that even gentle formulations have exceptions.
At $19.90 — or less per ml in the 60ml size — this is among the most affordable multi-peptide serums available from any reputable brand. The five peptide technologies it contains would cost $60-120 from most competitors, and the supporting ingredient profile (ferment lysate, full amino acid complex, dual HA) adds value that the price barely reflects.
The Multi-Peptide + HA Serum is the anti-aging product for the pragmatist. It won't reorganize your routine, it won't assault your senses, and it won't deliver overnight miracles. What it will do — if you give it the time and consistency it requires — is address aging from five different biochemical angles at a price that makes regular use sustainable. That's not the most exciting sales pitch in skincare. But it might be the most honest one.
