Welcome to Editor’s Deep Dive, a series where your trusted Stylevana editor dives deep into the latest and greatest of skincare, makeup and beauty to offer you a bite-sized review. Our goal is to break down a formula for you and get you up to speed about everything you need to know about it, helping you decide whether it’s worth a spot in your routine or not. Whether you’ve got questions about the formula, the texture, the finish, we’ve got you covered.

Every time K-beauty label ANUA drops a new product, the beauty community notices and gets it trending all over the internet. The PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum first gained popularity within the local South Korean market, later blowing up with global audiences as more and more skincare enthusiasts got onto the hype. Buzzy ingredient PDRN paired with your iconic hydrator Hyaluronic Acid? Our job here today is to figure out if this serum’s all bark and no bite, or if the fans are truly onto something. Is it worth your money, time and attention? Let’s take a deep dive into it.

Formula: we love a product name that makes things easy and tells us exactly what’s in the product. This serum features Salmon-derived PDRN, an ingredient useful in skin health maintenance and reducing inflammation, in addition to 3% Hyaluronic Acid that draws moisture to the complexion and plumps it up. Combined with hydrolyzed Collagen, it’s meant to enhance skin texture and radiance to get you that effortless glass skin effect. The ingredients are delivered to the skin through an ultra-low molecular smart capsule technology that ensures with each application, you’re receiving 100% of the active ingredients.

Looking deeper into the ingredients list, you have Glutathione, Adenosine and Turmeric Root extract to boost skin glowiness, further supporting the intended dewy glass skin appearance.

Texture and finish: the first thing you’ll notice about this serum upon application is that it’s extremely watery - we’re talking dripping-down-your-arm watery. It means that it’s extremely lightweight and sinks into the skin in seconds, leaving behind zero stickiness or greasiness. However, anyone with a drier skin type may not find it hydrating enough and may want to layer it in between other hydrating products.

Once the serum has fully sunk in, the skin is noticeably softer and more hydrated but not at a glass-skin level of glow. Our assumption is that it takes time for the ingredients to fully work their magic, and would foster a dewy complexion over the long run.

Packaging: this serum is housed in a straightforward glass bottle that’s transparent so you can see the serum’s whimsical aqua color - it’d look great on any vanity. One thing to bear in mind is that because the packaging is transparent, you’ll want to keep the bottle out of the sun so that it doesn’t get damaged by sunlight and heat.

Other things to note: ANUA approves this serum for most skin types as it’s non-comedogenic, irritation-free and fragrance-free. It also soothes the skin when applied, and can be used during both the daytime and nighttime.

Editor’s POV: as someone with drier skin, I wouldn’t be able to use this serum just on its own during the colder months. That being said, I agree with its claims of being watery and lightweight, and feel that it’d be a good booster to layer under makeup to create a smooth, even base. I’ll definitely reach for this more often during the hotter months when I don’t need extremely rich hydration. It’s not difficult to see why so many fans get along with this formula, and I give it my stamp of approval if it sounds like something you’d be interested in.

ANUA - PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - ANUA

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