Korean beauty products are no longer a niche import tucked behind the counter at specialty shops. U.S. K-beauty sales reached $2.8 billion in early 2026, a roughly 48% jump from a year earlier, according to NielsenIQ. That is faster than the nearly 45% growth rate seen in the prior-year period, an unusual acceleration that has pushed sheet masks, essences and pimple patches onto shelves at mainstream American retailers.

The story of how Korean beauty routines and ingredients moved from Seoul to suburban drugstores has been chronicled by outlets including CNBC and the BBC, and it centers on a real shift in what U.S. shoppers want their skin care to do.

How K-beauty went mainstream in the U.S.

The pandemic changed the trajectory. With people stuck at home and scrolling, elaborate multi-step Korean routines suddenly had an audience willing to try them.

“People were home. They had time to kind of learn about a 10-step skin care routine. They learned about what specific ingredients did, how to layer products together. We saw the rise of this ‘glass skin’ look, and this real emphasis on healthy and glowing skin that looks great every day versus the need to kind of cover it up with cosmetics,” Anna Mayo, a NielsenIQ beauty thought leader, said on CNBC.

The numbers back up the cultural shift. The NielsenIQ figure of $2.8 billion in U.S. sales for early 2026 represents growth outpacing last year’s already-hot pace, which Mayo described as an unusual acceleration.

Why K-beauty matters to shoppers now

For many buyers, the appeal is less about branding and more about what is actually in the bottle. Ingredients, sourcing and function have become the vocabulary of the aisle.

“We’re not just buying from the big brands now. We’re actually talking about ingredients, where it’s sourced, what it does,” beauty influencer Mia Chen told the BBC. “A lot of Korean skincare derives from natural ingredients, and we all want that on our skin without side effects.”

Suranjana Tewari, writing for the BBC, notes that at the heart of K-beauty’s rise is a relentless pace of innovation, with new formulations appearing every few months and often designed to spark the next online obsession. Ten-step routines, overnight water sleeping masks and headline-grabbing ingredients such as salmon sperm were once considered niche or unappealing. Today, many are staples in bathroom cabinets around the world. Products launched in Seoul now surface on TikTok and Instagram feeds in the U.S., U.K., India and Australia almost instantly.

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Popular K-beauty products to know

If you are new to the category, the product names can read like a foreign language. Here is a starter map of what is filling those newly expanded shelves.

• Cleansing oils and cleansing balms
• Water-based cleansers
• Toners
• Essences
• Serums
• Ampoules
• Toner pads
• Sheet masks
• Wash-off masks
• Overnight and sleeping masks
• Eye patches
• Pimple patches

Many routines pair several of these in sequence, which is where the “10-step” reputation comes from. Shoppers chasing the “glass skin” finish Mayo described tend to layer lighter, water-based formulas under richer creams, with masks and patches used as needed.

Shopping

Why Estheticians Trust PCA Skin for Healthier, More Radiant-Looking Skin

Sponsored content. Woman’s World receives compensation for this article as well as for purchases made when you click on a link and buy something below. When it comes to skincare, many women are looking for formulas backed by science, trusted by professionals and designed to support healthy, beautiful skin at every age. That’s where PCA […]

What K-beauty’s rise means for U.S. beauty aisles

The mainstreaming has practical consequences at the store level. Products that once required a trip to a specialty retailer or an international order are now sold alongside familiar American brands, and retailers are giving Korean labels more prominent placement as sales climb.

For U.S. shoppers, that means more choice, more ingredient transparency and more ways to test the routines going viral online without leaving town. Whether the 48% growth pace holds is the next question, but for now K-beauty has moved from trend to fixture.

If you’ve ever stood in the supplement aisle wondering whether the collagen powder in your cart is doing anything — or whether you should be taking something entirely different at your age — this is the walkthrough no one hands you at the checkout. What your skin, hair and nails need at 25 is not what they need at 35, and by 45 the ground has shifted again.

The segments ahead move through what changes decade by decade, why collagen sits at the center of the conversation, where hair loss fits in and what the dermatologists actually recommend you focus on first.

Collagen is the scaffolding, and that frames everything else

Before the age brackets make sense, the biology has to. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, tells GOOP: “Collagen gives our skin its strength, its firmness, its resilience. It’s kind of like scaffolding for the skin, holding everything else in place.”

