Key points:

• What is PDRN?
• My preferred salmon DNA products.
• When to use salmon DNA skincare.

Efficacy is always my priority, but even I’m surprised at how well my favorite PDRN skincare products perform. If you’ve heard of salmon DNA facials and injectables, PDRN is the key active. Instead of reserving this Korean darling for spa facials, consider adding it to your daily skincare routine. 

THE RISE OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN SKINCARE

Korean skincare brands turn to science to create concentrated formulations that restore, repair, and regenerate skin. They increasingly look to the medical industry to explore biostimulators for anti-aging. Biostimulators are active compounds that regenerate collagen to prompt the body’s natural healing process. When biostimulators are added to skincare, it’s referred to as “cosmeceuticals”. These are products that meet at the intersection of cosmetics and pharmaceutical medicine.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is an active that falls into the cosmeceutical umbrella, as it’s used in the medical industry to heal diabetic ulcers and other wounds. The active is a bit controversial, as it’s derived from salmon DNA (aka. salmon sperm). Rest assured that no salmon die during harvesting. DNA can be harvested repeatedly without killing salmon. So, it’s cruelty-free, but not vegan. The sperm goes through a rigorous medical-grade purification and sterilization process before it’s extracted into a concentrated active. Trout DNA and banana DNA are also utilized in skincare products.

THE BENEFITS OF PDRN

I’m all for taking the time for a multi-step K-beauty skincare routine, but even I don’t have the time for 10 steps every morning and evening. Thankfully, Korean brands are transitioning from 10+ step routines to 3 to 5 step routines. They achieve this by infusing their formulations with multiple high-performing actives. My preferred PDRN products are multi-tasking formulations that deliver the  reparative benefits below, as well as product-specific benefits.

• Regeneration: Stimulates cell regeneration and promotes the growth of soft tissue and new capillaries to heal skin damage.
• Collagen Synthesis: Prompts your body to restore diminishing collagen and elastin to restore and plump out skin.
• Revitalizing: Calms, soothes, and heals redness and inflammation while lifting, tightening, and brightening skin.

THE SALMON DNA PRODUCTS ON MY TREATMENT BAR

TONY MOLY GOLD SNAIL EYE MASKS

The 24K Gold and Snail Mucin get more attention, but PDRN is one of the high-performing actives in Tony Moly’s Intense Care Gold Snail Eye Masks. I use these masks when I wake with puffy or tired eyes, or I apply them before bed so that I wake refreshed. They extend all the way to the corners of your eyes to reach crow’s feet, and are thin enough that you can glide eye devices over them.

In just 20 minutes, they smooth fine lines, brighten dark circles, and depuff. Use daily or as needed.

REJUVENATING AMPOULE

One of my favorites, Dr. Esthé’s  Rejuvenating Ampoule, delivers a spa facial glow after every single application. Ampoules are super serums that double as serum and moisturizer. You can layer moisturizer on top, but you don’t have to. Always layer broad-spectrum UV protection on during the day. This formulation is ultra-hydrating, with PDRN and Propolis as the star actives. As a cosmeceutical product, you can use it to spot-treat inflamed and damaged skin on other areas of your body. In addition to my face, I apply it on the psoriasis on my elbows, knees, and anywhere else that flares up on my body.

The proprietary coil polymer network forms an invisible mesh screen over your face, which smashes actives into your skin. This is why the texture is elastic, but it’s not sticky, and it doesn’t cause breakouts. As an added bonus, this formulation gives you a gorgeous, glowing, and glossy/glass skin finish.

Apply once or twice a day to clean skin. Use when your skin is dry, damaged, or year-round with or without makeup.

MGF RENEWAL SOLUTION AMPOULE

Dr. Esthé’s  Micro Growth Factor Renewal Solution Ampoule is what I suggest for crepey or mature skin, or for clients with sensitive, irritated, or damaged skin. MGF Renewal Solution Ampoule’s power-packed formulation includes PDRN, Snail Mucin, 4GF Complex, Goat Milk, and a 5 Peptide Complex. It’s a dream for wrinkles and accelerated aging.

Apply once or twice a day to clean skin. In addition to the face, neck, and décolleté, use to spot-treat stretch marks, acne, rosacea, age spots, burns, scars, razor bumps, and flat warts.

