What Is Medicube PDRN? The Pink Range Explained

Short answer: Medicube PDRN is a Korean skincare range from Medicube, the flagship brand of APR, built around salmon-derived PDRN. Its best-known products are the PDRN Pink Peptide Serum and PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask, which combine PDRN with peptides, niacinamide, collagen and vitamin B12. They hydrate well but are not vegan.

We have not hands-on tested the products mentioned here: picks are editorial research based on published ingredient lists, format and UK availability checked in October 2026.

What is Medicube PDRN, and is it worth the hype? Medicube's PDRN Pink range has become one of the most visible faces of the PDRN trend, helped by social media and a UK retail launch. This guide explains who makes it, what is actually in it, what it can and cannot do, and who it suits. For background on PDRN itself, see is PDRN good for skin.

Key takeaways

• Medicube is the flagship brand of APR Co., Ltd., a Korean beauty company founded in 2014[4].

• The PDRN in Medicube products is salmon-derived and appears as Sodium DNA, with milt and salmon egg extracts in the serum[1].

• Much of the visible effect comes from hydrators, niacinamide and peptides as well as the PDRN.

• The range is not vegan and the serum contains fragrance, so it is not ideal for every skin type[1].

Who makes Medicube?

Medicube is a South Korean skincare brand and the flagship of APR Co., Ltd., founded in 2014[4]. APR also makes the Medicube AGE-R range of at-home beauty devices and the Aprilskin brand. In September 2026 APR reported rapid growth in Europe and North America and announced pop-up events including London[4]. In the UK, Medicube launched in Space NK stores[5] and is also sold by retailers such as Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay[1,3].

What is the PDRN in Medicube PDRN?

PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, a mixture of DNA fragments traditionally purified from salmon or trout milt[6]. In medicine it has been used to support wound healing. In skincare it is used for its proposed soothing and repair-supporting effects.

In Medicube products the PDRN appears on the ingredient list as Sodium DNA. The PDRN Pink Peptide Serum also lists Milt Extract and Salmon Egg Extract, and retailer listings describe it as containing 10,000 ppm salmon PDRN[1]. That equals 1%, although the label does not say how much of that figure is Sodium DNA itself.

The Medicube PDRN Pink range

For a product-by-product assessment, see our Medicube PDRN review. The stick-format Multi Balm has its own guide: Medicube PDRN stick explained.

Product names and formulas change, so check the box you buy.

What Medicube PDRN does: an evidence check

A fair assessment looks at the whole formula, not just the PDRN:

• Hydration and plumpness. Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and polyglycerin give an immediate plumping, dewy finish[1].

• Tone and glow. Niacinamide is a well-studied ingredient for evening tone and supporting the barrier. Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) gives the pink tint[1,9].

• Firmness claims. The peptides and PDRN are included for firmness and elasticity. Evidence for these in topical products is modest.

• Repair support. PDRN works mainly through adenosine A2A receptors[6], but it is a large molecule, and a 2025 laboratory study showed native PDRN crosses a skin-like membrane slowly[7]. How much reaches living skin cells from any serum is uncertain.

So Medicube PDRN products are likely to make skin look and feel more hydrated and glowy. Dramatic anti-ageing changes are not supported by evidence, because the clinical evidence for PDRN comes mainly from injections rather than from topical products like these. For the difference between PDRN and the peptides in the serum, see is PDRN a peptide.

Who Medicube PDRN suits

• Normal, dry and combination skin wanting hydration and glow

• People who want an affordable introduction to PDRN

• Anyone who likes a multi-ingredient "all-in-one" serum

Who might want to skip Medicube PDRN

• Vegans and vegetarians. The range uses salmon-derived ingredients and collagen. See is PDRN vegan.

• People with fish allergies. Speak to a pharmacist or GP first, or choose a plant PDRN.

• Very sensitive skin. The Pink Peptide Serum contains fragrance[1]. Patch test first.

• Acne-prone skin that reacts to rich serums. The serum contains isopropyl myristate, which some acne-prone people avoid, although single-ingredient ratings do not reliably predict how a finished product behaves[10].

