PDRN Products Are Everywhere Right Now, But These 7 Are Actually Worth Your Money
Juna Xu is a freelance writer and journalist with over 11 years of experience covering beauty, fashion, lifestyle, interiors and health. Her work has appeared in publications including Adore Beauty, Body+Soul, Mamamia, News.com.au, Who, marie claire and ELLE Australia. Alongside running her own e-commerce interiors business, Juna has a not-so-secret obsession with skincare (especially K-beauty, which she proudly admits is her ultimate addiction).
Curious about PDRN but have no idea where to start? From serums and toners to eye creams and masks, these are the PDRN products actually worth the hype (according to a beauty writer who’s tried them all).
There was a time when PDRN was something you'd only really hear about if you were deep in the K-beauty corners of the internet (or watching Kim Kardashian get her infamous “salmon sperm facial”).
Now, you can’t look at a beauty shelf without seeing the four letters staring back at you.
It’s in serums. It's in toners. It's in eye creams, sheet masks, moisturisers and even haircare! Literally everything!
And while I'm certainly not complaining about having more skincare to try, the sheer amount of choice does make one thing a little confusing: which PDRN products are actually worth buying?
Firstly, what exactly is PDRN?
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, which is an extremely complicated way of saying it's made up of DNA fragments. Traditionally, PDRN has been used in medical and clinical settings to support skin healing and tissue repair.
In skincare, it's become popular for its soothing and skin-conditioning properties, particularly when skin is feeling dry, stressed or generally worse for wear.
The ingredient has been a staple in Korean skincare for years, but Australian beauty shoppers are only now really catching on. And judging by the number of PDRN launches hitting shelves, I don't think the trend is going anywhere anytime soon.
I've tried quite a few of them myself, and while not every PDRN product has managed to impress me, below are the ones I'd actually spend my money on.
And I can confirm, every single one is sensitive-skin approved, coming from someone with the world's fussiest skin.
1. VT Cosmetics PDRN Essence 100, $84
Need to know:
- Uses vegan PDRN derived from Korean ginseng rather than animal-derived PDRN.
- Contains centella asiatica and panthenol for extra soothing support.
- Particularly well suited to sensitive or compromised skin.
I first fell in love with VT Cosmetics when I tried their (now viral) Reedle Shot serum a few years back.
Since then, the brand has kept releasing absolute bangers. Exhibit A: its PDRN Essence 100.
If your skin is looking tired and dull, this essence will give you a complete reset.
It contains 100ppm of PDRN alongside soothing ingredients including vegan ginseng, centella asiatica extract and panthenol, making it a great option for sensitive or compromised skin. The texture is also lightweight and watery, sinking in quickly without any heaviness.
Seriously, I owe my life to this product during a period when my skin barrier needed some serious TLC. It helped calm everything down without adding another layer of irritation to my already unhappy skin.
2. Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream, $39
Need to know:
- Uses salmon-derived PDRN.
- Contains a gentle form of retinol, making it a good option for targeting visible signs of ageing around the eyes.
- Also contains niacinamide and peptides.
Eye cream is non-negotiable in my daily skincare routine (equal to sunscreen), and this Medicube PDRN eye cream has become a repeat purchase for me.
It features salmon-derived PDRN alongside niacinamide, peptides and a gentle form of retinol to target the look of fine lines, dullness and dark circles. The texture is lightweight and non-sticky, absorbs almost instantly and layers beautifully under makeup.
I’ve also had zero issues with milia forming, which is something I definitely can’t say for every eye product I’ve tried.
It sits nicely under concealer, too, which is important because I swear there’s nothing worse than an eye cream that makes your makeup slide around five minutes after you’ve applied it.
3. BIODANCE Rejuvenating Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask 4pc, $37.50
Need to know:
- Uses salmon-derived PDRN.
- Comes in a four-piece pack.
- Hydrogel-style mask that is saturated with essence.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know Biodance masks have developed somewhat of a cult following. And while I was a huge fan of the viral Collagen one, I think I’ve officially been converted to this new PDRN version.