PROMOTER VOLUME GEL

The next 3 products are from HOP+’s facial filling line. House of PLLA’s  Promoter Volumizing Gel combines ultra-concentrated PDRN, Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), and 4GF Complex. PLLA is a cosmeceutical biostimulator that prompts collagen production. It’s the key ingredient in dissolvable sutures. HOP+’s proprietary PLLA wraps around hair follicles, stimulating a steady stream of collagen that creates a smoothing and volumizing matrix.

Use once or twice a day to soothe and repair dry, red, and inflamed skin. It’s also great for soothing acne. It doubles as a conductive gel for ultrasound devices and is the perfect primer to ensure your makeup lies smoothly. To maintain a volumizing matrix underneath your skin, you need to apply 1 PLLA product per day.

VOLUME BOOST

House of PLLA’s  Volume Boost Moisturizer is a daily cream that supports restoration and moisture retention. It’s formulated with PDRN, PLLA, 4GF Complex, Snail Mucus, and PGA Plant Collagen. This silky and luxurious formula deeply hydrates, refines, and plumps out skin. Skin drinks it in, delivering visible results after the first application. There’s also a formula for  Acne-Prone skin.

Use once or twice daily, twice daily for mature, damaged, and dehydrated skin. You can even apply it to the top of your hands before bed.

HOP+ EYE AND LIP

As you mature, your skin thins and you lose the fat pads in your face, intensifying dark circles and creating a sunken look around your eyes. At the same time, your lips thin and vertical lines form on and above your lips.  Promotor Repair Eye and Lip Cream plumps out both of these delicate areas with a combination of PLLA, Volufiline, 4GF Complex, and PDRN.

Use at least once a day, twice daily for rapid and consistent eye and lip restoration.

WHEN TO APPLY PDRN

I keep a few different salmon DNA products on my treatment bar and rotate them in and out of my personal skincare routine. Rotating products weekly, monthly, and quarterly addresses anti-aging from a range of regenerative methods. Use all products as directed, but the tips below outline the top factors to help tailor your product rotation.

PM ONLY

If you want to be economizing, or you already have an AM routine that works for you, apply your preferred PDRN topical in the evening. This supports the natural healing process that occurs while you sleep.

TWICE DAILY

If you like to keep your skincare routine simple, apply PDRN morning and evening. This might be one of Dr. Esthé’s ampoules, or a different product in the morning and evening to expand the active ingredient range. Or maybe an eye product twice daily and a face and neck product once a day.

SEASONALLY

Consider what your skin needs in each season in terms of hydration, repair, and protection. Products that combine PLLA and PDRN are ideal during or just after the summer to repair summer sun damage. In the summer, consider replacing your serum and moisturizer with a lightweight ampoule. Just layer sunscreen on top.

AS NEEDED FOR DAMAGED SKIN

• If your skin is damaged, apply a restorative product once or twice a day for between 2 to 4 weeks
• Patch treat rosacea, whole-body psoriasis, eczema, and sunburns.
• Accelerate healing post-laser, chemical peels, and harsh skincare treatments.
• Protect or restore skin after exposure to high winds and extreme weather.
• Soothe and revitalize after deep exfoliation and at-home facials.
• Help restore moisture in dry environments or when skin is dehydrated. 

DURING YOUR AT-HOME SALMON SPERM FACIAL

Depending on the product and at-home device you’re using, you might apply salmon sperm skincare before or after your device. Whether applied before or after, your device stimulates circulation, allowing actives to push deeper into your pores. 

LET’S DISCUSS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE BEYOND PDRN

Now that you know how to add PDRN skincare products to your daily routine, let’s discuss your other anti-aging concerns. You can join the Christine Byer Beauty Club to learn exclusive skincare tips for your local climate, lifestyle, skin type, and skin conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is salmon sperm safe?

Whether derived from salmon or trout, the sperm undergoes a medical-grade purification and sterilization process before it’s extracted into a concentrated skincare active.

What age should I start using PDRN skincare?

PDRN is a dream for mature skin, but age isn’t the only considering factor. If your skin is dry, dehydrated, or damaged, I suggest restorative products at any age.

How long should I apply salmon DNA for skin barrier restoration?

When using post-laser, chemical peel, or other source of inflammation, apply daily for at least 2 weeks, ideally 4 weeks. Use to spot treat psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and other irritation as needed.