Why Polynucleotides? The Ingredient Behind the Kimberley Walsh Skincare Collection
Pure Tone Journal · Ingredient Authority
Why Polynucleotides? The Ingredient Behind the Kimberley Walsh Skincare Collection
Polynucleotides may be one of the most talked-about ingredients in aesthetics, but popularity alone was not a reason to build a skincare collection around them.
When we created the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh skincare collection, we wanted formulations for changing skin that focused on hydration, visible skin quality, comfort and resilience without turning a daily routine into something unnecessarily complicated.
That is where ginseng-derived polynucleotides — or PDRN — came in. But they are only one part of the formulation story.
Start here
Why Polynucleotides?
Because our aim was not simply to make skin feel moisturised for a few hours. We wanted a routine designed around overall visible skin quality.
Topical polynucleotides are used in skincare formulations aimed at supporting skin that looks smoother, better hydrated and more resilient over time.
That made them particularly interesting for a collection designed around the changes many people begin to notice through their 40s and beyond: skin feeling drier, looking less rested, appearing less supple and showing fine lines or uneven texture more readily.
But we did not formulate the range as “polynucleotides and nothing else”.
The serum combines ginseng-derived PDRN with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and a Centella Asiatica complex. The moisturising cream combines PDRN with multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and other supporting ingredients.
That distinction is important because effective skincare rarely comes down to one hero ingredient working in isolation.
The formulation decision
Why We Chose Polynucleotides for the Kimberley Walsh Collection
The collection was created for a point when skincare often needs to become more considered — but not necessarily more complicated.
Skin Quality
We wanted the treatment step to look beyond temporary surface hydration and support smoother, healthier and more resilient-looking skin over time.
Changing Skin
Hydration, comfort, texture and visible elasticity can become more important as skin changes through the 40s, perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
Daily Use
The ingredient needed to make sense within a simple routine that could be used consistently rather than an occasional intensive treatment.
There is a temptation in skincare to choose an ingredient because it is the thing everybody is currently talking about.
We approached it from the other direction.
What did we want the routine to support? Better hydration. Greater skin comfort. Smoother-looking texture. Skin that looks fresher and better supported rather than simply coated in something that feels nice for an hour.
Polynucleotides fitted that wider skin-quality approach, particularly when combined with ingredients whose roles are already well understood in daily skincare.
Polynucleotides · PDRN
What Is PDRN in Skincare?
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide and belongs to the wider polynucleotide ingredient category.
The PDRN used in the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh collection is ginseng-derived.
In topical cosmetics, the ingredient is incorporated into formulations designed to support overall skin condition and visible skin quality. In our serum, it sits alongside multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and Centella Asiatica rather than being treated as a standalone solution.
That is worth emphasising because the words polynucleotide and PDRN are increasingly familiar from aesthetic medicine, where they are also associated with injectable treatments.
A skincare serum is a completely different product.
The Simple Definition
In this collection, PDRN is a topical cosmetic skincare ingredient used as part of formulations focused on hydration, visible skin quality, smoothness and resilience. It is applied to the skin in a serum or moisturising cream — it is not an injectable treatment.
An important distinction
Topical Polynucleotides Are Not Injectable Polynucleotides
The ingredient terminology may overlap. The treatment does not.
| Question | Topical Polynucleotide Skincare | Injectable Polynucleotide Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| How is it used? | Applied to the surface of the skin as part of a cosmetic skincare routine. | Administered by injection as a professional aesthetic procedure. |
| Where does it fit? | Daily or regular home skincare. | Professional treatment carried out by an appropriately qualified practitioner. |
| What should you expect? | Gradual cosmetic support for hydration, smoothness and visible skin quality. | A completely different treatment pathway with different delivery, indications and expectations. |
| Are they interchangeable? | No. A topical serum does not reproduce an injectable polynucleotide procedure. | |
This is one of the areas where skincare marketing can become confusing. An ingredient being associated with an injectable aesthetic treatment does not mean applying it in a cosmetic product produces the same effect.
Our Polynucleotide Serum and Polynucleotide Moisturising Cream are topical cosmetic products. Their role is within a consistent home skincare routine.
Skin in your 40s and beyond
Why Does This Ingredient Story Make Sense for Changing Skin?