That scaffolding is what you’re trying to preserve, rebuild or supplement at every age — but the strategy shifts depending on how much of it your body is still making on its own. And here’s the catch that reframes a lot of supplement marketing: Farah Moustafa, MD, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and a dermatologist with Tufts Medical Center, tells Science Daily that “collagen needs to be broken down to be absorbed, so consuming it does not actually provide collagen to the parts of the body that might need it.”

Which means the real question at every age isn’t just “what do I swallow” — it’s what you’re feeding your body so it can build collagen itself.

Your 20s are about protecting what your body still makes on its own

In your 20s, collagen production is generally still strong. The common concerns at this stage tend to be acne, post-acne marks, oiliness and maintaining healthy hair and nails — not the elasticity issues that come later.

That means supplements aren’t the main lever yet. Moustafa points to a food-first foundation: “A healthy dietary pattern provides your body with the nutrients necessary to build its own collagen. Be sure to get adequate protein and include foods rich in vitamin C like strawberries, kiwis, red bell peppers and citrus fruits.”

The habits she flags matter just as much as anything in a bottle: “Using sunscreen to protect against UV damage, regular use of a topical retinol/retinoid, and avoiding smoking can all help preserve collagen and prevent its breakdown.” The 20s payoff is preventive — you’re not fixing loss, you’re slowing its start.

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Why Estheticians Trust PCA Skin for Healthier, More Radiant-Looking Skin

Sponsored content. Woman’s World receives compensation for this article as well as for purchases made when you click on a link and buy something below. When it comes to skincare, many women are looking for formulas backed by science, trusted by professionals and designed to support healthy, beautiful skin at every age. That’s where PCA […]

Your 30s are when the decline starts showing up in the mirror

Natural collagen production declines with age, and the 30s are usually when that shift becomes visible. Fine lines, changes in elasticity and dryness may become more noticeable — not dramatically, but enough that the routine you built in your 20s may stop feeling like enough.

This is where antioxidants earn their place. Henry says: “Antioxidants are great because they help to reduce the breakdown of collagen,” pointing to vitamin C in particular because it also helps encourage collagen production. That dual role — protecting existing collagen while supporting new synthesis — makes it one of the most defensible additions in this decade.

The food-first framing from your 20s still applies. What changes is that the body is no longer overproducing collagen faster than it loses it, so the daily inputs matter more.

Hair loss deserves its own conversation, and iron is often the missing piece

Hair concerns aren’t tied to a single decade, but they get overlooked in supplement conversations that focus on skin. Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, tells Cleveland Clinic: “Red blood cells use iron to carry oxygen. But iron is also important for hair growth and health. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which can cause hair loss and other detrimental health effects.”

Her recommendation is specific and practical: “If you’re vegan, vegetarian or eat red meat fewer than two or three times a week, consider an iron supplement.” If you’re already thinking about hair supplements — biotin, collagen, keratin blends — iron is worth ruling in or out first, because no topical or oral hair supplement compensates for a deficiency underneath it.

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Your 40s are when hormones rewrite the rules

The 40s bring a shift the earlier decades don’t prepare you for. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, within the first five years of menopause, women lose about 30 percent of the collagen in their skin.

Hormonal changes affect skin and hair, especially around perimenopause. Dryness, changes in skin texture and hair thinning may become more common — and the food-first strategy that carried the earlier decades may not keep up with that pace of loss on its own.

Sarah Jividen, RN, with Verywell Health, lays out the trade-off: “Collagen production declines with age, contributing to changes in skin elasticity, joint comfort, and bone structure. Although collagen is not a vitamin, some women over 40 use collagen supplements to support skin and joint health. Collagen synthesis depends on adequate vitamin C intake, so be sure to also get enough vitamin C when using collagen supplements.”

Note the pairing: collagen and vitamin C together, not either one alone. That echoes what Henry and Moustafa said earlier — the body needs the raw materials and the co-factors to actually build anything.

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The Best Skin Supplements for Women Over 50: Reduce Age Spots and Dryness

We’ve tried all the creams, potions and elixirs that promise healthier, more glowing skin. But at the same time, we also know that skin health is more than, well, skin deep. That begs the question, can certain supplements boost elasticity and ward off wrinkles from the inside out? Keep reading as a top dermatologist busts […]

The through-line is that inputs matter more than the label on the bottle

Read the decades together and a pattern shows up. In your 20s, you’re protecting production that’s still running strong. In your 30s, you’re supporting a system that’s starting to slow. In your 40s, especially around perimenopause, you’re supplementing against a steeper drop.

