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I bought The Inkey List PDRN Serum straight from TikTok Shop on launch day, purely out of curiosity. I’d just logged on, it popped up at exactly the wrong (or right) moment, and with PDRN being the buzz ingredient everywhere right now, I knew I’d end up wondering about it if I didn’t try it. At £18, it felt like a low-risk way to see what all the noise was about.

I started using it during winter, when my skin is at its most unpredictable. Cold weather, heating, hormonal breakouts, and regular tretinoin use mean my skin barrier is constantly being tested. That’s usually when products either prove themselves… or quietly disappear to the back of the drawer.

I’ve now been using this serum daily for several months, alongside my very real-life routine, and I finally feel ready to share a proper, honest review.

Quick Take

The Inkey List PDRN Serum is a genuinely impressive barrier-supporting serum that delivers hydration, bounce, and a healthy glow without the premium price tag attached to most PDRN products. It’s gentle, nourishing, and works beautifully as part of a long-term routine. This isn’t an overnight miracle, but with consistent use, the results feel real and reliable.

What Is PDRN and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?

PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) is an ingredient often linked with skin repair, regeneration, and barrier support. It’s been popular in professional treatments for a while, but has only recently started appearing in more accessible, at-home skincare products.

The appeal of PDRN is that it focuses on supporting the skin’s natural repair processes rather than aggressively exfoliating or stimulating. That makes it especially interesting if you’re dealing with dryness, sensitivity, early signs of ageing, or a compromised skin barrier.

My Take on PDRN, Vegan Formulas, and the Salmon Sperm Question

One thing I did want to clear up, because it comes up a lot when people talk about PDRN, is the whole salmon sperm thing. If you’ve seen PDRN mentioned online before, especially on TikTok, you’ve probably heard it described in a way that sounds… a bit alarming.

Traditionally, PDRN was derived from fish DNA, often salmon, which is where that association comes from. That understandably puts some people off. What I really like about The Inkey List PDRN Serum is that it doesn’t go down that route. This formula uses a vegan, plant-derived version of PDRN, so you’re not dealing with anything animal-derived here. 

On paper, this formula is built around a high concentration of vegan PDRN, alongside a generous emollient blend and glycerin. In real terms, that explains why it feels so nourishing and skin-comforting rather than watery or active-heavy. It’s clearly designed to support the skin barrier and hydration levels rather than aggressively push results.

For me, that makes it feel far more approachable. You still get the skin-support and barrier-focused benefits that PDRN is known for, but without the ethical or “that sounds a bit much for my skincare routine” hesitation. It’s also reassuring if you prefer vegan products or are just a bit more conscious about what you’re putting on your skin.

My Skin Type and Routine Context

My skin is combination, with an oily T-zone and dry patches, especially in winter. I’m starting to see fine lines on my forehead, and hormonal breakouts are very much part of my life. Cold weather absolutely ravages my skin, and barrier support is non-negotiable for me.

I also use tretinoin, so I’m very careful about what I layer alongside it. While testing this serum, I didn’t make any major changes to my routine. I wanted to see how it performed on its own, rather than masking results with lots of new products at the same time.

Texture, Feel and First Impressions

The texture surprised me in the best way. It’s a thick but lightweight cream-serum that absorbs instantly into the skin without leaving any residue. There’s no stickiness, no heaviness, and no detectable scent.

From the first application, my skin felt hydrated and nourished, with a subtle, healthy glow. It felt luxurious on the skin, despite the very reasonable price point. Most importantly for me, it was incredibly gentle. Even on days when my skin felt slightly irritated from tret, this serum felt soothing rather than reactive.

There’s no detectable scent at all, and it’s completely fragrance-free, which I really appreciate when my skin is feeling sensitive or a bit reactive.

The brand talks about this giving an instant “glass skin” glow thanks to the emollient content, and while I’m usually sceptical of marketing phrases, I do see that fresh, hydrated finish on my skin. It’s not shiny or greasy, just that healthy look you get when your skin feels properly supported.