Because what many people want from skincare changes too.
Earlier in life, skincare can sometimes feel mainly about managing oil, occasional breakouts or finding a moisturiser that feels nice.
Later, different questions begin to appear.
Why does my skin feel dry by lunchtime? Why does make-up suddenly sit differently? Why do lines look more noticeable after a poor night's sleep? Why does the moisturiser I have used for years no longer feel enough?
Through the 40s and beyond — and particularly around perimenopause and menopause — dryness, hydration, comfort, elasticity and visible texture can become much more noticeable.
That does not mean every change is hormonal, nor that everyone experiences skin ageing in exactly the same way. It does mean that a routine designed around hydration and visible skin quality rather than aggressive correction can make a great deal of sense.
- Skin feels drier or less comfortable than it used to
- Fine lines appear more obvious when skin is dehydrated
- Texture looks less smooth or even
- Skin looks tired more easily
- Firmness and elasticity appear reduced
- Previous skincare no longer feels quite sufficient
- You want a consistent routine rather than constantly changing actives
The complete formulation
Why We Would Never Talk About PDRN in Isolation
A strong formula is a team effort. Polynucleotides are the headline, but other ingredients help determine how the product actually fits into everyday skincare.
Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is primarily associated with hydration. Using multiple forms and molecular weights helps build hydration support into the same routine rather than making users choose between a “polynucleotide product” and a “hydrating product”.
Centella Asiatica
The Polynucleotide Serum includes a Centella Asiatica complex as part of a formulation designed around skin comfort, balance and visible skin quality.
Niacinamide
Used within the Polynucleotide Moisturising Cream as part of its wider focus on hydration, barrier support and the appearance of healthier, better-supported skin.
Adenosine & Supporting Ingredients
The wider formulations include complementary ingredients rather than relying on one fashionable active to carry the entire product.
Polynucleotides vs Hyaluronic Acid Is the Wrong Question
You do not necessarily need to choose between them. Our Polynucleotide Serum already combines ginseng-derived PDRN with a multi-molecular hyaluronic acid system, so hydration is built into the same treatment step.
If you want a deeper comparison, read Polynucleotides vs Hyaluronic Acid .
One ingredient · two different roles
Why Do Both the Serum and Moisturiser Contain Polynucleotides?
Because the products do different jobs even though they share part of their ingredient story.
Polynucleotide Serum
This is the lighter treatment step in the routine.
It combines ginseng-derived PDRN, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and Centella Asiatica and is designed to support smoother, firmer-looking and better hydrated skin with consistent use.
Polynucleotide Moisturising Cream
This is the final moisturising and barrier-support step.
Its job is not simply to duplicate the serum. It completes the routine by helping maintain hydration and skin comfort while providing its own PDRN-led skin-quality support.
You can therefore think about them as treat, then support.
The serum is applied first because of its lighter texture and treatment role. Moisturiser follows as the final step to help maintain hydration and support the skin barrier.
Consistency over instant transformation
What Should You Realistically Expect From Polynucleotide Skincare?
This is not an overnight-resurfacing ingredient and it should not be marketed as though it were.
Hydration & Comfort
The wider formulations are designed to help skin feel better hydrated, comfortable and less dry through consistent use.
Smoother-Looking Skin
As hydration and overall skin condition improve, texture and dehydration-related fine lines may appear less noticeable.
Visible Skin Quality
The longer-term aim is skin that appears fresher, smoother, more supple and better supported rather than an artificial overnight effect.
That distinction is important when deciding whether a polynucleotide product is “worth it”.
If you are expecting the kind of dramatic short-term change associated with an aggressive peel or an aesthetic procedure, this is the wrong category to judge in that way.
If you want a treatment step that can become part of a stable daily routine focused on hydration, texture, comfort and visible skin quality, the rationale is much stronger.
Our existing Journal guide looks at that question in more detail: Is Polynucleotide Skincare Worth It?
High-performance skincare · simplified
Where Do Polynucleotides Fit in the Kimberley Walsh Routine?
At the centre — but not at every step.
1 · Cleanse
Begin with Foaming Facial Cleansing Gel to remove make-up, SPF and daily impurities and prepare the skin for the products that follow.
2 · Treat
Apply Polynucleotide Serum to the face and neck. This is the lightweight PDRN-led treatment step in the routine.
