What is PDRN? The Salmon Skincare Trend Explained.
PDRN (a.k.a. salmon DNA) is trending in skincare, but does it live up to the hype? I tested popular PDRN serums from Rejuran, Rejuall, and Heveblue to see whether it's worth adding to your routine.
There are some skincare ingredients that make perfect sense—like hyaluronic acid for hydration or vitamin C for brightening. And then there are those that leave you staring at the label, questioning all your life choices. Enter PDRN—or polydeoxyribonucleotide, if you like your skincare ingredients to also be tongue twisters.
During my recent visit to Seoul, I saw this ingredient popping up in all the best-selling Korean skincare products. It got me wondering: What exactly is PDRN, and does it live up to the hype? The answer may surprise you.
What Exactly Is PDRN?
Ok, if you’re squeamish about your skincare, then I suggest you stop reading here, because PDRN consists of DNA fragments mainly derived from the sperm cells of salmon or trout. That’s right. Fish sperm DNA. In your skincare. And you thought snail mucin was the weirdest ingredient in your K-beauty products.
However, if you can get over what’s in PDRN, it actually does have some serious science behind it. PDRN was already being used in medical treatments for wound healing and skin regeneration long before it became popular in skincare. Doctors have applied it for burns, scars, and even post-surgical recovery. So, despite its rather unusual source, it does have some legit credentials.
How PDRN Took Over Korean Skincare
While PDRN started out as a post-surgical treatment, it quickly made it’s way into skincare once the beauty industry in Korea found out about it.
The brand Rejuran was the first to popularize PDRN in the form of skin boosters (or dermal injections) that dermatologists used to improve skin elasticity, repair damage, and reduce fine lines. These treatments, though invasive, are incredibly popular in Korea even today, with many skincare lovers and influencers traveling all the way to Seoul to try it for themselves.
As the buzz around PDRN injectables grew, beauty brands saw an opportunity to bring these benefits to a wider audience—minus the needles. This led to the development of topical PDRN treatments, from serums and ampoules to creams and sheet masks. While topical versions do not penetrate as deeply as injections, they still provide some skin benefits.
And of course, the social media hype hasn’t hurt either. With influencers showcasing their “glass skin” results, PDRN has quickly gone from a niche ingredient to a must-try trend.
The Benefits of PDRN
So, what exactly does salmon DNA do for your skin? Here’s what the research—and social media—tells us:
Boosts Skin Regeneration – PDRN encourages cell turnover, helping with wound healing, acne scars, and overall skin texture.
Stimulates Collagen Production – More collagen means plumper, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin over time.
Reduces Inflammation and Repairs Damaged Skin – If you struggle with redness, sensitivity, or irritation, PDRN has soothing properties that can help calm things down and repair your skin.
Now, keep in mind, when it comes to clinical results, these benefits have only been proven in PDRN administered straight to the skin’s dermal layer, not from topical products. Is it equally as effective as a topical product? Well, the research is pretty limited, so I put it to the test on my own skin to find out.
Does It Work? My Experience with PDRN
As the saying goes, ‘When in Korea, do as the Koreans do’. And so I did just that, and picked up a whole bunch of PDRN containing skincare products. So far, I’ve tried the following:
While I didn’t incorporate them all at the same time (the theme of this blog being skinimalism and all), I gave each of them a good amount of time in my routine to understand its benefits.
The creams, which were a little on the heavier side for my combination-oily skin, I used only at night. The lightweight toner and ampoule I used both day and night. After using various products, I can now pretty confidently tell you what I think of PDRN in topical skincare.
The Results
I’m updating these results after 3 months of having tried various PDRN products, and there’s good and bad news.
Let’s start with the pros. My skin, overall, looked and felt healthier. Not dramatically brighter or lifted, but calmer, less reactive, and any post-acne redness faded faster than usual. Overall, I can say that PDRN does a few things pretty well:
✅ Improved Skin Recovery: I used PDRN alongside my prescription retinoid, and felt like my skin seemed to bounce back faster, with less risk of dryness or irritation.
✅ Calmer Skin: Redness and senitivity, especially around my forehead and nose, seemed to reduce over time.
✅ Better Hydration Retention: My skin felt more hydrated overall, especially when I woke up in the morning.
That said, this is no overnight miracle. Topical PDRN is not going to give you dramatically youthful skin (like some on social media would have you believe). It’s definitely more of a long-term skin health supporting ingredient. Here are some things to consider before investing in it:
❌ No Noticeable Collagen Boost: One of the big claims around PDRN is its supposed ability to support collagen synthesis. While this might be true in injectable form, I personally didn’t notice any firming, plumping, or dramatic anti-aging effects from topical versions.
