While you may associate “K-beauty” with TikTok and Gen Z, there is a ton of amazing Korean skincare geared towards plumping, hydrating and smoothing — core needs for aging skin. Korean skincare is typically celebrated for its innovative formulas for mature skin, often featuring unexpected anti-aging ingredients, like eggplant extract and salmon sperm (yes, really). It’s also generally affordable, with plenty priced well under $30. Take this fragrance-free daily face moisturizer from Korean brand ANUA. Made with hyaluronic acid, collagen, eggplant extract — and yes, salmon sperm — reviewers call it “Botox in a bottle” and the “perfect” thing for “post-menopause, mature skin.”
If you’re a fish out of water in the Korean skincare world, “polydeoxyribonucleotide,” or simply PDRN, is an incredibly effective anti-aging skincare ingredient, typically derived from salmon sperm.
If you’ve heard about “salmon sperm facials” from “Selling Sunset,” the Kardashians or previous HuffPost reporting, this may be old news. If you haven’t: PDRN is super-popular and found in many Korean beauty products, especially those targeting dry and mature skin.
PDRN is the star of this daily face cream, and ANUA claims it can help your skin retain moisture, give you a radiant, glowy look and may even boost your skin barrier. One reviewer calls the cream “40+ approved,” noting that out of all the skin care they have ever purchased, “nothing has worked quite as fast on a hydration level, leaving my skin looking great and glowing.”