But the underlying advice barely changes: enough protein, enough vitamin C, sun protection, retinoids, no smoking and iron if your diet doesn’t cover it. Supplements can help — collagen powders have their place, particularly later — but they work with the food and habits underneath, not instead of them. If you’re going to add something at any age, the most defensible move is to fix the foundation first and let the bottle be the last thing you reach for, not the first.

The beauty supplement aisle keeps expanding, and every bottle promises glowing skin. What actually separates a useful pick from a wasted one is matching the pill or powder to what your skin needs. Collagen, biotin and probiotics each target different concerns, and the evidence behind them varies.

Getting the match right saves money and, in some cases, helps you spot a symptom that belongs in front of a clinician instead of a checkout counter.

How to match a beauty supplement to your skin concern

Start with the concern, not the product. Dryness, dehydration or fine lines point one direction. Red, scaly or unusually dry patches that could reflect a deficiency point another. Eczema or atopic dermatitis points somewhere else again. Naming the concern first narrows the options quickly.

What collagen does for skin

Lindsay Boyers, CHNC, writing for GoodRx, explains that the body makes less collagen with age, which contributes to fine lines, dryness and weaker hair and nails.

“As we get older, our bodies make less collagen, which can lead to fine lines, dryness, and weaker hair and nails,” Boyers writes. She adds that hydrolyzed collagen peptides may modestly improve skin hydration and elasticity after several months of use, particularly when paired with vitamin C, which the body also uses to make collagen. Evidence for hair and nail benefits, she notes, is less consistent, and many studies are funded by supplement manufacturers.

T’Keyah Bazin, PharmD, writing for Verywell Health, reaches a similar conclusion. Bazin writes that collagen peptide supplementation may improve skin hydration, elasticity and the appearance of fine lines, particularly in older adults whose natural collagen production has declined. She describes collagen as reinforcing the structural protein layer beneath the skin’s surface.

Where biotin fits in

Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin found in foods like eggs, fish, nuts, seeds and sweet potatoes. Emmanuella Ogbonna, a licensed pharmacist, health writer and medical researcher, told Health that the overall evidence supporting biotin use for the skin is limited, but studies show biotin improves skin appearance, especially in cases of biotin deficiency, which can cause scaly, red and dry skin.

Bazin frames biotin and collagen as complementary. Having sufficient biotin levels supports overall metabolic health, which contributes to skin function, she writes, and biotin helps maintain the metabolic processes that keep skin cells healthy. Used together, according to Bazin, collagen and biotin may offer a more well-rounded approach to skin health.

Why probiotics are drawing attention for skin

The newer research is happening at the gut-skin border. According to Medical News Today, a recent scoping review of more than 500 studies mapped the available research on how oral probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics affect skin outcomes. The review, published in Nutrition Reviews, points to a possible benefit for some skin outcomes and flags critical areas for future research.

For readers dealing with eczema or atopic dermatitis, certain probiotic strains may have potential, though the science is still developing.

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The Best Skin Supplements for Women Over 50: Reduce Age Spots and Dryness

We’ve tried all the creams, potions and elixirs that promise healthier, more glowing skin. But at the same time, we also know that skin health is more than, well, skin deep. That begs the question, can certain supplements boost elasticity and ward off wrinkles from the inside out? Keep reading as a top dermatologist busts […]

What to do before buying

Match the supplement to the concern. Fine lines and dryness point toward collagen, ideally paired with vitamin C and taken consistently for several months before judging results. Scaly, red or unusually dry skin may signal a biotin question worth discussing with a clinician before adding a supplement. Eczema flares may be worth a probiotics conversation with a dermatologist, since strain selection matters.

Supplement labels sell certainty. The research offers something more useful, which is a narrower set of situations where each option is most likely to help.

Hydrogel face masks are everywhere on TikTok, promising dewy skin and a spa-like glow in 20 minutes. The question shoppers keep asking is whether the viral hydrogel treatment actually delivers, especially for people whose skin flares at the slightest change in routine.

A new 2026 study put a hydrogel mask through six weeks of testing on sensitive and allergy-prone volunteers, giving skincare fans some of the first real data behind the trend.

How the hydrogel mask works on skin

A hydrogel mask is built from a water-rich polymer network that molds tightly to the face. That flexible sheet creates a temporary moist, partially sealed environment, which researchers say can influence hydration and the skin’s local water balance.

The formulation tested was made with three well-established hydrophilic polymers (PVP, PEG-400 and agar) combined with hyaluronic acid, ectoine, allantoin and tocopherol. The researchers built the sheet using radiation-induced crosslinking, a process originally developed for medical wound dressings that also sterilizes the material without added chemical agents.

