Body & beauty

Here’s everything you need to know about Sodium DNA

This unusual ingredient promises to rejuvenate your skin and reduce lines

When you think of must-have beauty ingredients, we are sure that DNA derived from salmon sperm isn’t the first to pop into your head. But you’re in for a treat. This beauty ingredient, otherwise known as sodium DNA, has been gaining a lot of attention recently for its regenerative properties and ability to reduce wrinkles.

We spoke to facial aesthetic specialist Dr Pamela Benito, to find out more. “The ingredient is extracted from the gonadic tissue of a male sturgeon, which is a long-lived late maturing fish, and then purified, depolymerised and neutralised with sodium hydroxide,” she says.

The end result, sodium DNA, acts to “stimulate cell repair activity, regenerate epithelial and granulation tissues and reduce inflammation, therefore accelerating wound healing.” This means that it would be a good ingredient to put on your skin if you’ve had an injury, or are wanting skin rejuvenation in fighting the skin’s ageing process. Indeed, the effects of the ingredient have been confirmed by several clinical tests, which showed sodium DNA fragments passing through the cell membranes. This proved that the action was internal to the skin cells rather then simply superficial.

From speaking to Dr Pamela, we learnt about the ingredient’s powerful anti-ageing properties when applied on the skin. It has the ability to strengthen the structure of the epidermis, as well as encourage cell turnover, and remove free radicals. It also has a way of bringing back a brightness and elasticity in the skin. Overall, it’s great at preventing and repairing wrinkles and damage provoked by ageing, ensuring that the skin has a smoother and more youthful look.

Among the ingredient’s positive attributes is the fact that it can be used without risk. As Dr Pamela tells us: “Phototoxicity showed that the DNA does not have cytotoxic effects. Various clinical tests have demonstrated the complete safety of use.” Pretty reassuring if you ask us, and unlike many other beauty ingredients on the market at the moment.

With a number of fab anti-ageing benefits and complete safety of use, it’s easy to see why Dr Pamela told us to expect to see more of the ingredient in products this year.

If you would like to try out salmon DNA’s skin benefits for yourself, then we recommend Shangpree’s Marine Jewel Illuminating Mask. It’s enriched with the ingredient, and can be purchased for £25 at lookfantastic.com.