I Thought PDRN Creams Were A Scam — Until I Tried This One

Ever since PDRN entered our collective consciousness through buzzy treatments like Rejuran (the K-beauty brand that helped popularize the “salmon sperm facial”), the ingredient has swiftly made its way into just about every beauty category imaginable. It started with serums and sheet masks, but has since cropped up in hair care, lip balms, and even cushion compacts. 
 
Among the countless PDRN products on the market — and arguably, we’re nearing peak saturation with brands like The Inkey List, Rael, and Medik8 getting in the game — one name seemed to be on everyone’s lips since last year: Dr. Reju-All. Between the steady stream of TikTok testimonials and appearances in Reddit threads, the brand became difficult to ignore. And to be honest, I wrote it off for a long time because I assumed — perhaps unfairly — it was just another overhyped social media darling. 
 
As fate would have it, Dr. Reju-All found its way to me anyway, and in one of the last places I expected: Denver, Colorado. The brand was exhibiting at the annual American Academy of Dermatology conference (think Coachella for skincare professionals), where they were generating excitement among arguably some of the most discerning attendees in the biz. Every time I passed their booth, there were long lines of people trying to get their hands on samples of the bestselling Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream.  
 
It turns out, Dr. Reju-All wasn’t just another viral name with no real credibility behind it — not by a long shot. I later learned that the brand develops its products alongside a team of doctors and pharmacists, and its formulas are stocked in skincare clinics and pharmacies across the country. At the heart of the line? You guessed it: PDRN. 

Dr. Reju-All Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream Max, $89.70 $59.90

What is PDRN? And what are the benefits of using a topical PDRN vs. an injectable PDRN? 

PDRN, or polydeoxyribonucleotide, is a DNA-derived ingredient traditionally sourced from salmon or trout. Known for its regenerative properties, it’s become increasingly popular in both skincare and aesthetic medicine. “PDRN acts as a biological signal that encourages damaged tissues to repair themselves,” explains Dr. Ethan Wonuk Hwang, Chief Medical Director of Cheongdam Lebelle Clinic in Seoul. “It’s been used for many years in injectable treatments aimed at improving skin quality, wound healing, and recovery after procedures,” he adds.  

So how, exactly, is topical PDRN different from injectable PDRN, apart from the obvious? “The biggest difference between the two is not just about how it’s delivered, but where it ends up,” explains Hwang. “Injectable PDRN is delivered directly into the dermis, where fibroblasts, blood vessels, and inflammatory cells reside.” (It can then activate the adenosine A2A receptors in skin cells, stimulating collagen production.)  

Topical PDRN, on the other hand, functions as a cosmetic product and primarily works within the epidermis to help support the skin barrier, reduce irritation, and aid the recovery of post-procedure skin. To that end, “Topical PDRN is not intended to replace injectable treatments,” says Sang Myung Han, innovative team lead at Dr. Reju-All. “Rather, it should serve as a complement to your routine, so it can help maintain a healthy environment that’s conducive to better skin regeneration.” 

As Hwang says, “It’s like exercise versus physical therapy. They may target similar goals, but the intensity and outcomes are very different.” 

How much PDRN should a product have?   

PDRN products currently on the market have wildly varied concentrations that range anywhere from 100 parts per million all the way up to 10,000 ppm. “People often assume that higher ppm automatically guarantees greater efficacy, but that’s a big misconception,” says Hwang. “A product containing 10,000 ppm PDRN does not mean that it’s ten times more effective than a product containing 1,000 ppm. In fact, beyond a certain threshold, increasing the concentration may provide diminishing returns.” 

This is why Dr. Reju-All’s R&D team landed at a modest 1,200 ppm for its hero PDRN cream and carefully formulated it alongside other skincare ingredients you probably already know and love: oil-balancing niacinamide, moisturizing glycerin, barrier-supporting panthenol, and hydration-boosting hyaluronic acid.  

That’s really where the magic of this cream lies — in the synergistic effect of all those ingredients working together to leave skin calmer, stronger, and better hydrated. 

What makes Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced PDRN REJUVENATING Relief Cream special?  

My first time trying Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Relief Cream was in Denver, shortly after meeting the brand’s founder, Junho Jung, and his team. Between the flights, late nights, and arid mountain climate, my skin was drier than ever, so I figured it was as good a time as any to finally test it out. 
 
After a long day at the convention center, I went back to my hotel room and slathered on a generous layer before bed. When I woke up the next morning, I was surprised to find that my skin still felt “촉촉” (“chok chok”), a Korean phrase that loosely translates to deeply hydrated to the point of feeling slightly moist. (“Dewy” is probably the closest English equivalent, though “chok chok” speaks more to the tactile feeling your skin has than the finish itself.) The point is: my skin looked and felt significantly more moisturized than it had 12 hours earlier. 
 
That was back in March, and nearly three months later, I’m still using the cream every single day. In fact, I’m already more than halfway through my second tube, which says something considering I’m a beauty reporter living in Seoul. But that’s the thing: when you’ve tested hundreds (if not thousands) of products and interviewed countless dermatologists and cosmetic chemists over the years, you learn there’s no such thing as a quick fix. More often than not, the products that actually stand the test of time (on my bathroom counter, anyway) are built on simple, well-chosen ingredients. 

What to know about Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced PDRN REJUVENATING Relief Cream: 

• Contains 1,200 ppm of salmon-derived PDRN •Soothes, hydrates, and strengthens skin with ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol. 
• Can be used AM and PM. 
• Non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types. 

Despite its mouthful of a name, Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Relief Cream is pretty straightforward at its core. There’s no added fragrance or aggressive actives that might interfere with the rest of your routine (like retinols and potent acids, for example), and the clear gel-cream texture feels deeply nourishing without veering greasy or sticky. At $29.90 for a 0.7 fluid ounce tube, it’s on the pricier side of things, but not quite as much as a luxury moisturizer. (Other popular PDRN moisturizers from Medicube and ANUA retail for $22 and $24, respectively). 
 
It’s also one of the more versatile products I’ve tried in recent memory. I’ve worn it during the day under sunscreen and makeup without any pilling, and I’ve layered it on at night without waking up to clogged pores or stained pillowcases. Because it’s been so consistently non-problematic, I’ve since passed tubes along to several friends with similarly sensitive and acne-prone skin, who have had positive reactions. In fact, one of them messaged me the other week to say that it’s helped calm down the rosacea-induced redness and dry patches she usually has on her cheeks.  

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been skeptical about PDRN, I understand. It’s hard not to be a little suspicious when you hear so much hype about something. As Hwang made clear when I interviewed him for this story: “PDRN is not a miracle ingredient, nor is it meant to replace established anti-aging ingredients like retinoids in your routine.” If anything, it’s meant to support it by bolstering your skin’s natural regenerative processes, so that it maintains its overall health.  

I’ll add that Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Relief Cream is simply a well-formulated, no-frills moisturizer that you can use year-round and will actually enjoy using thanks to its gel-cream texture. Better yet, it’s one of those rare products I genuinely feel comfortable recommending to almost anyone, regardless of age or skin type. (And for my vegetarian and vegan friends, I’d point you toward Dr. Reju-All’s Advanced LC-Ceramide Barrier Cream instead.)  

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