Why Are People Putting Salmon Sperm on Their Face?

You’ve probably raised an eyebrow at the latest luxury skincare trend making waves in celebrity circles. Or maybe you caught on to it when Jennifer Aniston’s aesthetician revealed her secret weapon. Either way, brace yourself: the newest skincare darling is none other than salmon sperm.

Yes, you read that right. Salmon. Sperm.

Technically, it’s called the Rejuran SkinBooster, and no, celebs aren’t squeezing fresh fish into syringes. We’re talking about a refined derivative called polynucleotide (PN)—a DNA component extracted from salmon. It’s often (erroneously) called salmon sperm because the extraction process starts with salmon’s milt (aka sperm sac), but let’s all take a collective deep breath and acknowledge that it’s not what it sounds like. No one’s rubbing raw salmon essence into their pores. 

So… why salmon sperm?

On Well with Arielle Lorre, Dr. Sheila Farhang broke it down. “Even like injectables,” she explained, “I know you talked about the salmon sperm, and I’ve talked about it a lot of times. It’s the P—like polynucleotide, the PDRN—which is very injected superficially. It’s those building blocks of DNA.”

These components promote skin regeneration, hydration, and elasticity. They help your skin look smoother, tighter, and more glowy. While they do not reverse time, they refresh your skin. Think of them like a glass of molecular water for your tired, overworked face.

Does it work?

Dr. Sheila is cautiously optimistic. “Do I support it? Sure,” she said. “Because it’s just—we don’t know what we don’t know.” In other words, the science is still developing, but it’s promising enough that dermatologists like her aren’t dismissing it yet.

By contrast, she’s much more skeptical of exosomes, calling them the “crypto of skincare”—a buzzy new trend that’s still too unregulated and murky for her taste. “I just think it’s so young right now that I don’t trust any companies where I think it’s like reproducible,” she said, noting that exosomes still lack FDA approval. Salmon-derived PN, however, has a bit more backing.

Is it right for you?

If your skincare routine still consists of micellar water and vibes, you don’t need to sprint into your dermatologist’s office screaming, “Inject me with the fish juice!” The Rejuran SkinBooster is typically injected—yes, with needles—and is primarily used to reduce fine lines, improve texture, and boost hydration from within. So, it’s not a daily serum, and it’s not a DIY moment.

If you’re in your 20s or early 30s with relatively healthy skin, this might not be for you… yet. But it’s an intriguing option to add something extra to your glow-up, especially for post-acne concerns or early signs of aging.

And yes, celebrities like Aniston swear by it, but remember, she likely pairs her salmon injections with lasers, lymphatic drainage, Botox, and a team of aestheticians whispering affirmations to her cheekbones every morning.

Dr. Sheila says, “It’s not actually going in and decreasing that muscle like Botox would.” This isn’t a replacement for Botox, but a nice complement if you aim for collagen stimulation and hydration.

Ultimately, whether or not you go full fish-face is up to you. But if you do, know that science is catching up to the trend—and it’s looking pretty promising (and a lot less gross) than the viral name suggests.

So go ahead, glow up. Hold the lox.