If you've scrolled K-beauty TikTok lately, you've seen PDRN on everything from pink serums to overnight masks. Here's what the ingredient actually is, what it can and can't do in a skincare product, and how to add it to your routine.
What is PDRN?
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide. It's made of small fragments of DNA, most often sourced from salmon, which is why you'll sometimes hear it called "salmon DNA" skincare. On ingredient lists it often appears as sodium DNA.
PDRN first became well known in Korean dermatology clinics, where it's used in professional in-office treatments. The skincare products you see on store shelves are a different thing: they're topical formulas you apply like any other serum or cream.
What does PDRN do in skincare?
In serums, creams, and masks, PDRN is used as a skin-conditioning and hydrating ingredient. Brands typically pair it with hyaluronic acid, peptides, or collagen to help skin look plumper, bouncier, and more radiant.
A quick reality check: most of the research on PDRN involves professional treatments, not creams. Topical PDRN products are best thought of as excellent hydrating, skin-comforting formulas rather than a replacement for anything you'd get at a clinic. If your goal is dewy, glass-skin moisture, they deliver that well.
Who is PDRN skincare good for?
- Dry or dehydrated skin that looks dull or feels tight.
- Anyone chasing the glass-skin look: a smooth, bouncy, light-reflecting finish.
- Sensitive skin, since most PDRN formulas are gentle and non-exfoliating. As with any new product, patch test first.
If you avoid fish-derived ingredients, check the ingredient list or ask the brand, since many PDRN products use salmon-sourced DNA.
How to use PDRN in your routine
- Cleanse (we recommend a double cleanse at night).
- Tone to prep skin.
- Apply a PDRN serum and pat it in.
- Seal with a moisturizer, which can also be a PDRN cream.
- In the morning, finish with SPF. No ingredient helps your skin look its best without daily sun protection.
PDRN plays well with most ingredients, including niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides, so it's easy to layer.
Our favorite PDRN picks
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Serum
medicube PDRN Pink Cream
medicube PDRN Milky Toner
medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- Anua PDRN Hyaluronic 100 Serum: a watery, hydrating serum that layers under anything.
- medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum: the viral pink serum that started the trend.
- medicube PDRN Pink Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cream: a soft, bouncy cream for morning and night.
- Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Cream: a lightweight moisture cream.
- Biodance Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask: an overnight hydrogel mask for a dewy morning-after look.
See every PDRN product we carry in Dry Skin & Hydration.
The bottom line
PDRN is one of the most talked-about ingredients in Korean skincare right now, and for good reason: the formulas built around it are hydrating, gentle, and lovely to use. Keep expectations realistic, pair it with daily sunscreen, and enjoy the glow.