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What the study actually tested

The research had two parts. First, a patch test on 30 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 75, including people with self-reported sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Patches were worn on the upper back for 48 hours under occlusive conditions, and a dermatologist checked for irritation immediately after removal, at 24 hours and at 72 hours.

The second part was a longer trial. Fifteen participants, 12 women and three men aged 33 to 55, applied the mask to clean facial skin three times a week for six weeks, leaving it on for 20 minutes each session. Researchers tracked hydration and transepidermal water loss across the trial. They also measured mechanical properties, sebum, skin color and pH.

Why sensitive skin makes this study matter

Sensitive skin affects an estimated 40% to 60% of people and is often tied to increased water loss and a weaker barrier. Formulations that hydrate without triggering redness or irritation are hard to come by, which is why the tolerability results here caught attention.

No participants showed signs of irritation or sensitization in the patch test, even those with allergy-prone skin. After six weeks of regular use, hydration and firmness improved, while barrier-related measurements, sebum, skin color and pH stayed stable.

What the results mean for the viral trend

The authors are careful about overselling. The long-term arm included only 15 people and had no placebo group, and a short-term pilot involved just two volunteers.

“Further studies involving larger cohorts and controlled clinical designs are warranted to confirm these findings,” the study says.

Still, for the millions of people scrolling past hydrogel mask videos and wondering whether to try one, the early data suggests the format can be well tolerated by reactive skin while nudging hydration and firmness in the right direction. That is a meaningful signal for a category built more on aesthetics than evidence.

Skin barrier trouble can show up in ways that are easy to dismiss, from persistent tightness and redness to breakouts, flaking, or sudden sensitivity to products you normally tolerate. One possible piece of the puzzle is your skin microbiome—the community of microorganisms that lives on your skin and helps support its natural defenses. When that delicate balance is disrupted, your skin may behave differently than it normally does. Here is a plain-language guide to the warning signs of an imbalanced skin microbiome, what tends to cause those changes and how what you eat may play a role.

What are the warning signs of a damaged skin microbiome?

The most common signals show up as persistent surface changes that will not settle even when you baby your face. If several of these overlap, your barrier is likely asking for help.

Watch for these signs.

• persistent dryness and tightness even when you are moisturizing
• increased sensitivity
• frequent breakouts
• redness or irritation
• flaking or rough texture
• itchiness
• oiliness and dryness at the same time
• slow recovery from irritation, meaning redness or sensitivity that lingers

The makeup of your microbiome is not the same everywhere on your body. Keri Wiginton with WebMD writes, “The makeup of your skin microbiome varies throughout your body. Some microorganisms thrive in moist areas, like your elbow creases or feet. Others like dry or oily spots.” Wiginton adds that genes, diet, smoking, environment, air pollution and UV exposure also shape it.

What causes skin microbiome damage in the first place?

Product habits are usually the biggest culprits, but stress and the weather outside your window matter too. Scaling back is often the fastest way to see redness and flaking calm down.

Common triggers include the following.

• over-cleansing or washing too frequently
• using harsh soaps or cleansers
• over-exfoliating with acids or scrubs
• frequently switching between lots of active ingredients
• stress
• environmental factors like pollution and extreme weather
• certain medications or treatments

Emily Rose with USA Today writes, “Harsh cleansers and over-stripping products can also weaken the skin microbiome by removing beneficial bacteria, accelerating dryness and visible aging. And as we age, the skin naturally loses hydration and structural support. On the skin, disruption often looks like dryness, redness, changes in texture, or more frequent blemishes.”

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How does diet affect skin microbiome health?

What you eat can either fuel inflammation or feed the bacteria that keep your skin calm. Extra virgin olive oil, beans and berries top the list of foods that support your microbiome from the inside.

Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at Zoe, told The Times, “Certain foods can increase inflammation throughout the body. Extra virgin olive oil contains healthy fats to help maintain skin tone and antioxidants to reduce inflammation. Beans and berries are rich in fibre to feed your gut bacteria and contain antioxidant polyphenols to protect your skin.”

Pairing gentler skincare with a diet heavy in fiber, healthy fats and colorful plants gives your barrier the best shot at recovering and staying resilient long term.

The gap between what the SPF number on your sunscreen bottle promises and what your skin is actually getting has become one of the most consequential blind spots in personal health. Researchers now say most people apply less than half the sunscreen needed to hit the protection level on the label — and with melanoma deaths projected to keep climbing, the pressure on consumers, dermatologists and product makers to close that gap is only building.

