Forget snail slime and bird poop. The latest miracle goo slathered on celebrity faces is salmon sperm — or, as it’s more politely known in the beauty biz, polynucleotides. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Kim and Khloé Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Charli XCX, Jennifer Aniston have reportedly dabbled in this piscine potion, which originated in South Korea, where a company called Rejuran has been injecting salmon DNA fragments (chosen for their uncanny similarity to human DNA) into faces for over a decade. The goal? Glowy, plump, camera-ready skin. Think trout farm meets red carpet.
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In the U.S., where the treatment isn’t yet FDA-approved for injection, the salmon sperm serum is typically applied topically — usually after a microneedling or laser treatment to help it sink in deeper. It’s gained such popularity that Beverly Hills dermatologist Harold Lancer warns against “cheap knockoffs made out of a crappy trout.”
Among the true believers is L.A. derm Ava Shamban (whose clients include Angela Bassett and Michelle Yeoh), who uses it as part of a three-step glow-up: microneedling, followed by salmon DNA, capped with a carboxy gel mask. “It stimulates collagen and reduces inflammation,” she says. She compared the mask’s effect to a hyperbaric oxygen treatment, for that fresh-from-the-womb finish.
Shamban isn’t alone. Beverly Hills cosmetic doctor Simon Ourian (famously linked to the Kardashians) calls it a solid option for short-term luminosity and hydration, but warns it’s no fountain of youth: “Results typically last just a few weeks.”
Meanwhile, New York-based Paul Jarrod Frank (Madonna, Marc Jacobs) offers a $1,500 version but admits it’s not his go-to anti-aging tool. “There are other treatments with more consistent, clinically backed results,” he says. Still, for younger patients seeking a quick glow before a big night out?
Fish sperm, apparently, is the catch of the day.
This story appeared in the July 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
