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Latest Korean Anti-Aging Trends: All About PDRN Skincare

Latest Korean Anti-Aging Trends: All About PDRN Skincare

The K-beauty scene has introduced yet another bizarre beauty booster. No matter in aesthetics treatments or everyday at-home care, the "salmon sperm" ingredient PDRN has stirred a buzz on skincare discussion threads, its popularity driven by reports of amazing moisturising and repairing effects.

PDRN’s popularity traces back to the PDRN-injecting Korea aesthetics treatment “Rejuran Healer”, which involves injections that enhance collagen growth to facilitate cell regeneration, leaving skin dewy and more youthful. However, beauty comes with its burdens – Rejuran is also known to be extremely painful and leaves your skin throbbing red for a good few days.

Fortunately, Rejuran isn't your only option to experience the perks of PDRN. Many skincare brands have now launched products containing PDRN ingredients to spare you the sting of aesthetics treatments while enjoying similar effects at home. 

What is Rejuran Healer? 

Rejuran is a Korean medical aesthetics product that has attracted much attention in recent years. Its main ingredient, PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotides) is actually polynucleotides – fragments of DNA – extracted from salmon and has a structure highly similar to human cells. This is why the ingredient can effectively repair damaged and aging cells and relieve skin inflammation. It helps to promote cell regeneration and increases collagen synthesis to turn back the clock for your skin. 

However, Rejuran is also notorious for the extreme pain that comes as the price for nice skin, with many reporting discomfort and some even labelling it the most painful treatment in Korea. The injected areas also take a fair amount of time to recover and come with risks of infection, which can be a concern for many. 

Luckily, it's not the end of the world for those of us with low pain tolerance or sensitive skin. Many Korean skincare brands have now introduced a variety of skincare products containing PDRN ingredients, such as collagen gel masks and PDRN serums. Designed for dry, wrinkle-prone or mature skin in need of lifting care, these products offer the benefits of PDRN but without the potential irritation of injections or treatments, providing a safer and more beginner-friendly anti-aging solution. 

If medical-grade treatments aren’t your thing, or if your skin is sensitive, these gentler, at-home alternatives are for you.

What is PDRN? 

PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide), mainly extracted from salmon DNA, is similar in structure to human DNA and boasts high biocompatibility. Known as a highly effective anti-aging ingredient, it promotes collagen production and features powerful repairing and cell regeneration effects. 

Skincare Benefits of PDRN

Anti-aging and repair are some of the main effects of PDRN. PDRN is excellent at promoting collagen synthesis, which can increase skin elasticity and firmness and help lend a younger and smoother appearance, perfect for skin troubled by signs of aging like fine lines and sagginess. Even if aging skin isn't your concern, there’s still something in PDRN for you – the salmon-derived ingredient is also equippd with moisturising, anti-inflammatory, brightening and pore-minimising benefits.

Best Korean PDRN Skincare Recommendations

Medicube PDRN Booster Gel 300ml
PDRN Serum Pick | Medicube PDRN Booster Gel

Featuring a formula of salmon PDRN, 7 kinds of peptides and a slew of skin hydrators, this PDRN gel from Medicube provides the triple benefits of lifting, moisturising and barrier care. Improving 5 main areas of the face prone to sagging and leaving skin firmer and plumper, we also recommend using it with beauty devices. 

Medicube PDRN Pink Glutathione Serum Mist 100ml

Not just a moisturising spray – this Medicube serum mist spray features a high-concentration serum formula infused with PDRN and glutathione, which instantly boosts skin radiance, soothes, moisturises, repairs and helps slow down skin aging. 

Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum 30ml

A powerful blemish-fading and brightening formula that works its magic in just 2 weeks. Concocted with holy basil leaf extract and hyaluronic acid, it hydrates and soothes redness while illuminating your complexion to leave your skin radiant and flawless. 


Intensive radiance-boosting ampoule of 99% high-purity salmon PDRN from Medicube. Penetrates deep within skin for powerful triple-layer brightening treatment, effectively reducing spots, pigmentation and melanin and improving dullness and uneven skin tone. 


An innovative spicule-infused serum that seeps directly into pores and dissolves spots and acne marks. The unique microneedle design delivers active ingredients quickly and provides visible blemish-fading effects with extra pore-minimising and firming bonuses. 

PDRN Serum Pick | VT PDRN Essence 100

VT's PDRN essence is powered by low molecular, high-performance vegan PDRN formulated with ginseng grown on Jirisan Mountain. Plant-based PDRN enjoys higher stability than its animal-based counterpart, meaning better compatibility with sensitive skin. The essence also fills your skin with hydration and radiance thanks to the slew of nourishers and hydrators in its formula, including panthenol, squalane and allantoin. 


A powerful hydrating and plumping serum from ANUA. Infused with, alongside PDRN, 11 layers of hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed collagen, it helps maintain the skin's natural moisturising barrier, with clinical test results showing an instant 24.64% improvement in deep skin hydration after use. 

PDRN Eye Cream Pick | Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream

All-in-one eye cream containing 99% high-purity PDRN and retinol to firm sagging eye bags and help improve dark circles and fine lines, providing comprehensive care for areas such as corners of eyes and skin under eyes.

PDRN Mask Pick | VT PDRN Hydrogel Mask

Just like the brand's PDRN essence, the core of VT's PDRN sheet mask is vegan ginseng grown on Jirisan Mountain. What's more, one sheet of mask is already equivalent to one bottle of PDRN essence, achieving functions such as firming, gloss and elasticity. Squalane and panthenol, as hydrating components, also help to moisturise and strengthen your natural barrier.

Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask x3pc

Imbued with coagulated PDRN and collagen, these gel masks boast brightening and anti-wrinkle dual functions, which help to improve skin elasticity and are said to take 2.5 years off your skin appearance! Keep it on during the night as a sleeping mask to maximise your skin's absorption of the seence. 


High-purity salmon PDRN and Pink Vitamin (vitamin B12) essence concentrated in one sheet to reduce blemishes, melanin and redness, while moisturising ingredients help to plump and improve illuminosity from in to out. 


0.5mm super thin lightweight gel toner pads dripping with PDRN serum, clinging to your skin perfectly and replenishing elasticity while brightening and fading blemishes – 5 seconds is all you need to find your skin plump and glowing. 
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