Why you probably aren’t using enough sunscreen

Dermatologists and researchers are converging on a straightforward finding: people apply far too little sunscreen to get the protection printed on the bottle. Lab SPF ratings are calculated at 2 mg of product per square centimeter of skin. In real life, people apply closer to 0.75 mg per square centimeter — less than 40% of the recommended thickness.

That thin layer cuts sunscreen’s effectiveness by roughly 40%, according to research led by Antony Young at University College London. Young’s team calculated that an average woman, with about 1.7 square meters of skin, needs roughly 33 grams — about 1.1 fluid ounces — for full-body coverage. Three applications in a day works out to around 100 grams, or 3.4 fluid ounces.

The Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen Debate: What Dermatologists Say You Need to Know

“People should be applying two to five times more sunscreen than they typically apply on average,” Apple Bodemer, dermatologist and assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told WPR.

Why it’s happening

Three forces are driving the shortfall — and the growing alarm around it.

The SPF number misleads by design. SPF ratings measure protection against UVB radiation, the wavelengths (280–320 nanometers) that cause burns. They don’t measure protection against UVA (320–400 nanometers), which penetrates deeper and drives tanning, premature aging and cancer risk. “When we look at sunscreen, we look at that SPF number; it really is an indication of how safe you’re going to be from getting the actual burn. But it doesn’t really do a good job of telling us how well you’re getting protected from that UVA spectrum,” Bodemer told WPR. SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays — but only if applied at the tested thickness.

Everyday exposure is underestimated. Windows, car commutes and reflective surfaces like water, sand and snow all deliver UV doses people rarely account for. “People underestimate how much sun exposure they get when they’re in the car. Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, there’s a good chance you’re in direct sunlight,” Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of Ethnic Skin Care at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology, told Prevention.

Reapplication habits lag reality. Water-resistant formulas still need reapplying every two hours, and every time a towel wipes water — and sunscreen — off the skin.

“People should be applying two to five times more sunscreen than they typically apply on average.”
— Apple Bodemer, dermatologist and assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

What could be next

Expect the sunscreen conversation to shift decisively over the next 12 to 24 months — away from choosing an SPF number and toward how much product actually lands on skin. Three scenarios are most plausible.

Higher SPF becomes the default recommendation, not the premium option. Young’s research found that even at real-world application rates of 7.5 mg per square centimeter, SPF 50 and higher still delivered “considerable DNA protection” versus untreated skin. That’s the practical case for treating SPF 50-plus as a floor, not a ceiling. Reader action: When you replace your current bottle, move up to broad-spectrum SPF 50 or higher. Treat SPF 30 as the minimum only if you’re certain you’re applying the full 33-gram, full-body dose.

The Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen Debate: What Dermatologists Say You Need to Know

Product form factors will split by use case. Ivy Lee, a board-certified dermatologist in Pasadena, California, told HowStuffWorks that creams and lotions should be the base layer — applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and worked in like a massage — while sprays and powders are best reserved for fast reapplication on the go. Reader action: Build a two-product routine. Keep a lotion at home for the morning base coat and stash a spray or powder in your bag, car or desk for the two-hour reapply.

Melanoma mortality data will keep pushing behavior change. More than 8,510 Americans are projected to die from melanoma in 2026, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States, and while it’s less prevalent in people of color, UV exposure still causes premature aging and age spots across all skin tones — daily sunscreen use slows both, Lee said. Reader action: Set a phone reminder for a lunchtime reapply if two-hour cycles feel unrealistic. Reapply after any towel-drying, and don’t skip commute days, window-seat workdays or overcast afternoons.

The takeaway is simple and it hasn’t changed with the new research — it’s just been sharpened. Apply more than you think you need. Reapply more often than you want to. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, and lean toward 50-plus if you can.

THREE SIGNALS TO WATCH
1. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s 2026 melanoma mortality figures, benchmarked against the 8,510 projection.
2. Whether major sunscreen brands begin printing application-weight guidance (grams or ounces per full-body coat) alongside SPF numbers on labels.
3. New peer-reviewed follow-ups to Antony Young’s University College London research testing real-world application rates against SPF 50-plus formulas.

Search interest in one aesthetic treatment has jumped 1,566%, and PDRN Skincare is the driving force behind the boom. According to a report from Two Face Aesthetics, polynucleotides have become one of the fastest growing cosmetic categories of the past five years, fueled by South Korea’s pursuit of dewy, poreless “glass skin.”

