irecipe Cica PDRN Blemish Clear Serum 35ml

I tried the irecipe CICA PDRN Blemish Clear Serum with fairly high expectations because the product sounds like it should be soothing, hydrating, and helpful for troubled or blemish-prone skin. The formula contains ingredients such as niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid derivatives, ceramide NP, centella asiatica extract, and sodium DNA, so on paper it looks like a calming and skin-supporting serum. Unfortunately, my personal experience with it was quite mixed and ultimately not very comfortable for my oily skin type.

The first thing I noticed was the scent, which is actually very pleasant. It has a nice, fresh cosmetic fragrance that makes the serum feel more luxurious when first applied. However, fragrance in skincare can be a problem for some people, especially if their skin is sensitive, reactive, blemish-prone, or already irritated. In my case, although I liked the smell, the overall feel of the product on my skin was not ideal.

The texture felt lightweight at first, but once applied, it became sticky and tacky rather than absorbing cleanly. On my oily skin, it seemed to sit on the surface instead of sinking in. Even after waiting, my face still felt coated, uncomfortable, and slightly heavy. I usually prefer serums that absorb quickly and leave either a soft, hydrated finish or no noticeable residue, but this one left a film that I could feel on my skin for a long time.

The biggest issue for me was that the serum made my skin feel itchy and uncomfortable. It did not give me the soothing effect I expected from a CICA-based blemish serum. Instead, it felt irritating, especially after a few minutes of wear. Because of the stickiness and itchiness, I would not personally describe this as a comfortable serum for oily or easily irritated skin. It may work better for someone with drier skin who enjoys a dewy, tacky finish, but for my skin type, it was not a good match.

Overall, while I liked the scent and the ingredient list looks interesting, the actual performance did not suit me. The serum felt sticky, did not absorb well into my oily skin, and caused an itchy, uncomfortable sensation. I would recommend patch testing this carefully before applying it to the whole face, especially if you have sensitive, oily, acne-prone, or fragrance-reactive skin.

Ingredient analysis:

Purified Water – The main solvent and base of the serum. It helps dissolve water-soluble ingredients and gives the product its liquid texture.

Glycerin – A classic humectant that draws water into the skin. It is generally beneficial for hydration, but in some formulas, especially when combined with other humectants and film-formers, it can contribute to a sticky finish.

Butylene Glycol – A lightweight humectant and solvent. It helps improve spreadability and hydration. Usually well tolerated, but it can add to a slightly slippery or tacky texture.

Diglycerin – Another moisturizing humectant. It helps retain water in the skin and can give a plump, hydrated feel, but may also contribute to stickiness depending on the overall formula.

Niacinamide – One of the stronger beneficial ingredients in the formula. It can help with uneven tone, visible redness, oil balance, barrier support, and the appearance of blemish marks. However, some people experience flushing, itching, or irritation from niacinamide, especially if their skin is sensitive or if the formula does not suit them.

1,2-Hexanediol – A solvent and preservative-support ingredient. It also has mild humectant properties and helps keep the formula stable.

Hydroxyacetophenone – An antioxidant and soothing-support ingredient that also helps preserve the formula. It is commonly used in modern skincare.

Cellulose – A texture-enhancing ingredient. It can help thicken the serum and improve the feel, but may also contribute to a film-like finish.

Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate – An emulsifier and solubilizer. It helps oil and water-based ingredients blend together and can help distribute fragrance or oil-soluble components.

Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer – A film-forming and texture ingredient. This likely contributes to the sticky, coating feeling on the skin. It helps the serum form a hydrating layer, but on oily skin it may feel tacky or uncomfortable.

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer – A thickener and stabilizer. It gives the serum structure and gel-like texture. It can also add to a smooth but slightly film-forming finish.

Ethylhexylglycerin – A preservative booster and mild skin-conditioning ingredient. Usually well tolerated.

Arginine – An amino acid used for pH adjustment and skin-conditioning. It can support hydration and barrier function.

Adenosine – A skin-conditioning ingredient often used in Korean skincare. It is associated with smoothing and anti-aging claims, especially for the appearance of fine lines.

Sodium Polyacrylate – A thickener and film-former. This can help give the serum a gel texture and water-holding effect, but it may also contribute to the sticky or coated feeling.

Pentylene Glycol – A humectant and preservative-support ingredient. It helps hydrate the skin and improve product texture.

