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peter thomas roth unwrinkle serum ordinary buffet dupe

Peptides are like antioxidants. The more, the merrier.

At least, that’s the new skincare trend. These past couple of years, more brands have been coming up with toners and serums that literally contain every peptide under the sun.

Take Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum, for example. With 18 different types of peptides, it’s a The Ordinary “Buffet” dupe on steroids.

Is it worth the splurge or are you better off with the cheaper version? Let’s find out:

What Do The Ordinary “Buffet” And Peter Thomas Roth un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum Have In Common?

PEPTIDES TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING

If you’re a regular here, you know that I’ve been slow to jump on the peptide bandwagon. I have a couple of reasons for that:

  1. Peptides are too big to penetrate skin: Usually, if something stays on top of the skin, it can only moisturise it. But recent research suggests that peptides may be the exception to the rule. Apparently, they work thanks to a signalling mechanism that tells skin cells what to do (i.e., make more collagen or hydrate skin).
  2. Lack of independent studies: Most studies praising the antiaging benefits of peptides are done by the manufacturers. But, slowly, new independent studies are starting to confirm some of those benefits.

So, what peptides are in Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum and The Ordinary “Buffet”? Too many to mention. Let’s just take a look at the ones they have in common, shall we?

  1. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8: Nicknamed “Botox in a jar,” it relaxes facial muscles so they can’t contract. No muscle movement = no wrinkles. Needless to say, it’s NOT as effective as Botox. You’ll see some results with it only if you have thin skin.
  2. Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: Part of Matrixyl 3000, it has soothing and hydrating properties.
  3. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1: Similar to retinol, it can repair visible signs of damage like wrinkles and roughness.
  4. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38: Known as MATRIXYL synthe’6, it can reduce wrinkles and crow’s feet (but the only studies on it were done by the manufacturer, so take that with a pinch of salt).
  5. Pentapeptide-18: Made up of 5 amino acids, it boosts skin’s moisture content, keeping it hydrated.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum goes the extra mile: it contains 10 more peptides! Here are the highlights:

If you just want to wet your feet in the world of peptides, The Ordinary “Buffet” will do the job just fine. But if you’re ready to go all in, Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum is the better option.

Related: Which Types Of Peptides Work Best To Repair Skin?

HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN

Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet. Literally.

Like a magnet, it attracts water from the air and binds it to your skin. It’s so good at this, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.

All that extra moisture makes your skin very happy: it plumps it up so your fine lines and wrinkles look smaller; it makes it softer to the touch; and gives your complexion a youthful glow.

The Ordinary “Buffet” wins here. It has TWO forms of hyaluronic acid. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum has to make do with just the one.

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine

To make this serum part of your The Ordinary routine I recommend following my scientist friend’s course called Extraordinary Skin With The Ordinary – in it she’s teaching you how to design a The Ordinary skincare routine to get makeupless skin you love. Click here to check it out now. (affiliate link)

The Ordinary Skincare Routine - Where to start with The Ordinary skincare

What Else Is In The Ordinary “Buffet” And Peter Thomas Roth un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum?

The Ordinary “Buffet” keeps it simple: just a handful of peptides and humectants (moisture magnets like hyaluronic acid).

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum has three times the amounts of peptides and a sprinkle of antioxidants, including vitamins A, C and E.

Antioxidants neutralise free radicals before they can wreak their damage on your skin and give you wrinkles and dark spots. The small concentration means they’ll be able to deal with only a small amount of free radicals but hey, that’s better than nothing, right?

Related: What The Heck Are Humectants And Why Are They In My Skincare Products?

Want more affordable dupes for expensive skincare products? Download your FREE “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet and start saving money (without compromising on results) today:

What’s The Texture Like?

The Ordinary “Buffet” is a liquidy gel-like formula that sinks in quickly into the skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum is very lightweight and absorbs quickly too.

What’s The Packaging Like?

The Ordinary “Buffet” comes in a white, see-through bottle with a dropper applicator.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum comes in a golden bottle with a pump applicator.

How To Use Them

Morning and/or night, after cleansing. If you’re using a serum with actives (think retinol), use that first.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

It depends.

If you’ve never used peptides before and are sceptical of what they can do for you, go with The Ordinary “Buffet”. It’s super cheap and has just enough peptides to give you an idea of how – or even if! – peptides can help you treat your skin woes.

If you’re a peptide convert and can’t get enough of them into your skincare routine, upgrade to Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum. It’s pricier but, with 3 times more peptides, well worth the splurge.

Price Availability

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum: $100.00 at Peter Thomas Roth

The Ordinary “Buffet”: $14.80 at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique and SkinStore

Is The Ordinary “Buffet” A Dupe For Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum?

Sort of. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum is a The Ordinary “Buffet” alternative on steroids. It has 3 times the amount of peptides plus a sprinkle of antioxidants to keep premature wrinkles at bay.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Turbo Serum Ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Propanediol, Alcohol Denat, Squalene, Tetrapeptide-17, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Tripeptide-10 Citrulline, Tripeptide-1, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide- 3, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-30, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-25, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Acetylaringyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Isopropyl Myristate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Gluconolactone, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Carbomer, Dextran, Triethanolamine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Red 33 (Ci 17200)

The Ordinary “Buffet” Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium PCA, PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.