Unlike most viral beauty crazes, this one arrives with a stack of research. Dermatologists interviewed by Cosmopolitan, Byrdie and Women’s Health say the ingredient has quietly been studied for decades.

“PDRN has real staying power because there are decades of science-based research that is supported by medical use, which gives it credibility,” Melda Isaac, MD, a dermatologist, told Cosmopolitan.

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What PDRN actually is

The acronym stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, and the source is unusual. Roberta Del Campo, MD, board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer at Skin Laundry, told Byrdie that PDRN is “essentially purified DNA fragments extracted from salmon sperm.” She explained that “these polynucleotides are biocompatible with human DNA, meaning our skin cells recognize and respond to them as if they were our own repair signals.”

The compound can also be derived from certain trout, though salmon is the most common source in skincare. The extracted material is filtered to remove impurities and sterilized before it ever touches your face.

“Studies indicate that salmon sperm are the most suitable source for the extraction of highly purified DNA without the risk of impurities due to their low levels of proteins, peptides, and other contaminants compared to other DNA sources,” Isaac told Cosmopolitan.

How PDRN skincare works on your skin

Once applied, PDRN activates adenosine A2A receptors in the skin, kicking off a cascade of regenerative processes. Del Campo laid out the effects for Byrdie.

“It stimulates fibroblasts to produce more collagen and elastin, improves microcirculation to deliver nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, accelerates tissue repair and wound healing (making it ideal post-laser or post-procedure), reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and enhances the skin’s moisture retention by strengthening the barrier,” she said.

In plainer language, that translates to plumper, more hydrated and faster-healing skin.

Why the science behind PDRN holds up

PDRN has been studied since the 1990s, primarily for its role in wound healing and tissue repair through injection or topical application on injured skin.

“Its regenerative properties support cellular renewal and stimulate fibroblasts to increase collagen production, helping skin recover more efficiently after stress or injury,” Anetta Reszko, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, told Women’s Health.

Collagen production is central to a youthful complexion because it provides the structural scaffolding that gives skin firmness and elasticity. Over time, injected PDRN is thought to “improve tone, firmness, and overall skin quality, particularly in skin that appears depleted or slow to repair,” Reszko told Women’s Health.

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Who should avoid PDRN skincare

There is really only one group that needs to sit this trend out. “[Those with] fish allergies. People with seafood sensitivities should patch test or avoid,” Marnie Nussbaum, MD, FAAD, founder of Marnie Nussbaum Dermatology and Aesthetics, told Byrdie.

Otherwise, Del Campo told Byrdie that PDRN is generally well tolerated across all skin types.

How to use PDRN skincare at home

The ingredient works best in leave-on formulas like serums and creams. Serums tend to be the smartest entry point because their smaller molecule sizes penetrate more deeply, giving the polynucleotides a better shot at reaching the layers of skin where collagen production happens.

Look for products focused on hydration, rejuvenation and post-procedure healing. Korean skincare brands were early to build formulas around PDRN, so K-beauty shelves are a natural starting point for anyone curious about what all the search-traffic fuss is about.

The mineral sunscreen vs chemical sunscreen debate has intensified as the FDA proposes reclassifying several common chemical filters. Here’s what dermatologists and skincare experts say about which one belongs in your routine, and why the answer isn’t just about skin type.

What is the difference between mineral sunscreen and chemical sunscreen?

Mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin and physically blocks UV rays, while chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin and converts UV rays into heat. The two categories rely on entirely different active ingredients.

“Mineral sunscreens use UV filters that sit on top of the skin, effectively blocking rays from penetrating the skin’s surface. The most common mineral filters are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide,” Dr. Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, told Byrdie.

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Chemical formulas work through absorption. “Chemical SPFs use approved UV filters that transform UV rays when absorbed into the skin into heat. Some of the most common chemical UV filters include oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate,” Hartman said. Other common chemical filters include octisalate, octocrylene and homosalate.

Is mineral sunscreen safer than chemical sunscreen?

The current safety evidence favors mineral sunscreen because its active ingredients don’t penetrate the skin the way chemical filters do. That distinction is driving more dermatologists to recommend mineral formulas as the default.

“Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide… are physical blockers that don’t penetrate the skin. Chemical sunscreen filters have been shown to absorb into the bloodstream at measurable levels. While we don’t yet have definitive evidence of clinical harm, I’d rather not take that chance when excellent mineral alternatives exist,” Dr. Joel Spitz, co-founder of the telehealth dermatology company Honeydew and former director of dermatology services at the US Open, told the Los Angeles Times.

