In recent years, few ingredients have sparked as much interest in the beauty world as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), known as “salmon DNA”. Popularized by K-Beauty, a term that refers to Korean beauty and its innovative approach to skin care, and driven by social media, the asset began to appear on trend lists, routine videos and skincare and discussions about skin regeneration. Initially associated with serums and intensive treatments, it is now beginning to occupy a much broader space: the complete care routine.

If 2025 was the year in which PDRN gained global notoriety, 2026 marks its consolidation as a category of skincare. WGSN, a global trend forecasting company, points out the INGREDIENTS as one of the bets that should shape the beauty market in the coming years, driven by the search for formulas aimed at regeneration, skin longevity and increasingly personalized care.

This change is reflected in the launch of products that incorporate the active ingredient in different stages of the routine. Cleansing, toning, hydration, eye care and even lip products now rely on PDRN, indicating an important transformation in the market. The ingredient stops being an asset for occasional use and becomes an element present throughout the entire health journey. skincare.

According to Thomas Kim, pharmacist and technical manager at Osang Cosmetic, the evolution of the ingredient follows the transformation of K-Beauty itself. “PDRN gained notoriety for its regenerative potential, but today the discussion goes further. The Korean industry has realized that it can contribute to different aspects of skin health, from hydration and strengthening the skin barrier to improving the appearance of more delicate areas, such as eyes and lips. Therefore, we see the ingredient migrating to new categories”, he explains.

From regeneration to daily care

Known to be derived from fragments of salmon DNA, PDRN initially gained space in aesthetic procedures and, later, in cosmetics. Its main attraction is related to its ability to assist in the skin’s natural recovery processes, promoting hydration, elasticity and improving the overall appearance.

If before it was found mainly in ampoules and concentrated serums, the new generation of products seeks to expand its presence in the daily routine. The proposal is that care begins from the first stages, transforming even cleaning into a moment of treatment.

“There is a change of mentality in skincare. Consumers no longer want to just fix problems or resort to very powerful active ingredients in isolated steps. He looks for smart routines, in which each product contributes to keeping the skin balanced and healthy over time. PDRN fits very well into this logic”, says Thomas Kim.

The ingredient reaches new categories

This movement can already be observed in South Korea and is starting to gain strength in other markets, as the pharmacist explains. “In Brazil, for example, the asset is already found in products as balms lip balms, eye cream, pads facials and cleansing lotions, like those from Wati for Skin.”

This expansion into different categories reveals a broader shift in the beauty industry. Instead of focusing care on a single product or intensive treatment, the skincare Contemporary technology starts to value integrated routines, in which each step plays a specific role in balancing the skin.

For Thomas Kim, this trend is just beginning. “The future of skincare It is not necessarily in stronger assets, but in more versatile technologies capable of acting in a complementary way. PDRN is an example of this. It began as an ingredient associated with regeneration and today represents a broader vision of care, in which different products work together to promote skin health and longevity”, he highlights.

Thus, the active ingredient that conquered K-Beauty is no longer a trend restricted to serums and is consolidated as the protagonist of a new generation of products, capable of supporting the skin at all stages of the daily routine.

By Caroline Amorim