Pharmacist’s tip: The pink colour comes from vitamin B12, not from the salmon, and it says nothing about how much PDRN is inside. Judge any PDRN product by its full ingredient list, not its colour or its name.

Medicube PDRN vs other PDRN serums

Compared with Anua's PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum, the Medicube serum adds peptides and fragrance and is often cheaper, while Anua focuses on hydration without added fragrance. Compared with VT's PDRN Essence 100, Medicube uses salmon PDRN rather than plant PDRN from ginseng. None of these serums has been compared head-to-head in a clinical trial, so choose on formula and skin type.

Is Medicube PDRN safe?

For most people, yes. PDRN has a good safety record as a medicine and is non-exfoliating[6]. Reactions, when they happen, are more likely to come from fragrance or other ingredients. There is no safety data for use in pregnancy, so check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist first; our PDRN pregnancy guide explains what to look for.

How to use Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum

• Cleanse and tone.

• Apply one to two pumps to the face and neck and pat in.

• Follow with moisturiser, and sunscreen in the morning.

• Use once or twice daily and give it six to eight weeks.

For a treat, use the PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask after the serum, following the wear time on the pack. Our PDRN mask comparison covers the alternatives.

Where to buy Medicube PDRN in the UK

Medicube is sold in the UK by Space NK and established beauty retailers including Cult Beauty and Beauty Bay[1,3,5]. Because the range is so popular, counterfeits exist. Buy from reputable retailers and check that the packaging names a UK Responsible Person, which cosmetics sold in Great Britain must have[8].

The bottom line

Medicube PDRN is a salmon PDRN skincare range from APR, led by the PDRN Pink Peptide Serum and Collagen Gel Mask. It is good value and genuinely hydrating, with sensible supporting ingredients. Treat the PDRN as one part of a multi-ingredient formula rather than an injection in a bottle, and skip it if you are vegan, allergic to fish or sensitive to fragrance. To compare it with other serums, read which PDRN serum is best.

FAQs

Why is Medicube PDRN pink?

The colour comes from vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), not from salmon[1,9].

Is Medicube PDRN real salmon DNA?

Medicube markets it as salmon PDRN, and its ingredient lists include Sodium DNA with milt and salmon egg extracts[1].

Is Medicube PDRN good for acne?

It is not an acne treatment. It may suit acne-prone skin that is also dehydrated, but patch test because of the fragrance and richer ingredients. See will PDRN help with acne.

Is Medicube PDRN worth it?

As an affordable hydrating serum with a glow, many people find it worthwhile. It will not replace sunscreen, retinoids or clinic treatments.

Can I use Medicube PDRN with retinol?

Yes. PDRN has no known interactions with retinol. Use them at different times of day if your skin is sensitive. See is PDRN retinol.

Related reading

• Which PDRN Serum Is Best? A Pharmacist's UK Shortlist

• Which PDRN Mask Is Best? Medicube vs VT vs Anua Compared

• Is PDRN a Peptide? PDRN vs Peptides Explained Simply

• Is PDRN Vegan? Salmon PDRN vs Plant PDRN Explained

References

• Beauty Bay. Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum: product listing and ingredient list. Accessed October 2026.

• Chemco Pharmacy. Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask: product listing. Accessed October 2026.

• Cult Beauty. Medicube PDRN Booster Gel 300ml: product listing. Accessed October 2026.

• APR Co., Ltd. Medicube Wellness Club pop-up tour announcement (PR Newswire). September 2026.

• Executional. Medicube x Space NK UK launch case study. Accessed October 2026.

• Squadrito F, Bitto A, Irrera N, et al. Pharmacological activity and clinical use of PDRN. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2017;8:224.

• Park SJ, et al. Plasma-engineered PDRN: surface charge neutralization and nanosizing enhance uptake and regeneration potential. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17(9):1136.

• The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, Schedule 34 (UK Responsible Person). legislation.gov.uk, 2019.

• Asung. Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask: product description (vitamin B12 colour). Accessed October 2026.

• Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507–512.

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.