PDRN, an ingredient that has gained prominence in the K-beauty landscape, is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing ingredient trends on TikTok Shop. The revenue numbers are accelerating fast enough that beauty brands paying attention now may have a real advantage over those who wait.
Key Takeaways
Before diving into PDRN specifically, it helps to zoom out and look at where Korean skincare stands as a whole. According to Charm data covering April 2025 through March 2026, the hashtag #KoreanSkincare generated 4.9 billion views and $99.1 million in revenue on U.S. TikTok Shop over that 12-month window. That is not a one-month spike: views started around 200 million per month and climbed as high as 550 million before settling into a strong baseline above 400 million.
Brands like Medicube, Anua, and COSRX are each driving millions in sales by showcasing Korean skincare products and routines to audiences that are large, engaged, and actively spending. The data makes one thing clear: the foundation supporting ingredient-led trends like PDRN is already enormous.
PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, is a skin-repairing ingredient derived from salmon DNA, used in Korean skincare products for its ability to boost cellular regeneration, improve elasticity, and deliver measurable anti-aging benefits. For years it was found primarily in clinical and medical-grade treatments, but K-beauty brands have since brought it into everyday skincare in formats that are accessible and easy to demonstrate on video.
That last point matters because PDRN has a science-backed mechanism that creators can explain clearly in under 60 seconds: it helps skin repair itself more efficiently at a biological level, which gives educational content a concrete and compelling hook.
Based on Charm data, #PDRN content on U.S. TikTok Shop went from near zero views in January 2026 to around 25 million in February, then surged to 81.6 million views in March 2026 alone, generating $1.8 million in revenue in that single month. That kind of acceleration across just three months signals a category gaining momentum fast rather than building slowly over time.
In Q1 2026, the top five PDRN products in the U.S. TikTok Shop all came from Medicube, which generated $10.5 million in PDRN-related revenue during the quarter, making it the clear category leader. The top-performing products included:
Behind Medicube, other K-beauty brands are also gaining meaningful traction in this space. Anua brought in $1.2 million in PDRN-related revenue, Rejuran followed with $1.0 million, and COSRX added $478K. The presence of multiple brands performing at this level shows that consumer demand for the best PDRN korean skincare products is broad enough to support more than one winner.
For brands considering this space, the relevant question is not whether PDRN can sell, because it clearly can, but rather how to position a product within a category where Medicube currently holds a commanding lead.
The content driving PDRN views on TikTok follows a clear pattern in Charm data: educational content is doing the heavy lifting, with the top-performing creators explaining the science behind the ingredient rather than simply showcasing the product.
The account @thestephedition generated 9.0 million views and $154K in linked revenue with a video focused on how PDRN supports cell repair at a biological level. @mirandacorneliusbeauty earned 6.2 million views and $209.2K by highlighting how PDRN and niacinamide work together to brighten and even out skin tone. @susanluckhardt brought in 5.6 million views and $86.7K by framing PDRN in the context of fine lines and wrinkles, speaking directly to an anti-aging audience.
Three themes show up consistently across the highest-performing videos: ingredient education that breaks down the science accessibly, application demonstrations showing how to use the product correctly, and skin transformation content with visible before-and-after results.
For brands thinking about creator partnerships, a creator who can explain why an ingredient works rather than simply stating that it works tends to drive more meaningful engagement and conversion. The PDRN data supports that directly, so pairing with creators who understand skincare science is a stronger strategic bet than leaning on pure lifestyle or aesthetic content alone.
The PDRN story is still early, with the hashtag reaching 81.6 million views in a single month and $10.5 million in quarterly revenue from just one brand, all inside a parent category that generated nearly $100 million over the past year.
The trend lines are pointing upward, but the window to act on ingredient-led trends like this one tends to be shorter than it looks from the outside. The brands capturing the most revenue right now are the ones that recognized the momentum early, before the category became crowded and competitive.
Spotting the next shift before it peaks requires consistent access to reliable data on what is actually selling, what creators are saying, and where consumer interest is heading on TikTok Shop. Download the full report to get a complete picture of Q1 2026 Beauty Trends and Insights, including which ingredients are gaining traction, which brands are outperforming, and what the data says about where the category is headed next.