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Every ingredient, in plain English.
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Ingredient questions
PDRN, cica, niacinamide, snail mucin — what they actually do.
The ingredient questions Australians search for most, answered without the marketing language.
What is PDRN in Korean skincare and what does it do?
PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) is a repair ingredient made from purified DNA fragments, most often from salmon. Topically it is used to support skin recovery, elasticity and barrier resilience, which is why it appears in Korean "repair" serums rather than in exfoliating or brightening products.
- Best for: stressed, post-treatment, sun-exposed or ageing skin.
- Use it: evening, after toner, before moisturiser.
- Pairs with: peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides.
- Topical PDRN is a cosmetic ingredient and is not the same as an injectable clinic treatment.
What is centella asiatica (cica) and who is it for?
Centella asiatica, sold in Korea as "cica", is a herb whose extracts (madecassoside, asiaticoside) are used to calm visible redness and support barrier recovery. It suits sensitive, reactive, post-acne and sunburn-prone skin, and it layers safely with almost everything else.
What does niacinamide do, and how much is too much?
Niacinamide is vitamin B3. It helps with uneven tone, visible pores, oil balance and barrier function. Most Korean formulas sit between 2% and 5%, which suits daily use; 10% and above can sting sensitive skin without adding much benefit.
Does snail mucin actually work?
Snail secretion filtrate is a hydrating, film-forming ingredient rich in glycoproteins and hyaluronic acid. It is genuinely good at making skin feel plump and comfortable and at supporting healing of post-acne marks, but it is a hydrator and soother, not an anti-ageing active on its own.
What is the difference between hyaluronic acid molecular weights?
High molecular weight hyaluronic acid sits on the surface and holds water there; low molecular weight forms travel further into the upper layers for longer-lasting plumpness. Korean serums often use a multi-weight complex so you get both immediate surface hydration and deeper water retention.
Where do K-beauty plant ingredients come from?
Most trace back to Korean and East Asian traditional medicine. Ginseng has been cultivated in Korea for over a thousand years and is used for firmness; heartleaf (houttuynia cordata) was a folk remedy for inflammation and now anchors calming lines; mugwort (ssuk) was used in baths and teas and is now a staple soothing extract; rice ferment comes from centuries of using rice water on skin and hair.
Do I need a Korean toner if I already use a moisturiser?
A Korean toner is not the stripping alcohol toner of the 1990s — it is a watery hydration step. If your skin feels tight after cleansing or your serums pill, a hydrating toner helps; if your skin is comfortable and your routine works, it is optional.