How to Check a PDRN Product Label in the UK

Short answer: To check a PDRN product in the UK, read the ingredient list, not the front of the pack. Look for "Sodium DNA" or "Hydrolyzed DNA" and note how far down the list it sits. Check that the pack names a responsible person with a UK address, a batch number and a period-after-opening or best-before date. Then compare any "ppm" or percentage claim with the list. A large number on the front does not always mean a large amount of DNA in the bottle.

PDRN is sold under many names: salmon DNA, vegan PDRN, phyto-PDRN, PDRN 100 and more. None of those phrases is a legal ingredient name. The legal information is in small print on the back, and it follows fixed UK rules. This guide shows you how to read it in about two minutes. If you are new to the ingredient, start with our guide to what PDRN is.

Key takeaways

• UK packs must list ingredients in descending order of weight. Ingredients under 1% may then follow in any order[1].
• On an ingredient list, PDRN usually appears as Sodium DNA or Hydrolyzed DNA. "PDRN" itself is a marketing and scientific term.
• Every cosmetic sold in Great Britain needs a responsible person with a UK address, and that name and address must be on the pack[1,2].
• A "ppm" claim can describe a raw material, not pure DNA. One UK serum advertises 20,000 ppm (2%) vegan PDRN, yet lists Hydrolyzed DNA last on its ingredient list[3].
• One maker prints the amount beside the ingredient: Sodium DNA at 5 ppm, which is 0.0005%[4].
• A cosmetic cannot claim to treat a medical condition. Injectable polynucleotides are regulated differently; see our UK regulation guide.

Step 1: find the ingredient list

UK law requires a list of ingredients on the packaging, headed with the word "ingredients"[1]. It may be on the outer box only, so keep the box until you have read it.

Ingredient names follow an international naming system, which is why the list says "Aqua" for water. Look for these names:

The list does not tell you where the DNA came from. For that you need the maker's own description. Our guide to vegan and salmon PDRN explains the difference, and the UK PDRN Formulation Index records the source each maker states.

Step 2: read the position, but do not over-read it

The rule has two parts[1]:

1. Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight at the time they are added.
2. Ingredients at concentrations below 1% may be listed in any order, after those above 1%.

So position tells you something, but less than people assume:

• If Sodium DNA sits above ingredients normally used at 1% or more, such as glycerin near the top of a list, the product probably contains a meaningful amount.
• If it sits among preservatives and thickeners near the end, it is almost certainly under 1%. Below that line, order means nothing, so you cannot rank two products by it.
• A later position does not prove a product is poor. Many ingredients work at well under 1%.

Practical tip: Find phenoxyethanol on the list. It is a preservative limited to 1% in cosmetics[5], so anything listed after it is usually present at under 1%.

Step 3: compare the headline claim with the list

Brands often quote PDRN in parts per million (ppm). The conversion is simple: 10,000 ppm equals 1%, and 100 ppm equals 0.01%.

The harder question is what the number counts. Two real examples show why.

A claim that looks larger than the list suggests. The INKEY List states that its PDRN Serum contains 20,000 ppm (2%) of a branded vegan PDRN ingredient made from the plant Artemisia capillaris. Its published ingredient list ends with Hydrolyzed DNA, after the preservatives[3]. Both statements can be true if the 2% refers to the supplier's raw material, a solution that contains the DNA, and not to pure DNA. The brand's page does not explain this, so a shopper cannot tell how much DNA is in the bottle.

A maker that prints the amount. Purito's page for its Oat PDRN Gentle Refining Toner shows amounts in brackets inside the ingredient list, including Sodium DNA at 5 ppm[4]. That is 0.0005%. The same page describes the oat PDRN as 99% pure, which describes the purity of the raw material, not how much is in the toner.

Neither brand is breaking a rule here. The point is that "99% pure", "2%" and "5 ppm" answer three different questions. When you compare products, compare the same kind of number, and prefer makers that say what theirs measures.

Step 4: check the rest of the pack

These items are legally required on cosmetics sold in Great Britain, and they are quick signs of a properly placed product[1,2]:

Packs bought from overseas sellers may carry only a Korean or EU address. For a period after Brexit, an EU-compliant address can still satisfy the labelling rule[1], so this alone is not proof of a problem. A pack with no address, no batch number and no ingredient list in English is a reason not to buy.

The responsible person must also notify each product to the Office for Product Safety and Standards before it is sold[2]. We know of no public register that shoppers can search, so you cannot check this yourself. You can ask the seller who the UK responsible person is.

Step 5: check the claims

• "Clinically proven" should lead to a study. Ask whether it tested the finished product or only an ingredient, how many people took part, and who ran it. Several PDRN claims rest on tests run by the ingredient supplier[3].
• Words such as heal, treat, repair DNA or regenerate tissue describe medicines, not cosmetics. Our PDRN clinical evidence timeline shows that most strong evidence is for injected, medicine-grade PDRN in wound care.
• "Dermatologist tested" means a dermatologist was involved in a test. It does not say what the test found.
• Pregnancy claims. A brand may say a serum is safe in pregnancy. We found no published study of PDRN skincare in pregnancy, so ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist. Our pregnancy guide explains what is and is not known.

A two-minute checklist

1. Find the ingredient list and look for Sodium DNA or Hydrolyzed DNA.
2. Note whether it comes before or after the preservatives.
3. Convert any ppm claim to a percentage and ask what it measures.
4. Check for a responsible person's address, a batch number and a date or open-jar symbol.
5. Look for fragrance (parfum), retinol or acids if your skin is sensitive, and patch test anything new.
6. Be wary of medical words on a cosmetic.

Frequently asked questions

Is "PDRN" allowed on an ingredient list?

Ingredient lists use standard ingredient names, and the names used for PDRN are Sodium DNA and Hydrolyzed DNA. "PDRN" appears on the front of packs and in descriptions.

Does a higher ppm always mean a better product?

No. Brands do not all measure the same thing, and no published study shows which amount of topical PDRN works best. Our guide to whether topical PDRN works covers the evidence.

How can I tell if PDRN is salmon or plant derived?

The ingredient list will not tell you. Check the maker's description, and look for fish-derived ingredients such as salmon egg extract. If you have a fish allergy, read our PDRN safety guide and ask a pharmacist.

What should I do if a product has no UK address?

Ask the seller who the UK responsible person is. If they cannot say, consider buying from a UK retailer instead. You can report an unsafe product to Trading Standards through Citizens Advice.

References

1. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Article 19: Labelling (as it applies in Great Britain). legislation.gov.uk. Accessed 11 November 2026.

2. Office for Product Safety and Standards. Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain. GOV.UK. Accessed 11 November 2026.

3. The INKEY List. What is PDRN? Complete guide and best products (includes the PDRN Serum's stated concentration and full ingredient list). Updated 12 May 2026. Accessed 11 November 2026.

4. Purito Seoul. Oat PDRN Gentle Refining Toner: product page and ingredient list. Accessed 11 November 2026.

5. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Annex V: list of preservatives allowed in cosmetic products (entry 29, phenoxyethanol, maximum 1%). legislation.gov.uk. Accessed 11 November 2026.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a pharmacist, GP or other qualified healthcare professional. If you have a reaction or a medical concern, seek professional advice.