This affordable Medicube PDRN cream gives skin a “subtle plumping effect”

You’ve likely seen PDRN doing the rounds on social media – or polydeoxyribonucleotide, as it’s officially known. The hero skincare ingredient is derived from purified salmon DNA, and is popping up everywhere, from eye masks to night creams.

PDRN isn’t following the usual trend cycle of going viral and dissipating just as fast. In fact, it’s steadily growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. The ingredient supports the skin at a deeper level, helping to repair damage, promote collagen synthesis, and reduce inflammation, making it especially effective for stressed, weakened, or ageing skin.

In Korea, where it first gained traction, PDRN was typically found in injectable skin booster treatments. But due to its popularity, it’s now being repurposed for at-home use, with products that offer similar benefits over time, without a clinic visit needed.

One brand helping to drive the trend is Medicube. Already a hit on TikTok for its zero pore pads and collagen swirl duo, it’s the brand’s PDRN products that consumers are really impressed by.

With a texture that sits somewhere between a gel and a cream, the product feels lightweight going on but still gives enough moisture to skip an additional layer. Pairing PDRN with ceramides, collagen, peptides and niacinamide, the formula is designed to visibly firm, invigorate and refresh the skin.

Discussing the benefits of Medicube’s PDRN pink collagen capsule cream, Amira reported that “it worked well both morning and night, especially under SPF, and it doesn’t dramatically firm or tighten the skin – but it did give a subtle plumping effect and helped with overall hydration.”

You’ll notice that there are collagen‑rich capsules suspended within the gel-like formula, which melt into skin on contact, leaving behind plump, firm and luminous skin.

In skincare, “salmon DNA” refers to PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), which is a compound derived from salmon that’s known for its skin-repairing benefits. It helps calm inflammation, support the skin barrier, and improve texture over time, and is used in everything from injectables to serums and creams.

Dr Sonia Khorana told Standard Shopping: “From a clinical perspective, I think PDRN is an interesting and promising regenerative treatment. It can be a valuable option for patients looking to improve skin quality subtly. While the buzz around ‘salmon sperm’ facials sounds dramatic, the reality is PDRN is broken down, purified and formulated to act as an ingredient to help the skin look healthier and more resilient.”