The next breakthrough in skincare didn’t come from a lab. It came from the ocean.
More specifically, from the trimmings of salmon already processed for food — transformed into one of the most clinically-studied and effective cellular renewal ingredients in modern skincare. Here’s how it works, why it matters, and why marine-derived ingredients are quietly reshaping what skincare can do.
Why salmon DNA?
Salmon DNA — specifically the fragmented form known as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) — has become the gold standard for cellular renewal skincare for three reasons:
1. It’s molecularly close to human DNA
Salmon DNA is about 90% similar to human DNA at the molecular level. Close enough that our skin’s cell receptors recognise it and respond. Different enough to be safely sourced from a non-human species. That balance is rare.
2. It triggers regeneration, not just hydration
Most skincare ingredients work on the surface — moisturisers, occlusives, exfoliants. PDRN works inside the cell. It binds to specific receptors on fibroblasts (collagen-making cells) and signals them to repair, regenerate, and produce more collagen and elastin.
3. It’s sustainable
This is the part most people don’t hear about. PDRN is extracted from the trimmings of salmon already processed for food. The DNA would otherwise be waste. By upcycling it, marine-derived PDRN has one of the lowest environmental footprints of any clinically-proven skincare active.
The ocean has been hiding answers for a long time
Marine biology has quietly been one of skincare’s most important sources of innovation:
- Red Algae — antioxidants and natural polysaccharides that defend against environmental stress and improve hydration
- Marine Spicules — microscopic silica needles from marine sponges, used to deliver actives deeper into the skin (the technology behind bio-needling)
- Sea Glycans & Polysaccharides — powerful humectants that bind water at multiple depths in the skin
- Marine Collagen — highly bioavailable peptides used in ingestible and topical formulations
- Salmon PDRN — the regeneration breakthrough
What unites them: ocean organisms have evolved sophisticated chemistry to survive in some of the harshest environments on earth. That chemistry, when isolated and properly formulated, often does extraordinary things in human skin.
How PDRN actually works on your skin
When PDRN reaches the lower layers of your skin, it does five measurable things:
- Activates fibroblasts — the cells that make collagen and elastin
- Accelerates cell turnover — old, damaged cells out; new ones in
- Reduces inflammation — calmer, less reactive skin
- Improves microcirculation — better blood flow to skin cells
- Supports tissue repair — the same mechanism approved as a medical device for wound healing
The visible result, over 4–6 weeks: firmer, brighter, smoother, more even skin.
The delivery problem (and how we solved it)
PDRN has a catch: the molecule is large. Without a delivery system, it sits on the skin’s surface and never reaches fibroblasts where the work happens.
Our solution: pair Salmon PDRN with Micro-Spicule delivery — microscopic, needle-like structures derived from marine sponges that create temporary channels in skin so PDRN can reach the layers it needs. The result is our PulseRenew serum, which is essentially two ocean-derived technologies working together: the PDRN does the renewal, the spicules deliver it.
Sustainability is the point, not the marketing
The skincare industry has a footprint. Plastic packaging, water use, ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, shipping. PDRN doesn’t solve all of that — but the choice to use an upcycled marine ingredient over synthesised or animal-tested alternatives matters.
Every Next Skin formula is made in Australia, uses upcycled actives where possible, and is cruelty-free.
Where to start
If you want to experience ocean-derived skincare at its best, the Skin Reset Kit bundles PulseRenew (PDRN + Micro-Spicules) with GlowSerum (Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, peptides for daily brightening). Two formulas designed to work together.
$119 AUD · Free express shipping over $60 · 30-day money-back promise.
Want to read more about the science of Salmon PDRN at the cellular level? Read how PDRN actually heals skin.
