How to Use a PDRN Balm Stick: 3 Seconds, No Mirror

• Twist two clicks, swipe, press. That's the whole routine.
• Swipe where skin creases: cheekbones, laugh lines, corners of the mouth.
• Works over makeup. Keep it away from the eye area.

A balm stick is the least fussy way to wear PDRN: no pump, no dropper, no mirror. Here's how to get the most out of one, plus where to keep it away from.

Why a stick (and why no water)

Our balm is anhydrous, meaning there's no water in it. That's why it needs almost no preservative, why it won't separate in a hot car, and why it glides on in one pass instead of soaking in like a serum.

The 3-second routine

1. Twist up two clicks. Barely any. The balm warms on contact, so a short pass goes further than it looks.
2. Swipe where skin creases. Cheekbones, laugh lines, the corners of the mouth, the tops of the hands.
3. Press it in, or don't. Two taps with a fingertip melt the finish into skin. Left alone, it reads as a soft, wet-look highlight.

Where it fits in your day

• Morning: last step after moisturizer and sunscreen, for a fresh, dewy look.
• Midday: over makeup, whenever skin starts to look dry or flat.
• Evening: as the final step, to seal in whatever you put on before it.

There are no acids or retinoids in the stick, so there's no adjustment period and nothing to schedule around. It sits next to whatever you already use.

It's a balm, not a routine. Three seconds, then get on with your day.

Over makeup, without pilling

Because the balm has no water in it, there's nothing to clash with a water-based foundation. Two rules: use less than feels right, and press rather than rub.

Where not to use it

• The eye area. The formula contains CI 15850, a colorant that isn't approved for use around the eyes in the US.
• Broken or irritated skin. Wait until it has settled.
• Before a patch test, if you have sensitive skin or a known allergy. Check the full ingredient list first, especially if you avoid fragrance or animal-derived ingredients.

How long one stick lasts

About three months at once a day. It's 10 g, and each pass uses a fraction of a gram.

Ready to try it? The PDRN Collagen Multi Balm has 2,000 ppm of salmon PDRN and comes with 60-day returns, opened or not. New to the ingredient? Start with what PDRN actually is.