Serums got PDRN first. Now it's in toner pads, eye creams, sheet masks and mists, and the packaging gets louder with every format. The Medicube pad box pictured at the top of this page says PDRN 99% in the biggest type on the front.
It is almost certainly not 99% PDRN. Not remotely. That number is a good place to start, because once you know what it means, every other PDRN box gets easier to read.
The Short Answer
- "PDRN 99%" almost certainly isn't quantity. Medicube doesn't say what it measures, but printed next to "High Purity" it reads as the purity of the raw ingredient.
- In the pad we checked, PDRN is a minor ingredient. Sodium DNA sits 44th of 58 on Medicube's official list, well behind niacinamide.
- Eye cream is the format with the most direct evidence. The best trials of topical PDRN we found tested eye creams — though none of the products on this page.
- Both PDRN eye creams we checked also contain retinoids. That's probably doing a lot of the anti-ageing work, and it's worth knowing before you use one.
- Pick the format for how you like to use products, and treat the PDRN as a bonus rather than the reason.
None of the products on this page were tested by us. They're included on the strength of their published formulas, and each card below says so. For our main PDRN picks, see the full PDRN comparison.
What "99%" on the box actually means
Here's the jar up close:
Read the small line above the big number: "High Purity Salmon." Medicube doesn't spell out what the 99% measures, but next to those words it reads as how pure the salmon PDRN is as a raw material — not how much of the formula it makes up.
How much of it is in the pads is a different question, and the ingredient list is the only public answer. On Medicube's official product page, Sodium DNA — the ingredient name PDRN goes by on labels — is 44th of 58 ingredients. Niacinamide is 4th.
Ingredients are listed roughly by amount, and anything at 1% or less can go in any order at the end. So "44th" doesn't give an exact figure. It does tell you the pads are a niacinamide-and-botanicals toner with some PDRN in it, which is a very different product from the one the lid implies.
Medicube isn't alone in this. VT, for instance, advertises "100,000 PPM PDRN" on an essence whose DNA ingredient is listed last. We compared six products' marketing claims against their official ingredient lists in salmon DNA vs vegan PDRN.
PDRN toner pads
The opened jar above shows the texture: not cotton rounds, but a pink gel.
On the official page, Medicube says you pour the essence sachet into the jar and wait about five seconds for the pads to turn to gel, and that the pads can sit on a targeted area for five minutes as a mini mask.
What's in the formula, from that official list:
- Niacinamide at 4th — a well-established ingredient for tone and texture
- A long run of botanical extracts, including centella, chamomile and rosemary leaf oil
- Sodium DNA at 44th
- Retinol at 52nd, near the very end
- Capryloyl salicylic acid, a salicylic acid derivative, just after the DNA
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Toner Pad
Not tested by us — included on formulationGel pads with niacinamide high on the list and salmon PDRN further down. Medicube says they can double as a five-minute spot mask.
Who it suits: people who already like toner pads and want one with niacinamide high on the list.
Worth knowing: it contains a salicylic acid derivative and a small amount of retinol. Both are near the end of the list, but if your skin reacts to either, patch test first.
If you're after the cheapest way to try PDRN in a leave-on format, the ₩1,000 VT sheet mask we found at Daiso is covered in our Daiso skincare finds.
PDRN eye creams
This is the format where PDRN has its most relevant evidence. A 2026 split-face study in PLOS One had 31 women aged 35–55 with sensitive skin use a 0.1% PDRN eye cream around one eye and a 0.1% retinol eye cream around the other for four weeks, and reported bigger improvements in wrinkles on the PDRN side. An earlier paper from the same research group reports a placebo-controlled eye-cream trial in 33 women.
Two caveats matter. Neither trial tested any of the products on this page, so they tell you nothing directly about them. And both are small and short. We explain them in more detail in What Is PDRN?.
The retail PDRN eye creams we looked at don't lean on PDRN alone. Both contain retinoids.
Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream
On Medicube's official page, the stated PDRN source is salmon DNA. The list puts:
- Niacinamide at 4th
- Sodium DNA at 22nd of 52
- Retinol at 38th
- Caffeine at 43rd
- Five peptides among the last six ingredients
Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream
Not tested by us — included on formulationSalmon PDRN plus retinol, niacinamide, caffeine and peptides, with the DNA ingredient 22nd of 52.
Centellian 24 360° Shot PDRN Lifting Eye Cream
This one is from Centellian 24's official US store. The page doesn't state where its PDRN comes from. The list is long — 81 ingredients — and includes:
- Niacinamide at 7th
- Fragrance at 18th
- Sodium DNA at 31st
- Four retinoid ingredients: hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol, retinyl palmitate and retinal (the brand's page describes a "retinoid trio")
- Five ceramides and centella compounds
Centellian 24 360° Shot PDRN Lifting Eye Cream
Not tested by us — included on formulationFour retinoids, niacinamide and ceramides, with PDRN mid-list. Contains fragrance.
Worth knowing: the eye area is thin and reactive. This formula contains fragrance and four different retinoids, so introduce it slowly, and skip it if fragrance around your eyes has bothered you before. If you already use a retinoid eye product, don't stack another one on top.
Which format makes sense for you?
| If you... | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Already use and like toner pads | PDRN toner pad | Easy swap into a routine you'll actually keep up. Expect a niacinamide toner with some PDRN, not a PDRN treatment. |
| Care most about fine lines around the eyes | PDRN eye cream | The best topical PDRN trials we found tested eye creams — and the retail ones also carry retinoids, which have a long track record. |
| Want more PDRN per application | A serum or cream with the DNA listed high | Some serums and creams we checked list it 8th or 10th; the pad lists it 44th. Others list it last, so check — see salmon vs vegan PDRN. |
| Just want to try PDRN cheaply | A sheet mask | Low cost, no commitment. |
| Have very reactive skin | Start with one product, patch test | Both eye creams and the pads contain retinoids; one eye cream contains fragrance. |
If you're choosing with ageing skin in mind, our PDRN guide for mature skin goes further on what to prioritise.
FAQ
Does "PDRN 99%" mean the product is 99% PDRN? Almost certainly not. On the Medicube pad jar the line reads "High Purity Salmon PDRN 99%", which reads as the purity of the raw ingredient — Medicube doesn't say. On the official ingredient list, Sodium DNA is 44th of 58.
Are PDRN toner pads worth it? They can be a nice toner pad. In the one we checked, niacinamide is far higher on the list than the PDRN, so buy it if you want that kind of pad — not as a concentrated PDRN treatment.
Is a PDRN eye cream better than a PDRN serum around the eyes? Eye creams are formulated for the eye area, and the best topical PDRN trials we found tested eye creams. The retail PDRN eye creams we checked also contain retinoids, which matters for sensitive eyes.
Can I use a PDRN eye cream with retinol? Both eye creams on this page already contain retinoids. Avoid layering another retinoid product in the same area, and introduce new ones gradually.
What's the best PDRN toner? The Medicube gel pads are the PDRN toner we could verify against an official ingredient list. We haven't tested them ourselves, and their PDRN content is modest — niacinamide is far higher on the list.
Sources
- Ye R, et al. Topical medium-length PDRN enhances dermal extracellular matrix repair in photodamaged skin via PI3K–Akt/TGF-β–regulated pathways. PLOS One, 2026.
- Liu S, et al. Multi-Pathway Fibroblast Modulation by PDRN Restores Dermal Structure and Improves Periocular Aging. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 2025; 15(4):159–176.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Cosmetics Labeling Guide (21 CFR 701.3).
- Official product pages and ingredient lists, checked 17 September 2026: Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Toner Pad · Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Eye Cream · Centellian 24 360° Shot PDRN Lifting Eye Cream
Prices and availability are accurate as of the date this post was last updated and are subject to change. The price shown on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Medical disclaimer. This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. If you have persistent or painful skin concerns, please see a licensed dermatologist or healthcare professional.