Where Does The Inkey List PDRN Serum Fit in a Skincare Routine?

This serum fits into the treatment step of your routine, after cleansing and before moisturiser.

I personally use it once daily in the early evening. When I get home, I take my makeup off, cleanse my skin, then apply one pump of the PDRN serum to my face and neck before following with moisturiser once it’s absorbed.

Because I use tretinoin at night, I deliberately keep this serum separate from that step. Using it earlier in the evening allows me to benefit from the hydration and barrier support without increasing the risk of irritation.

Brand guidance is that this serum can be used morning or evening after cleansing and before moisturiser. Personally, I prefer it in the early evening because it fits my routine better and keeps it well away from my tretinoin step. But it layers well under moisturiser and SPF like my favourite La Roche-Posay Invisible Fluid SPF 50 and doesn’t pill or feel heavy if you do use it in the morning. 

Results After Consistent Use

The first thing I noticed was hydration. My skin felt immediately more comfortable, less tight, and visibly healthier, with a soft glow that didn’t look shiny or overdone.

After about a week of consistent use, I started to see a difference in skin bounce and overall texture. Dry patches were less obvious, and my skin just looked calmer. One thing I really noticed was how my makeup behaved, especially foundation. It stopped separating around dry areas, which is usually the first sign that my skin barrier isn’t happy.

Over time, my skin looks more hydrated and healthy, with that soft, glass-skin-like glow you get when your barrier is calm rather than when you’re piling on highlighter.

This definitely feels like a long-game product. It doesn’t promise dramatic overnight results, but the improvements build quietly and consistently, which I personally prefer. It’s the kind of serum that makes your skin feel better behaved.

How It Compares to Other Repair Serums

I’ve tried a lot of repair and barrier-focused products over the years, including oil-based serums and richer treatments, and this one stands out for me.

Oil-based repair products can feel comforting at first, but on my combination skin they often end up feeling heavy or congesting. This serum gives me the same nourishing, repairing feel, but in a much lighter, more wearable format. It layers beautifully and doesn’t interfere with the rest of my routine.

For me, this feels more supportive than transformative, but that’s exactly what I want from a barrier serum. It quietly does its job without causing problems elsewhere.

Price, Value and Cost Per Use

At £18 for 30ml, this serum is very reasonably priced, especially when you compare it to other PDRN products currently on the market. If you’re looking for an affordable PDRN serum that still delivers real results, this one stands out.

I use one pump for my entire face and neck, and despite using it daily since November, there’s still a good amount left. When you look at the price per use, it works out extremely well.

For me, this is one of those rare cases where the hype actually matches the product. I’ll be repurchasing it without hesitation. Time and time again.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Deeply hydrating without feeling heavy

• Supports the skin barrier

• Gentle enough to use alongside tretinoin

• No scent and no irritation

• Excellent price point for a PDRN product

Cons

• Not an instant-results product

• Works best with consistent, long-term use

Who Is The Inkey List PDRN Serum Best For?

This serum is best suited to:

• Combination skin that needs extra hydration

• Dry or dehydrated skin, especially in winter

• Sensitive or easily irritated skin

• Anyone using actives like retinol or tretinoin

• Skin that feels compromised or out of balance

• Skin starting to show early signs of ageing, such as fine lines, dryness, or reduced bounce

It’s also a great option if you’re specifically searching for a PDRN serum for sensitive skin that focuses on barrier support rather than exfoliation.

If you have very oily or acne-prone skin, this may still work for you, but you might prefer something lighter if hydration isn’t your main concern.

When Can You Expect Results?

If you’re wondering how long a PDRN serum like this takes to work, hydration and skin feel / comfort are noticeable fairly quickly. For me, visible improvements in skin bounce and overall condition appeared after around a week of consistent daily use.

Longer-term benefits, particularly barrier strength and skin resilience, build gradually over time. This is very much a consistency-focused product rather than a quick fix. Let's face it, most good beauty products are long-term, not quick fixes. 