The FDA has proposed reclassifying chemical filters including oxybenzone and octinoxate as “not generally recognised as safe and effective,” prompting a wave of reformulations across the industry.

Who should use mineral sunscreen instead of chemical sunscreen?

Mineral sunscreen is generally the best choice for sensitive skin, acne-prone skin and children, while chemical sunscreen tends to be lighter and easier to wear daily for people who tolerate it well. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends mineral formulas for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

“The American Academy of Dermatology has a particularly strong recommendation for physical blockers for kids. That’s where I’d start,” Spitz told the Los Angeles Times.

Each type carries trade-offs. Mineral formulations are typically thicker and can leave a white cast on deeper skin tones. Chemical formulas usually feel lighter and blend more invisibly, but the active ingredients can irritate people with sensitive or acne-prone skin.

What SPF do dermatologists recommend for daily use?

Dermatologists recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for daily use, whether you choose a mineral or chemical formula.

“It’s recommended to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which means that it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Typically, we do want to reapply the sunscreen often, so that tends to make a difference as to how effective it is. We want to look for an SPF that’s about SPF 30 or higher. Given that the percentage of protection at SPF 30 is around 97%, we see some minimal increases as the SPF goes up by 1% to 2% more. But the biggest jump between protection is from 0 to 30 in the SPF range,” Shannon Cook, a clinical assistant professor at the Purdue University School of Nursing, told Campus Insights Media.

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How often should you reapply sunscreen?

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and more often when swimming or sweating. That applies to both mineral and chemical formulas.

“Ideally, you would want to reapply sunscreen every two hours. However, you may need to do it more often than that, depending on what activities you’re taking part in. If you’re swimming, if you’re sweating profusely, all of those things matter and may mean that you need to reapply more frequently,” Cook said.

Cook also emphasized year-round use. Up to 80% of the sun’s harmful rays reach the skin on cloudy days, and UVA and UVB rays penetrate even during winter months, she told Campus Insights Media.

The video Should you wear sunscreen every day? featuring Purdue University clinical assistant professor Shannon Cook was first published on Campus Insights Media.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and more than 8,510 Americans are projected to die from melanoma in 2026, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. The SPF number on your sunscreen bottle is one of the few everyday tools you have to lower that risk. But it is more complicated than the label suggests, and doubling the number does not double your protection.

Here is what dermatologists say the sun protection factor actually measures, how UV rays damage skin and whether pricier SPF 100 bottles are worth the upgrade over SPF 30.

The Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen Debate: What Dermatologists Say You Need to Know

How UV rays actually damage your skin

Sunlight is made up of photons. The visible colors are relatively harmless, but ultraviolet photons carry enough energy to trigger chemical reactions in skin cells with real biological consequences.

There are two categories to know. UVA rays, with wavelengths of 320 to 400 nanometers, penetrate deeper into the skin and cause tanning more than burning. UVB rays sit at 280 to 320 nanometers and are the main cause of sunburn. Natural sunlight contains a mix of both.

Tanning beds emit UVA only, which is part of why they are so dangerous. Without UVB to cause a visible burn, the skin never signals the brain that it is time to stop.

What the SPF number actually measures

SPF stands for sun protection factor, and it tells you how well a sunscreen guards against UVB rays, the type most responsible for sunburn. It is a ratio comparing the amount of UV radiation that would burn protected skin to the amount that would burn unprotected skin, according to Dr. Adewole Adamson, a dermatologist and internal medicine professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

A higher SPF blocks more UVB rays, but not in a linear way. SPF 25 blocks about 96% of UV radiation. SPF 50 blocks 98%.

SPF does not measure UVA protection at all. For coverage against both, look for a “broad spectrum” label. And the word “sunblock” is not on modern bottles for a reason. The FDA banned the term in 2011 because no sunscreen can block 100% of UVB rays.

What SPF 15, 30, 50 and 100 each block

Dr. Marisa Garshick, a New York dermatologist and clinical dermatology professor at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine, broke down the numbers this way.

• SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation
• SPF 30 blocks 97%
• SPF 50 blocks 98%
• SPF 100 blocks 99%

The jumps get smaller as the numbers climb. Going from SPF 30 to SPF 100 adds only two percentage points of blocking power on paper.

Does higher SPF actually help

Yes, with a big caveat. The real value of a higher number is not the extra percentage point or two on the label. It is the margin for human error.

