PDRN is widely discussed in Korean skincare. Country of origin alone does not establish the quality of a serum. An important practical distinction is whether the product complies with EU requirements and has an identifiable Responsible Person where it is sold.
Why the "Korean versus Italian" comparison is poorly placed
South Korean research and cosmetic brands have contributed to the popularity of PDRN. Korean products officially distributed in Europe must comply with the same EU requirements as other cosmetics.
The problem is therefore not the origin. It's the channel.
The same Korean serum can reach you through two very different routes:
- through an official European distributor, with the documentation in order;
- through a parallel import on a marketplace, bought abroad and resold without anyone having fulfilled the European obligations.
In the first case you have the same protections as a European product. In the second, if something goes wrong, there is no one in Europe to turn to.
What does European legislation require
Every cosmetic sold in the European Union must comply with Regulation 1223/2009. In practice it means three concrete things.
A Responsible Person based in the EU
It is an identified person, with name and address printed on the package, who is legally responsible for the conformity and safety of the product. It's not a formality: he's the only interlocutor you have if there's a problem.
The notification to the European portal
Before being placed on the market, each product must be notified to a central database accessed by the authorities and poison control centers. An unnotified product cannot be legally sold in the European Union.
The product information file
A dossier that contains composition, safety assessment signed by a qualified professional and stability data, and which must be accessible to the authorities. A product imported in parallel often has none of this for that specific channel.
The differences in wording that really exist
Beyond the bureaucracy, there are a couple of real technical differences.
The lists of permitted ingredients do not coincide. The European Union prohibits or limits substances that are permitted elsewhere, and the concentration limits of some preservatives and filters are different. A formula designed for the Asian market does not automatically conform to the European one: it must be assessed against EU requirements; reformulation is necessary only if its composition does not comply.
Fragrances and allergens must be declared according to European criteria. If you have reactive skin this matters more than it seems: reading the INCI in the European format allows you to immediately recognize the substances that give you problems. If you are not familiar, we have explained how to read the INCI of a cosmetic starting from scratch.
On the declared concentration
Some brands declare the concentration of PDRN in ppm. It is useful information, but on its own it says less than it seems: the number is not comparable between different products if you do not know which raw material the PDRN comes from, with what degree of purity and in which vehicle it is dispersed. Two serums with the same declared value may behave differently on the skin.
Which does not mean ignoring the data: it means not using it as the only criterion. The rest of the formula and the way in which the product is stored are equally important — topics that we addressed when talking about what is PDRN and why it works on the skin.
How to check a product before buying it
Five checks you can do in one minute, whatever the origin of the serum.
- Look for the name and address of the Responsible Person on the packaging or box. If there is a European address, someone is responsible for that product.
- Check the declared INCI, with ingredients above 1% in descending order and fragrance allergens declared as required. Ingredients at 1% or below may follow in any order.
- Check the PAO symbol, the open jar with the number of months: it tells you how long it should be consumed after opening.
- Look at who is selling. An authorized retailer or the brand's official website give guarantees that a third-party seller on a generalist marketplace does not.
- Question unsupported precise promises. Timed results require suitable evidence for the finished product, and claims must not imply that a cosmetic replaces medical injections.
The origin of the PDRN in the formula
An aspect that is often overlooked: PDRN is obtained by extraction from different sources, and the source changes both the profile of the ingredient and its compatibility with food or ethical choices. We wrote about it in full in PDRN from salmon or vegetable: what's the difference.
It's worth reading it before choosing, because it's information that almost no one highlights on the label and which instead is decisive for many people.
In summary
The right question is not "Korean or Italian". It is: was this product legally placed on the European market, and is anyone responsible for it?
If the answer is yes, evaluate the formula, texture and price as you would with any other cosmetic. If the answer is no, the savings you are making have a cost that you don't see until you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Korean PDRN of lower quality than the European one?
No. Country of origin alone does not determine quality. Korean brands officially distributed in Europe must comply with the same rules as other cosmetics. Check the specific formula and sales channel.
How do I know if a product is notified in Europe?
The notification cannot be consulted publicly by the consumer, but there is a reliable clue: the presence of the name and address of the European Responsible Person on the package. A product without that indication is not intended for the European market.
Is buying from a marketplace always risky?
No, it depends on who the seller is. If the seller is the brand itself or an authorized distributor, you're covered. If it is a third-party retailer importing from abroad, European protections may not apply to that specific goods.
Is a more expensive serum necessarily better?
No, and price alone is not an indicator of effectiveness. Compliance with European obligations also affects how much a product costs, which has a real cost for those who put it on the market but it is not visible in the bottle.
In ELAXO formulas
The N°1 PDRN Face Serum and the N°2 PDRN Face Cream are formulated and produced in Italy and notified to the European CPNP portal. The Responsible Person is ELAXO S.R.L.S., based in Sassari, and they are sold directly on this site. PDRN, of marine origin, appears in INCI as Sodium DNA. Together they form the Ritual.
To read later
- What is PDRN and why does it work on the skin
- PDRN from salmon or vegetable: what's the difference
- Best PDRN serum: how to choose it
Do you want to understand how to choose a PDRN serum without being guided by marketing? Read the free guide.