3 · Moisturise
Finish with Polynucleotide Moisturising Cream to support hydration, skin comfort and the skin barrier.
In the morning, follow with a suitable broad-spectrum sunscreen.
That is the point of the collection. Polynucleotides may have a fairly technical name, but using them does not require a technical routine.
Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh
A Technical Ingredient. A Very Simple Routine.
The collection brings ginseng-derived polynucleotide skincare into an uncomplicated cleanse, treat and moisturise routine created for skin that may be starting to need something different.
Ginseng-derived PDRN · topical skincare
Polynucleotide Skincare Questions, Answered
Why are polynucleotides used in skincare?
Topical polynucleotides are used within skincare routines focused on visible skin quality, hydration, smoothness and resilience. In the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh collection, they are combined with other ingredients rather than being expected to work in isolation.
What is PDRN in skincare?
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide and belongs to the wider polynucleotide ingredient category. The PDRN used in the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh collection is ginseng-derived and is used topically as part of cosmetic skincare formulations.
Are the polynucleotides in the Kimberley Walsh skincare collection plant derived?
The PDRN used in the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh Polynucleotide Serum and wider collection is ginseng-derived.
Are topical polynucleotides the same as injectable polynucleotides?
No. Topical polynucleotide skincare is applied to the surface of the skin as a cosmetic product. Injectable polynucleotides are professional aesthetic treatments administered by injection. A topical serum should not be presented as reproducing an injectable treatment.
What is the difference between polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is primarily used for hydration support. Polynucleotides are used more broadly within routines focused on visible skin quality, comfort and resilience. They do not need to be mutually exclusive: the Kimberley Walsh Polynucleotide Serum contains both ginseng-derived PDRN and multi-molecular hyaluronic acid.
Can I use polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid together?
Yes. In fact, the Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh Polynucleotide Serum already combines ginseng-derived PDRN with a multi-molecular hyaluronic acid system, so both form part of the same treatment step.
What does the Kimberley Walsh Polynucleotide Serum contain?
The serum is formulated with ginseng-derived polynucleotides (PDRN), multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and a Centella Asiatica complex as part of a lightweight daily treatment formula.
Why do the serum and moisturiser both contain polynucleotides?
They perform different roles. The serum is the lighter treatment step applied first, while the moisturising cream is the final hydration and barrier-supporting step. Using PDRN in both allows the ingredient story to continue through two complementary formulations rather than making the products duplicates.
Can polynucleotide skincare help with fine lines?
Polynucleotide skincare can form part of a routine aimed at improving hydration, smoothness and overall visible skin quality. When skin is better hydrated and supported, dehydration-related fine lines may appear less prominent. It should not be presented as removing every type of wrinkle.
How long does polynucleotide skincare take to work?
Skincare is best judged through consistent use over time rather than expecting an overnight transformation. Hydration and comfort may be noticed first, while changes in the appearance of texture, smoothness and overall skin quality are more appropriately assessed over a period of regular use.
Is polynucleotide skincare suitable for skin over 40?
It can be particularly relevant when concerns include dehydration, visible fine lines, changing texture, reduced elasticity or skin that simply feels less resilient than it once did. Suitability depends on the individual skin rather than age alone.
Can I use the Kimberley Walsh Polynucleotide Serum every day?
The serum is designed for consistent daily use as the treatment step between cleansing and moisturising. Follow the directions provided with the product and introduce new skincare appropriately if your skin is particularly reactive.
From the Journal
The Ingredient Matters. The Formula Matters More.
Polynucleotides gave us a useful starting point for the Kimberley Walsh skincare collection because they fit the kind of routine we wanted to create: one focused on hydration, resilience and visible skin quality rather than aggressive treatment.
But PDRN was never intended to carry the products on its own.
Combining it with hyaluronic acid, Centella Asiatica, niacinamide and other supporting ingredients creates something much more useful: a straightforward daily skincare routine built around what changing skin actually needs rather than one fashionable ingredient name.
Pure Tone Aesthetics x Kimberley Walsh
Discover Polynucleotide Skincare
Explore the Polynucleotide Serum and Moisturising Cream individually or discover the complete three-step Kimberley Walsh skincare collection.