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I’ve dealt with acne for years, and getting my skin to a place where I finally understand what works for it took a lot of trial and error. I’ve done Fraxel, my esthetician's version of “skin rehab,” changed products more times than I can count, and eventually found a routine that my skin seems to like…for now.
So, asking me to introduce something new into that routine is a little like asking me to gamble with my face. Which is complicated when trying out products is quite literally part of my job.
As an editor, I’m constantly hearing about the next big ingredient we should all be putting on our skin. The beauty industry is so saturated that even when you work in it, it can be hard to figure out what is worth paying attention to. A few years back, we as a society collectively embraced snail mucin. In 2025, suddenly everyone started talking about salmon sperm.
I started to wonder how far the beauty experts were planning to take this, and really could not wrap my head around the concept. Then earlier this year, my team would not stop talking about Medik8 and its vegan alternative. The British skincare brand is known for science-backed formulas and has built a particularly devoted following around its Crystal Retinal serums. So when Medik8 launched Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ earlier this year, my team of trendy twenty-somethings were immediately intrigued.
I had finally found my skincare flow, and I wasn’t particularly interested in shaking it up for the ingredient of the moment. Eventually, they convinced me to try it, and I’ve been using it pretty consistently since the launch. But I purposely didn’t want to write about it right away. Skincare is one category where I don’t think a week or two tells you very much. I wanted to see what my skin looked like after months of using it before I told anyone else they should spend $96 on it. Now, I’m ready to spill.
Let’s Address the Salmon in the Room
First things first, there is no salmon sperm in this serum. Traditional PDRN is commonly associated with salmon-derived DNA, which is how the ingredient ended up with its slightly more attention-grabbing nickname. Medik8’s approach is completely vegan.
Its “Prismatic PDRN” is created using biotechnology and has a tetrahedral structure designed specifically for topical skincare. According to Medik8, that structure achieves twice the skin absorption and 60% deeper penetration compared to traditional PDRN. The formula also combines a Triple Exosome Complex, GF MiniProtein and other supporting ingredients designed around skin recovery, resilience, texture and luminosity. More simply put, all of the reasons people have become interested in PDRN, minus the fish.
For me, that made trying this particular product considerably more appealing.
A Little Glow Goes a Long Way
There was admittedly a transition period when I first started using this. The serum itself has a lightweight, silky texture that absorbs nicely and gives you an almost immediate glow. Medik8 describes it as water-light and oil-free, and it’s designed to layer underneath sunscreen and makeup. My skin, however, gets very oily during the summer.
When I first started testing it, I was using too much and occasionally crossing the very fine line between glowy and why does my forehead look wet? Eventually I realized the serum wasn’t the problem – I was. A little goes a surprisingly long way. Medik8 recommends applying one to two pumps after cleansing in the morning and evening, taking it across the face, neck and décolletage and allowing it to absorb before continuing with the rest of your routine.
Once I figured out the amount that worked for my skin, it became much easier to incorporate. I spread it all the way down my neck, let it settle in, and move on with the rest of my skincare. I still get the luminosity I liked when I first tried it, just without feeling like I’ve overloaded my skin.
And for someone who was already nervous about disrupting a routine that worked, the fact that it never caused irritation or triggered a breakout was important.
Playing the Long Game
After months of consistent use, my skin looks smoother and has a softness and luminosity that I notice even when I’m not wearing makeup. There’s also a plumpness to it that makes my skin look healthy, which I am obsessed with.
Medik8 has its own clinical data around the formula and reports visible improvements in luminosity, volume, tone, texture and vitality. The brand says its formula is designed to support the skin’s natural recovery processes rather than simply create a temporary surface-level effect.
Those claims are also why I waited to write this review. I wanted to know whether I would notice a difference months later. I do, and perhaps more importantly, I’m still reaching for it.
Beauty Gambling Paid Off
Trying a new lip gloss is low stakes. Changing the skincare routine you spent years figuring out after dealing with acne feels very different. Luckily, this gamble paid off without requiring me to completely rethink my routine. I figured out how much my skin needed, worked it into what I was already doing, and then gave it time.
At $96, I don’t consider it a casual skincare purchase. But Medik8 estimates around 80 uses per bottle, and once I learned that I truly only needed a small amount, the price made more sense to me. I’d rather have one serum in my routine that I consistently use than five buzzy products sitting half-finished in my bathroom.
Consider Me Converted
I started testing this serum because my team would not stop talking about it, but I kept using it because my skin looked good.
I’m still skeptical when the beauty industry collectively decides we all need to put a new ingredient on our faces. But every once in a while, the hype introduces you to something that earns a permanent place in the routine you were so reluctant to change in the first place. This was one of those times.
I came for the salmon-sperm curiosity, but stayed for the glow. And thankfully, no salmon were required.