Most people apply far less sunscreen than the recommended amount, which cuts real-world protection well below what the bottle promises.

“We want to have the number be high enough that even if you’re using less than the recommended amount, you’re still going to have significant protection,” Dr. Heather Rogers, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Modern Dermatology in Seattle, told The Guardian.

Apply SPF 30 too lightly, and you may only be getting coverage equivalent to SPF 15.

“Lower SPF sunscreens may feel lighter or be easier to wear, but they provide less protection. The higher the number, the more margin of error you may have if you under apply,” Adamson said.

The Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen Debate: What Dermatologists Say You Need to Know

The flip side is a false sense of security. SPF 100 costs more and only edges out SPF 50 by roughly one percentage point of UVB blocking.

“Someone wearing SPF 100 may think they can stay in the sun significantly longer without reapplying, which is not the case,” Garshick said.

The bottom line on SPF

Use at least SPF 30 and treat higher numbers as a buffer for under-application, not a license to stay out longer. Always choose a broad spectrum formula so you are covered against UVA as well as UVB. Apply generously, because most people do not. And reapply every two hours at minimum, or immediately after swimming or heavy sweating.

No SPF number can save you from skipping reapplication.

Body skincare is no longer the afterthought of a bathroom routine. Body serum has landed on every dermatologist’s radar, shoppers are extending the multi-step regimens they once reserved for their faces, and the category now spans prestige formulas and Dollar Tree finds sitting on the same shelf in 2026.

In a recent piece for Vogue, Conçetta Ciarlo cited double board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp on why the shift is happening. “As people become more comfortable with their facial skin-care routines, it’s common for them to explore how they can best take care of their body’s skin. The popularity of skin-care products targeted to the body speaks to this recent increased interest,” Camp said.

How body serum works

Body serums look and feel different from the heavy creams most people grew up with. Texas-based dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Gordon told Byrdie that “serums are usually water-based, lightweight moisturizers designed to hydrate and often deliver ingredients like hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, or peptides to the skin.”

That lighter formulation is the point. Active ingredients like retinol, lactic acid and niacinamide absorb faster, target specific concerns and layer well under lotions or oils.

The body serums beauty editors keep recommending

Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum is the formula beauty writers cite most often for bumpy skin. Writing for Allure, Deanna Pai and Annie Blackman explain that it “uses the smoothing and toning properties of retinol alongside a star-studded lineup of squalane, urea, and lactic and glycolic acids to alleviate a plethora of skin concerns, such as rough patches, bumps (shout out keratosis pilaris or KP), and dryness.”

For pure hydration, Ariel Baker at Marie Claire recommends HA Body Hydrator Hyaluronic Acid Face & Body Serum. “From the sodium hyaluronate that deeply hydrates the skin (this is a salt form of hyaluronic acid, but the molecules are smaller, so they penetrate the skin deeper) to the red algae that also hydrates, your skin will be dewy, glowy, and in tip-top shape using this serum. Plus, the formula can also be used on the face, which feels like a two-for-one deal in my brain,” Baker writes.

Byoma Smoothing Body Serum leans on the brand’s Barrier Lipid complex along with succinic acid and blue tansy. BYOMA says the clinically proven formula will visibly brighten, provide all-day hydration and smooth skin texture without stripping the skin barrier.

OLLY Renew Body Lotion Serum is a lightweight lotion-serum hybrid built for overnight use, with niacinamide added to support the skin barrier and promote a more even-looking tone.

Naturium Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion is the pick Olivia Dubyak makes at InStyle. She praises its encapsulated retinol, allantoin and shea butter, calling it “lightweight, not sticky, and unscented.”

OLAY markets its Super Serum Body Lotion as an anti-aging formula powered by niacinamide, AHA, collagen peptide, vitamin C and vitamin E, with claims that include 24/7 hydration, visibly firmer skin, smoother texture, more even tone and brightening.

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Dollar Tree body serums worth a try

Not every body serum requires a department-store budget. Dermasil Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Body Lotion sells at Dollar Tree, where one reviewer wrote, “I love this product. Use it ever night after shower in summer, keeps skin soft, moisturizer for sun drenched skin.”

Then there is Global Beauty Care Retinol Renewing Double Serum With Peptides, marketed as a budget-friendly anti-aging serum that, per Dollar Tree, “improves the texture of your skin” with a formula that “helps reduce wrinkles and provides a radiant and firm complexion.” It is technically a face product, but it can be used on the body too.