Glyceryl Caprylate – An emulsifier and skin-conditioning ingredient with preservative-support properties. It can also help soften the skin.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil – Sunflower seed oil. It contains fatty acids and can support the skin barrier. It is generally a nice nourishing ingredient, but in a serum for oily skin, even small amounts of oil may contribute to a heavier feel depending on the formula.

Centella Asiatica Extract – 5.01 ppm – Centella is commonly used for soothing and calming the skin. However, the listed concentration here is extremely low, so while it supports the CICA marketing concept, it may not be present at a very impactful level.

Tocopherol – Vitamin E. An antioxidant that helps protect oils in the formula and can provide some skin-conditioning benefits.

Sodium Hyaluronate – A form of hyaluronic acid that helps bind water and hydrate the skin. It can give a plumper feel, but in formulas with several humectants, it may contribute to tackiness.

Golden Extract – This name is unclear without the exact plant or INCI identification. It is likely a botanical extract included for antioxidant or skin-conditioning benefits, but its exact function is difficult to assess from this name alone.

Rehmannia Root Extract – A botanical extract used in some Asian skincare formulas. It is generally included for skin-conditioning, antioxidant, and soothing-support benefits.

Hydrolyzed Collagen – A water-binding ingredient. It does not replace collagen in the skin, but it can help give a temporary hydrated, smoother surface feel.

Onion Extract – A more unusual ingredient in skincare. Onion extract is sometimes used in formulas aimed at blemish marks or uneven texture. However, it may not suit everyone and could potentially be irritating to sensitive skin.

Yeast Polypeptide – A skin-conditioning ingredient that may support hydration and skin feel. Yeast-derived ingredients are often used for barrier and radiance-support claims.

Hydrogenated Lecithin – A skin-conditioning and barrier-support ingredient. It also helps with delivery and formula stability. It can work well with ceramides.

Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate – A modified form of hyaluronic acid that adheres well to the skin surface. It provides lasting hydration but may also increase the film-like or tacky feeling.

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid – A lower molecular weight form of hyaluronic acid. It helps hydrate the skin and may feel lighter than standard sodium hyaluronate.

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer – A cross-linked form of hyaluronic acid designed to hold water and provide longer-lasting hydration. It can create a moisturized film on the skin.

Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate – Sometimes called “super hyaluronic acid.” It has strong water-binding and skin-smoothing properties, but again, it may contribute to a dewy or tacky residue.

Ceramide NP – A very beneficial barrier-support ingredient. Ceramides help support the skin’s protective barrier and can be useful for dryness, sensitivity, and compromised skin.

Sodium DNA – 0.5 ppb – This appears to be the PDRN-related ingredient in the formula. Sodium DNA is often marketed for skin repair, elasticity, and regeneration support. However, the listed amount is extremely tiny, so I would be cautious about expecting dramatic results from this ingredient alone.

Fragrance – Gives the serum its pleasant scent. This was one of the nicest parts of the product experience for me, but fragrance can also be a common trigger for irritation, itching, or discomfort in sensitive skin.

Overall ingredient impression:

The formula is heavily focused on hydration, film-forming, barrier support, and blemish-care marketing ingredients. It contains many humectants, including glycerin, butylene glycol, diglycerin, pentylene glycol, and multiple forms of hyaluronic acid. This explains why the serum may feel very hydrating for some people, but it also explains why it can feel sticky or like it sits on top of the skin, especially on oily skin.

The most beneficial-looking ingredients are niacinamide, ceramide NP, sodium hyaluronate derivatives, adenosine, hydrogenated lecithin, and sunflower seed oil. However, the actual soothing “CICA” component appears to be present at only 5.01 ppm, and the PDRN-related sodium DNA is listed at 0.5 ppb, which is extremely low. Because of that, the product’s name sounds more powerful than the ingredient concentrations may suggest.

For dry or dehydrated skin, this serum may feel plumping and moisturizing. For oily skin, especially skin that dislikes sticky textures, it may feel too tacky and uncomfortable. For sensitive skin, the presence of fragrance, niacinamide, onion extract, and multiple film-forming ingredients could potentially be irritating, depending on the person.

My final rating would be 2.5 out of 5. The serum smells nice and has some good skincare ingredients, but the sticky finish, poor absorption on oily skin, and itchy uncomfortable feeling make it a product I personally would not repurchase.