L’Oréal Paris has added vegan PDRN to its best-selling serum and the glow is seriously worth it

As a beauty editor, I see plenty of ingredients enjoying their moment. A few earn their place on my bathroom shelf; others disappear before I’ve worked out how to pronounce them. But PDRN has certainly made an entrance. From Korean aesthetic clinics to skincare aisles, those four letters are cropping up everywhere, but it’s hard to know when it’s a seriously beneficial addition, or simply trying to jump on a trend.

Which is why when L’Oréal Paris upgraded the world’s No.1 anti-ageing serum (Revitalift 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid & Peptide Serum – you probably recognise the familiar purple bottle) to include an extra powerhouse: vegan PDRN+,  I had to try it.

Meet Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Serum, £31.99, inspired by filler and skin booster procedures and designed to deliver glow and more plump, smooth skin with no needles*.  PDRN+ has joined the roster of hardworking wrinkle-smoothing ingredients, but what does it bring to the party, and crucially, why might you keep using it?

Let’s find out.

Why use PDRN and why has it made such an impact?

PDRN is short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, an ingredient made from DNA fragments, traditionally sourced from salmon sperm. The interest in topical PDRN centres on hydration, soothing and skin-barrier support. Your barrier is the protective outer layer that helps skin retain moisture. Keeping it functioning well matters at any age, but it’s especially relevant for my 48-year-old skin, which needs all the help it can get to look and feel its best long-term.

We tend to discuss anti-ageing in terms of what we want less of: fewer lines, less dullness. I also look for what we want more of: moisture, comfort, and skin that looks fresh rather than tired.

We tried L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Serum

Why is L’Oréal Paris’ PDRN+ not from salmon and what is vegan PDRN?

If the ‘fish-derived’ aspect of PDRN made you pause, that isn’t the case with this new product. L’Oréal Paris’ exclusive vegan PDRN+ is produced through biotechnology using bio-fermentation. The brand says its PDRN+ is smaller in molecular weight and size than traditional salmon-derived PDRN, and 3000 times smaller than a pore, to optimise absorption.

A trending ingredient may pique your interest, but it isn’t the whole picture. It’s crucial to consider the whole formula and the testing behind it.

What else is doing the work in L’Oreal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Serum?

There are some reassuringly results-driven names here: three forms of hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus moisturising glycerin, alongside PDRN+ in a 6% Moisture Plumping Complex. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin attract moisture. They might not generate quite the same excitement as a new Korean-inspired ingredient, but there’s a reason they keep appearing in hydrating skincare.

In this formula, the combination is designed to leave skin feeling plump and looking dewy, with smoother-looking lines. While the serum takes inspiration from filler and skin-booster procedures, they are not the same, of course. These are cosmetic benefits of something you smooth onto your skin. A serum won’t give you the results of an injectable.*

What are the benefits of PDRN and what do the results on real women’s skin tell us?

In a clinical study of 58 women using Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Serum twice daily, after eight weeks, these were the results:

• Boosts the look of glow +17%.¹
• Improves feeling of elasticity +17%.¹

In a further study of 53 women using the serum twice a day for six weeks, expert visual grading measured:

• Reduces the look of lines -60% and wrinkles -47%.²

The results belong to the finished formula. They don’t tell us how much PDRN+ contributed on its own, but they do give us something more concrete to consider than an ingredient’s popularity.

Which skin types is it suitable for?

According to L’Oréal Paris, the serum is dermatologically tested and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin and oily skin (it’s pleasingly lightweight).

For dry skin like mine, the moisture-focused formula is the obvious attraction. But hydration doesn’t mean a heavy layer. I found the texture to be light, non-sticky and non-greasy, and it left my skin with an immediate glow.

Is L’Oréal PDRN worth it and where does it fit into your routine?

There’s no elaborate new ritual to learn. Apply three to four drops to clean, dry skin on your face and neck, morning and evening. Gently smooth it over, then follow with Revitalift Filler Moisturiser, as the brand recommends. That everyday practicality is what could give Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Serum staying power.

An intriguing ingredient gets our attention for sure, but a hardworking glow-boosting formula with proven results on real women is what keeps us coming back.

*Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Serum is a cosmetic skincare product for topical use. Results are not equal to a procedure.

Average results:
¹ Clinical study with 58 women after eight weeks, twice-daily use.
² Clinical study with 53 women after six weeks, twice-daily use. Both expert visual grading. Individual results will vary.