A trendy ingredient bombshell has entered the villa. Or we're officially obsessed with an ingredient that started in South Korea, and now it's all over our American beauty shelves and TikTok FYP.

From serums and toners to moisturizers and masks, products formulated with PDRN (aka salmon sperm DNA) are everywhere. But it's not just salmon, anymore, either. PDRN can be plant-derived, too! But our question is... what is it and does it actually work?

We have plenty of questions. That's why we interviewed experts like board-certified dermatologists and K-Beauty product developers to find out what this magical ingredient is, how it can benefit our skin, and what products are best. 

"PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide. Scientifically, it refers to small, highly purified fragments of DNA," explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Toral Vaidya.

And yes, it's refering to the DNA in salmon sperm. Before you get grossed out, salmon sperm is just the source. What you put on your face is a refined, purified version of it.

Anua product developer Yunji Lee explains "PDRN is a refined ingredient derived by selectively extracting the active components from salmon DNA and removing residual substances that may irritate the skin through a specialized purification process, making it more stable and gentler for use."

According to Dr. Vaidya, "Its benefits include improved skin healing and barrier repair, reduced inflammation, and enhanced hydration, all of which support healthier, more resilient skin."

It can also suppport skin elasticity, regeneration, and recovery as well as boost collagen. So, is it similar to snail mucin? Not exactly. 

"While snail mucin primarily focuses on moisturizing and protecting the skin, PDRN helps support the recovery and improvement of irritated skin," says Lee. Basically, snail mucin is more about hydration whereas PDRN is more recovery.

PDRN comes in all formats. From serums to toners, creams and essences, you've got plenty to choose from. But which is best?

"Serums, in particular, tend to absorb easily and layer well with other active ingredients," says Dr. Vaidya. On the other hand, creams are ideal for those who need the added hydration boost.

Regardless of what format you choose, Dr. Vaidya says, "PDRN is an excellent ingredient for anyone looking to improve skin hydration, elasticity, and sensitivity."

Formulated with PDRN extracted from Korean ginseng, this ampoule mist helps with skin regeneration, enhancing elasticity, and improving the appearance of fine lines. 

This toner has a PDRN-rich formula that hydrates and nourishes dry skin, while revitalizing the skin barrier and giving back a youthful elasticity.

This serum is formulated with a PDRN that's derived from rice, and it promises to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, maintain water-oil balance, and leave your skin smooth and refined. 

Infused with spirulina PDRN, this primer stick helps cover pores and control excess sebum, leaving your face smooth, matte, and ready for makeup. 

A popular pick, this essence is formulated with a high concentration of PDRN, in addition to barrier-strengthening ceramides and soothing penthenol. It's fragrance free—a bonus to anyone with sensitive skin.

We predict that Anua is going to explode in popularity this year, including this expert-recommended serum. Its combination of PDRN, hyaluronic acid, and collagen are responsible for a plumping effect and boost of radiance that results in glass skin.

You've definitely seen this pink collagen cream on TikTok. It posses a unique capsule formula that delivers a burst of PDRN when applied to the skin. Made with niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, it helps even out skin tone while combatting dullness.

I have been using this lightweight PDRN cream for a few months now and it has given my skin a radiant glass-like glow and plumped forehead wrinkles. It's formulated with a soothing blend of panthenol and centella asiatic to calm redness. it's also expert-recommended.

This serum promotes the skin's natural turnover cycle, which is a key part of anti-aging. It also helps to repair cell damage, smooth texture, boost collagen production, and deliver long-lasting hydration.

Biodance sheet masks are loved by reviewers and E! readers alike. This PDRN version strengthens the skin barrier to help it retain moisture and repair damage.

This viral pink serum contains firming peptides, radiance-boosting niacinamide, and PDRN to help you achieve plump hydrated skin. That's in addition to evening out skin tone and minimizing the appearance of pores.

This serum contains five types of PDRN extracts to fight signs of aging, including uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles. It works in tandem with collagen to revitalize skin. 

This retinol and collagen packed PDRN serum promotes elasticity to lift and firm dull, sagging skin. The result is glowy, bouncy skin with tightened pores.

For a double dose of anti-aging, opt for this weightless serum. Made with retinol and peptides in addition to plant-derived PDRN, it helps reduce the appearence of fine lines and wrinkles.

This niacinamide, panthenol, and collagen packed PDRN cream helps restore weak skin barriers, calm redness and irritation, replenish essential moisture, and sooth blemishes.

Boost skin elasticity with this powerful serum that targets visible signs of aging like sagging skin, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness. 

This exosome serum mimics the effect of microneedling to tighten the appearance of pores, aid skincare absorption, and resurface skin. It comes in 2,000 PPM for beginners and 7,500 PPM for advanced users.

A budget-friendly pick, INKEY List's exosome complex rejuvenates skin by encouraging cell turnover, resurfacing texture, and calming inflammation to leave skin hydrated and glowy.

The Ordinary's copper peptides serum targets signs of aging by helping improve the appearance of fine lines and leaving your skin plump, smooth, and firm. 

This Biossance serum promises to plump, lift, firm, and support collagen and elastin production in the skin, thanks to its formula of copper peptides, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, sugarcane squalane, and paracress extract. 

Developed by this Korean pharmacy brand, the Dr. Reju Serum is infused with copper peptides, PDRN, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen to help improve the skin's firmness, elasticity, and hydration. 

Hydrating face mists that’ll freshen up your dry skin and won’t ruin your makeup.

The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.

As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.