log 004_PDRN ppm, Explained: How Much Is Actually in Your Product?
Every PDRN product says it's in there. Almost none say how much. How ppm works, why the label won't tell you and the 3-step check.
- PDRN is measured in ppm: parts per million. 10,000 ppm = 1%.
- Most brands print the word PDRN and skip the number.
- The ingredient list can't tell you the dose either. The only fix: a printed number.
Every PDRN product tells you the ingredient is in there. Almost none tell you how much. That's not an accident, and once you know how the number works, you'll never read a label the same way.
ppm in 10 seconds
PDRN is used in tiny amounts, so it's measured in parts per million instead of percent.
| ppm | percent |
|---|---|
| 250 ppm | 0.025% |
| 1,000 ppm | 0.1% |
| 2,000 ppm | 0.2% |
| 10,000 ppm | 1% |
Small in percent, big in practice: 2,000 ppm is eight times 250 ppm.
Why most brands don't print it
PDRN is one of the most expensive raw materials in a typical formula. Printing the number invites comparison. Leaving it off lets "PDRN" do the selling on the front of the box, whatever the actual amount.
Two products can both say PDRN and contain wildly different amounts of it. Only the number tells you which is which.
Why the ingredient list won't save you
In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed in descending order. Everything at 1% or less can be listed in any order. Almost every PDRN product sits well under 1%, so where sodium DNA shows up in the list tells you very little about the dose.
The 3-step label check
- Find the number. Look for a ppm figure on the box, the product page or the brand's FAQ.
- Check the INCI name. Salmon PDRN shows up as Sodium DNA (or a related DNA name). Algae "PDRN" is a different ingredient. More in Salmon PDRN vs. plant PDRN.
- Ask for the paperwork. A brand that knows its dose can point to a composition sheet from the manufacturer. If the answer is vague, so is the dose.
Is more always better?
Skincare isn't dosed like medicine, and no single number makes a product good. What a printed number gives you is a fair comparison, and a brand that has nothing to hide.
Our number
The PDRN Collagen Multi Balm has 2,000 ppm of sodium DNA, which is 0.2% of the formula. The figure comes from the manufacturer's documented composition sheet, and the salmon origin is confirmed in writing by the raw-material supplier. It's printed on the box, because that's the whole point.
Know someone who still thinks PDRN is fish oil? Send them this.