❌ No Instant Glow: A lot of skinfluencers have been touting PDRN’s ability to give you instant glass skin, but I didn’t see any immediate brightening or visible glow-up with PDRN.
❌ Consider the Alternatives: Many of the better-formulated PDRN products are pricey, yet don’t necessarily outperform more affordable barrier-repair serums that contain proven ingredients like ceramides.
Best PDRN Skincare Products to Try
All that said, PDRN is a solid ingredient if you have sensitive, reactive skin and are looking for a product that’ll help support overall skin health.
If you’re curious about giving PDRN a shot (without, you know, actually getting shots), here are some of the products that the Korean girls are loving.
Full disclosure, I do make a teeny little commission from the links below, so consider showing some love to this blog, if you found this article helpful.
Best for Beginners: Dr. Reju-all Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream
You might have seen this product trending on social media, and for once, it’s for good reason. If you really want to test out the benefits of PDRN, opt for this lightweight, gel-like cream, with a minimalist formula containing 1,200ppm PDRN alongside niacinamide and panthenol.
It’s going to be great for all skin types, in my opinion, but is a very basic product. So, if you want your PDRN paired with other powerhouse ingredients, keep scrolling.
Best for Oily Skin: Rejuran Moisture Treatment Ampoule
The OG brand, the one that started it all with their injections, Rejuran’s PDRN products are all the rage right now. You’ll be spoilt for choice in the Rejuran aisle, because they offer PDRN in every imaginable form, including cleansers, essences, creams and many different types of ampoules.
The lightweight and hydrating Rejuran Moisture Treatment Ampoule, however, is my pick for oily skin types. It’s formulated with 7% of Rejuran’s proprietary PDRx Complex, alongside ceramides for additional barrier support. It was soothing and nourishing on my combination-oily, acne-prone skin, without feeling too heavy.
Best Vegan Alternative: VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 Essence
If you’re vegan, the good news is that there is an alternative to salmon-derived PDRN. The VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 Essence uses 100,000ppm (!) ginseng-derived PDRN to supposedly provide many of the same benefits, including hydration and skin renewal. Keep in mind that the research around vegan PDRN is pretty much non-existent, so it may not work quite as well. But if you’re interested in the benefits of this ingredient without supporting an animal-derived product, then the VT essence is well worth a try. It also contains other hydrating and nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, panthenol, squalane, and allantoin.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Heveblue Salmon Caring Centella Cream
If you really want to amp up the calming and soothing effects of your PDRN product, replace your moisturizer with the Heveblue Salmon Caring Centella Cream that combines 5,000ppm of salmon-derived PDRN and 30,000ppm of salmon egg extract with skincare soothing and hydrating powerhouses like centella asiatica, madecassoside, hyaluronic acid, and green tea extract.
If you’re looking for a less creamy, more lightweight texture, the Heveblue Salmon Caring Centella Toner, with many of the same ingredients, is a great alternative.
Best for Uneven Skin Tone: Genabelle PDRN Vita Toning Ampoule
If you’re looking for a bit of a glow-up, turn to the Genabelle PDRN Vita Toning Ampoule. This is definitely one of those products where the additional ingredients do a lot of the heavy lifting. 5,000ppm of salmon PDRN is combined with a mix of Vitamin B, C, & E and tranexamic acid to give your skin the even tone that PDRN alone may not.
Best for Anti-Aging: Medicube Pink Peptide PDRN Serum
While PDRN on its own didn’t provide the anti-aging benefits I was looking for, the Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (or as I like to call it, the Pink Pepto Bismol Serum) adds a little firepower by combining salmon-derived PDRN with 5 different types of peptides and good concentration of niacinamide. While the concentration of PDRN in this product seems unclear, anecdotally, it does seem to provide good results.
Final Thoughts: Is PDRN Worth the Hype?
So, is PDRN the next big skincare breakthrough, or just another fleeting trend? Honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for.
If you’re expecting dramatic anti-aging or firming results, topical PDRN alone probably isn’t going to deliver that, at least not in the short term, and not without help from a well-rounded routine.
But if you’re looking to support your skin barrier, reduce redness, and speed up recovery, especially if you use retinoids or exfoliants regularly, PDRN can be a helpful addition. Think of it as a “helper ingredient”, not the star of the show, but a solid supporting actor that helps your skin stay calm, hydrated, and happy.
Just keep in mind: results take time, not all products are effective, and applying this topically is absolutely not going to give you the dramatic results that injectables will. So, as with all skincare, it’s important to stay patient and consistent in the long run.
About The Skinimalist
Hi, I’m Mal, a 30-something recovering skincare addict, and this is my blog. A space where I attempt to de-influence you from chasing trends and buying more skincare products you may not need.
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