My Honest Review of the Inkey Lab PDRN

This is one of those products that’s quietly worked its way into my routine without any fuss, and those are usually the ones that last. I didn’t go into this expecting miracles, but I also didn’t expect to reach for it every single day without really thinking about it.

What I notice most is how comfortable my skin feels when I’m using this. During winter, when my skin is usually tight, patchy, or reacting to everything, this just helps keep things calm. On days when my skin feels a bit overworked from actives or the cold, it gives me that hydrated, supported feeling without feeling heavy or greasy.

I also really appreciate how well it fits into real life. I use it when I get home, take my makeup off, cleanse, and want something that makes my skin feel instantly better before the evening sets in. It doesn’t clash with tretinoin later on, it doesn’t pill under moisturiser, and it doesn’t make my skin feel overwhelmed.

Is it a dramatic, overnight transformation? No. But my skin looks healthier, makeup behaves better, and I don’t get that tell-tale tightness that usually creeps in during winter. For me, that’s exactly what a good repair serum should do.

This is the kind of product I’ll keep repurchasing without debating it, because it works, it’s gentle, and the price actually makes sense. And that, honestly, says more than any hype ever could.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?

The Inkey List PDRN Serum is worth it if you want visible hydration, improved skin bounce, and barrier support without paying the premium prices often attached to PDRN products.

It’s probably not for you if you’re looking for instant, dramatic results. This is a long-game serum, but one that has genuinely earned a permanent place in my routine. It’s very much a supportive product rather than a miracle fix, and that actually matches my experience perfectly, which is probably why it’s slotted into my routine so easily long term.

The Inkey List PDRN Serum FAQs

Is The Inkey List PDRN Serum suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes. It’s fragrance-free, gentle, and designed to support the skin barrier, making it suitable for sensitive or reactive skin.

Can you use The Inkey List PDRN Serum with tretinoin?
Yes. I use it daily, spaced away from my tretinoin application, and have had no irritation issues.

How long does it take to see results?
Hydration and comfort are noticeable quickly, but improvements in skin bounce and overall condition build over time with consistent use.

Is The Inkey List PDRN Serum worth the price?
Absolutely. At £18, it offers excellent value and performs far better than many more expensive PDRN products.

Can you use The Inkey List PDRN Serum every day?
Yes. I use this serum daily and have had no irritation at all. Because it focuses on supporting the skin barrier rather than exfoliating, it’s suitable for everyday use, even if your skin is on the sensitive side.

Should you patch test The Inkey List PDRN Serum?
As with any new skincare product, especially if your skin is sensitive or reactive, a patch test is always sensible. I didn’t have any issues personally, but it’s still something I recommend if you’re cautious.

Can The Inkey List PDRN Serum cause breakouts?
I haven’t experienced any breakouts while using this serum. The texture is lightweight and non-greasy, which makes it far less likely to clog pores than heavier repair products. That said, everyone’s skin is different, so it’s always worth introducing new products gradually.

Can you use PDRN with vitamin C or acids?
Yes, but I’d recommend being mindful if your skin is sensitive. PDRN works best as a calming, supportive step, so I prefer using it in a routine separate from stronger actives like exfoliating acids. This helps minimise the risk of irritation and keeps the skin barrier happy.

What age is PDRN best for?
PDRN can be beneficial at any age, but it’s particularly useful if you’re starting to notice early fine lines, dryness, or reduced skin resilience. It’s less about age and more about supporting the skin when it feels compromised or out of balance.

Is The Inkey List PDRN Serum pregnancy safe?
I’m not pregnant, so I’d always recommend checking with your GP or midwife before introducing new skincare during pregnancy. The Inkey List positions this serum as gentle and barrier-supportive rather than active-led, but professional advice is always best.

Author

Laura is a UK-based beauty, lifestyle, and wellness blogger at MissLJBeauty, with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing skincare products. Known for honest, long-term reviews and barrier-focused routines, she combines professional beauty training with real-life testing across changing seasons, active outdoor life, and active-led skincare routines.