Have you heard? Niod CAIS and The Ordinary Buffet had a baby: The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%.

I’m a total NIOD CAIS fan girl. It makes my skin a little firmer and keeps it working as it should.

I’ve never cared about TO Buffet. I’m not convinced most of its peptides work. #sorrynotsorry

Still, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to try their baby. I love me some copper peptides so if everything else works, that’s just a bonus.

If they don’t work, you’ve still got a steal. A 30ml bottle of CAIS is £60.00. The same amount of The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% “only” £28.99.

Yes, it’s way more expensive than your ordinary The Ordinary product (see what I did there? 😉 ) but those peptides are expensive. If you can’t justify it, don’t worry: peptides are NOT a must for skin.

If you can justify it, read on:

What’s In The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%?

COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1 TO BOOST COLLAGEN

This is the copper peptide in The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%. It’s a peptide found in human plasma that activates a lot of functions in the body, including wound healing, collagen production, and anti-inflammatory responses.

In other words, it makes sure that your skin stays healthy and does all its jobs properly even as it gets older.

Most of the studies on copper peptides aren’t reliable. They’re done in vitro, on cells in a dish. But I’ve found a study done on real skin.

71 women applied a copper peptide cream on their sun-damaged skin. After 12 weeks, the cream “improved skin laxity, clarity, and appearance, reduced fine lines and the depth of wrinkles, and increased skin density and thickness.”

To sum it up, copper peptides do 3 things really well:

• Soothe irritations
• Help wounds heal faster
• Stimulate collagen production, firming skin

FYI, too much copper in the skin may have the opposite effect and cause free radicals. Don’t use copper peptides every day. Two or three times a week is enough.

Related: Are Copper Peptides Better Than Retinoids For Sun-Damaged Skin?

“BUFFET” PEPTIDES TO BOOST SKIN FUNCTIONS

I.e. all the other peptides in The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%:

• Argirelox Peptide Complex: Made up of Argireline + Pentapeptide-18 (Leuphasyl), it relaxes the muscles so they can’t move as well and, overtime, leave wrinkles behind. It’s said to reduce wrinkles depth by up 30%, but works only on thin skin. I don’t care for it: if it were a real alternative to Botox, no one would use the needle anymore. Save your money on this one.
• Palmitoyl tripeptide-1: It may boost collagen production.  I haven’t found much proof it works on human skin yet.
• Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7: The manufacturer swears it makes skin firmer and smoother. I’m still waiting for independent studies that confirm this.
• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38: The manufacturer says it increases the production of hyaluronic acid in the skin. Again, I couldn’t find any evidence supporting this.
• Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate: You probably know this as Syn™-Ake, a peptide that relaxes muscles. As you know by now, I think these relaxing peptides are just a waste of your money and time.
• Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine: Known as Restilase, it’s supposed to boost collagen production. Again, the only studies are from the manufacturer.

I know this part of the review sounds very negative and I don’t mean to say they’re useless but…

Peptides are kinda new in skincare. If a manufacturer has studies that a peptide boosts collagen/fights wrinkles/relaxes muscles on a few cells in a Petri dish, a brand is gonna run with it.

They’ll put it in their serums and moisturisers and use the manufacturer’s studies in their marketing copies. They’re in the business of making money, I get it.

I’m in the business of reviewing products so I’ll tell you this: if a serum or moisturiser has antioxidants/hyaluronic acid/AHAs/anything-really-proven-to-work + peptides, go for it.

If peptides turn out to work as the manufacturer claims, that’s a bonus. If not, no harm done. You’re still getting a product that works. But don’t waste $100+ on a peptide serum alone. Not yet anyway.

Related: What Type Of Peptides Work Best To Repair Skin?

HUMECTANTS TO HYDRATE SKIN

Humectants is a fancy way of calling ingredients that attract moisture from the air into the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is king here. It holds up to 1000 times its weight in water. The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% uses TWO forms of hyaluronic acid + glycerin so it packs a super hydrating punch.

When skin has all the moisture it needs, it just looks and works better:

• Plumping: Moisture plumps up your skin, making your fine lines and wrinkles look smaller.
• Glowing: Well-hydrated skin has a natural dewy glow to it.
• Softening: Moisture makes skin soft and smooth.

Forget about peptides. Plenty of extra moisture is enough to make your skin look younger and healthier.

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

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that fights wrinkles and gives your skin a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” cheat sheet to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

Texture

Blue in colour, The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% has a lightweight, gel-like texture that takes a few minutes to absorb. Until it does, it feels a little tacky.

Texture-wise, NIOD CAIS wins hands down. It’s lightweight to the point of runny, but absorbs immediately. I don’t have to wait to do the rest of my skincare routine.

Fragrance

It smells. Bad. That’s the ingredients. The Ordinary didn’t add any extra fragrance.

How To Use It

AM or PM, after cleansing. I don’t recommend using copper peptides too often because too much may have the opposite effect and accelerate aging.

Performance & Personal Opinion

Remember when I told you I saw a difference with NIOD CAIS after I stopped using it? Copper peptides keep skin in a constant state of repair. They’re like supervisors who make sure every skin cell works as it should.

If your skin is still young and doesn’t have a lot of damage, it’s unlikely you’ll see any visible results. It’s when you stop using it that you’re like, “mmm, I swear my skin looked better last week?”

What I’ve noticed straight away is that The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% hydrates skin, helps any blemish heal faster, and soothes irritations. I don’t get blemishes often – I know what works for my skin by now.

But, as a skincare blogger, I try lots of different products. Sometimes, one of them leaves an unwanted present behind. When that happens, I can rely on this serum to make it go away faster.

It also helps skin tolerate harsh ingredients better. If you’re ready to go prescription with retinoids but are scared of the side effects, adding The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% helps reduce the irritation.

The serum is also hydrating. If you’re skin is on the dry side and needs all the hylauronic acid it can get, you’ll appreciate this.

Instead, I didn’t really see any reduction in fine lines. But hey, you win some, you lose some.

Related: NIOD Copper Amino Isolate 2:1 Full Review

The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% VS NIOD CAIS 2:1: Which One Is Best?

For me, NIOD CAIS wins hands down. Out of the two serums, it works faster and makes my skin look better. I didn’t see much of an improvement with The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%.

I’m not saying it doesn’t work. I’m saying it doesn’t work as well for ME. Still, there are a few reasons why YOU may prefer The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%:

• You’re already loving The Ordinary Buffet and want the added benefits of copper peptides.
• You have dry skin and need something more hydrating than NIOD CAIS.
• You’re looking for a cheaper version of NIOD CAIS.
• You don’t want to mix your skincare (NIOD CAIS comes in two bottles you need to mix together).

Who Is This For?

No one needs this. But if you want to try copper peptide on a budget, this is your best option.

Who Is This NOT For?

As I said, no one needs this. But it’s particularly not suitable for women with fuzz on their skin. Copper peptides aggravate that.

Packaging

A dark bottle with a dropper applicator. Sleek and practical.

Does The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

£28.99 at Asos, Beauty Bay and Cult Beauty

Do You Need It?

I’m not convinced anyone needs peptides in their skincare routine. But if you want to try them anyway, this is a good way to do so without breaking the bank.

Dupes & Alternatives

• NIOD Copper Amino Serum 2:1 (£38.00-£60.00)

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.