The INKEY List PDRN Serum Review: Vegan PDRN and the 2% Claim

Short answer: The INKEY List PDRN Serum is a fragrance-free, vegan serum built around a plant-derived DNA ingredient from Artemisia capillaris, not salmon. Much of its immediate glow comes from an 18% emollient blend. The brand advertises 20,000 ppm (2%) PDRN, but its own ingredient list puts Hydrolyzed DNA last, so the 2% probably describes the supplier's raw material and not pure DNA. The supporting studies were run by the ingredient supplier and are not published in a journal. It is a reasonable choice if you want a vegan PDRN-style serum; it is not proven to match salmon PDRN.

This is a research review based on the brand's published information. We have not tested the serum on skin. It sits alongside our guide to the best PDRN serums in the UK and our explainer on vegan and salmon PDRN.

Key takeaways

• The serum uses a branded vegan ingredient, INJIN PDRN, sourced from the plant Artemisia capillaris[1].
• The brand states 20,000 ppm (2%), an 18% emollient blend, a pH of 4.0 to 4.5 and a 30 ml size[1].
• Hydrolyzed DNA is the final ingredient on the published list, after the preservatives[1]. Under UK labelling rules that position is consistent with less than 1% of the ingredient itself[2].
• The clinical figures the brand quotes come from studies run by the ingredient supplier at 2%, not from independent trials of this serum[1].
• The receptor mechanism the brand describes was established for salmon-derived pharmaceutical PDRN. Researchers link that activity to the DNA's origin, size and manufacturing process[3], so it cannot be assumed for plant DNA.
• The brand says the serum is safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding[1]. We found no published study of PDRN skincare in pregnancy, so check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist.

What the brand's page confirms

The full ingredient list on the brand's page is: Water, Propylheptyl Caprylate, C8-12 Acid Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Tribehenin PEG-20 Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Lactate, Hydrolyzed DNA[1].

It is a short list with no fragrance, no denatured alcohol and no essential oils. It does contain shea butter and sunflower seed oil, which matter if your skin dislikes richer textures.

The 2% claim and the ingredient list

This is the most useful thing to understand before you buy.

UK rules require ingredients to be listed in descending order of weight, with those under 1% allowed in any order at the end[2]. On this serum, Hydrolyzed DNA is the very last ingredient. It comes after phenoxyethanol, a preservative that is limited to 1% in cosmetics[4].

If the serum held 2% pure DNA, you would expect Hydrolyzed DNA to appear above the preservative, not after it. The likeliest explanation is that "2% INJIN PDRN" refers to the supplier's raw material, a prepared solution that contains the DNA along with other substances, and that the DNA itself makes up a smaller share. The brand's page does not say which it means.

This does not make the claim false, and it is common practice in cosmetics. It does mean two things:

• You cannot compare "20,000 ppm" here with a ppm figure from another brand unless both measure the same thing.
• The brand's own table, which calls under 5,000 ppm "unlikely to deliver meaningful results"[1], is a marketing guide and not an established scientific threshold. No published study has set a minimum effective amount for topical PDRN.

Our guide to checking a PDRN label explains how to read these numbers on any product.

What the evidence does and does not support

What the brand cites. The page says clinical data using INJIN PDRN at 2% showed a 25 to 35% increase in collagen synthesis over 8 to 12 weeks and a 45% improvement in hydration after 4 weeks[1]. It states that these studies were run by the ingredient supplier[1]. We could not find them in a peer-reviewed journal, so the methods, the number of people and whether there was a comparison group are not available to check.

What is established for PDRN in general. The best-known mechanism, activating the adenosine A2A receptor, was worked out for salmon-derived pharmaceutical PDRN. A review by the researchers who led that work says the receptor activity appears to depend on the DNA's origin, its molecular weight and how it is made[3]. Plant DNA is a different material, so the same action cannot be assumed.

What a hydrating serum can reasonably do. An emollient blend with glycerin can make skin feel softer and look glossier straight away. The brand says as much: it attributes the "instant" glow to the 18% emollient blend[1]. That is a real cosmetic benefit, and it does not depend on the DNA.

For the wider picture, see our PDRN clinical evidence timeline and our guide to whether topical PDRN works.

Who might consider it

• You want a vegan option. Salmon-derived PDRN is not vegan. This serum uses plant DNA.
• You have a fish allergy or avoid fish-derived ingredients. The published list contains no fish-derived ingredient. Check the pack you buy, and ask a pharmacist if your allergy is severe.
• You want a fragrance-free formula with a short ingredient list.
• You like a cushioned, glossy finish. The emollient blend makes this richer than a watery serum.

Who should think twice

• Very oily or congestion-prone skin. Shea butter and plant oils do not suit everyone. Patch test first.
• You want salmon PDRN specifically, because that is the form most research has studied. Korean serums such as the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum and the Medicube Salmon DNA PDRN Pink Peptide Serum use salmon-derived ingredients.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding. The brand says the serum is safe[1]. There is no published research either way, and the formula contains no retinoid. It is still sensible to check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist. Our pregnancy guide has more detail.
• You use prescription skincare. The brand advises checking with your prescriber before adding new products[1]. See our guide to PDRN with tretinoin.

How to use it

The brand's directions are one pump on face and neck after cleansing, morning and evening, followed by moisturiser, and sunscreen in the morning[1]. It does not need damp skin.

Introduce it on its own for a week or two before adding other new products, so you can tell what your skin is reacting to. Stop if you get persistent redness, stinging or itching.

Frequently asked questions

Is The INKEY List PDRN Serum vegan?

The brand describes it as 100% vegan, with the DNA sourced from Artemisia capillaris and no salmon[1].

Is it the same as salmon PDRN?

No. It is a plant-derived DNA ingredient marketed as PDRN. Most clinical research used salmon- or trout-derived PDRN, usually by injection.

Does it contain 2% PDRN?

The brand states 20,000 ppm (2%) of the INJIN ingredient[1]. Hydrolyzed DNA is last on the ingredient list[1], which suggests the DNA itself is below 1%. The brand does not explain the difference.

Can I use it with retinol or vitamin C?

The brand says yes[1]. No published study has tested these combinations with plant PDRN. Introduce one product at a time and patch test.

Is it a Korean product?

No. The INKEY List is a UK brand. We cover it because UK shoppers often compare it with Korean PDRN serums.

References

1. The INKEY List. What is PDRN? Complete guide and best products (PDRN Serum details, supplier-study statement and full ingredient list). Updated 12 May 2026. Accessed 11 November 2026.

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

3. Squadrito F, Bitto A, Irrera N, et al. Pharmacological activity and clinical use of PDRN. Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:224.

4. 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.