The mask is absolutely drenched in essence containing PDRN and moisturising ingredients, and I can see why these have become so popular. After using it, my skin definitely looks plumper and more hydrated (hence why it’s been my ride-or-die during the cooler months).
There’s also plenty of essence left in the packet, so I like taking whatever remains and applying it to my neck, decolletage and elbows.
4. BEAUTY OF JOSEON Pore Firming Serum: Red Bean PDRN + Peptide, $36
Need to know:
- Uses Beauty of Joseon’s plant-derived Red Bean PDRN rather than salmon-derived PDRN.
- Specifically formulated with the appearance of enlarged pores in mind.
- Comes in at just $36, making it one of the more affordable PDRN serums.
I’ll admit, I approached this product with a healthy amount of scepticism. The words “pore firming” get thrown around a lot in skincare, but this serum genuinely impressed me.
The texture is lightweight and silky, sinking in almost instantly without leaving behind any stickiness (a non-negotiable for me when it comes to layering products).
After a week of consistent use, my skin was smoother and more refined, particularly around my nose and inner cheeks, where my pores tend to be most visible.
While no serum can magically erase pores (if there is one, please send it my way!), this one definitely helped make mine look less obvious while giving my skin a firmer, bouncier appearance.
5. INNISFREE Retinol Green Tea PDRN Firming Serum, $58
Need to know:
- Uses green tea-derived PDRN, making it a vegan alternative to traditional salmon-derived PDRN.
- Combines PDRN with retinol for a more targeted anti-ageing formula.
- Contains Jeju green tea, which is rich in antioxidants.
If you’re looking for a PDRN product that also targets signs of ageing, this INNISFREE serum is worth a look.
It combines PDRN with retinol and green tea, making it more of a treatment-style serum than some of the gentler hydrating options on this list. It’s designed to improve the appearance of firmness, fine lines and uneven texture while helping skin look more radiant.
I have sensitive skin, so I always introduce new retinol products slowly rather than jumping straight into daily use, which is exactly what I did with this one. And, thankfully, my skin didn’t give in to any purging. Yay!
6. numbuzin No.9+ NAD+ PDRN Glow Boosting Toner, $28
Need to know:
- Contains 1,000ppm of salmon-derived PDRN.
- Also contains NAD+, 50 peptides and ceramides.
- At $28 for 150ml, it’s one of the more affordable ways to try salmon PDRN.
I’ve actually lost count of how many bottles of the numbuzin No.9 NAD Bio Lifting-essence and masks I’ve purchased. The range is really that good. So, when I saw there was a matching toner with added PDRN, I bolted to get my hands on it. And boy, did it live up to my very high expectations.
The way this toner replenishes moisture and makes my skin look visibly plumper is actually insane.
It contains salmon PDRN, NAD+, 50 peptides, ceramides and vitamin B12, making it particularly suited to skin that’s feeling dry, dehydrated or generally lacking a bit of glow.
I use it morning and night after cleansing, and you only need a small amount each time, so trust me when I say one bottle will last you a good amount of time.
Also, despite being a toner, it has a slightly more substantial texture than the watery formulas you’re probably familiar with, which is probably why my skin feels so hydrated afterwards.
7. Medicube PDRN Pink One Day Serum, $33
Need to know:
- Contains 99 per cent high-purity salmon-derived PDRN.
- Comes in individually portioned capsules, which are particularly handy for travel.
- Has a lighter, essence-like consistency compared with some richer PDRN formulas.
What I really love about this product is the packaging. The serum comes in individual capsules, so each one contains the amount you need for an application. It’s also handy if, like me, you tend to travel with approximately 47 skincare products.
The individual capsules make it easy to control how much you’re using, too, because you don’t need to think about whether you’ve squeezed out too little or too much.
The formula itself leans on the lighter side (kind of like an essence) compared to some of the other PDRN serums I’ve tried. It sinks into the skin quickly and doesn’t leave behind that slightly tacky feeling some richer PDRN formulas can have.
Catch up on more of Juna's expert advice and best K-beauty product recommendations below:
