Introduction
EQQUALBERRY might not yet enjoy household-name status, yet within skincare circles it carries a certain halo for clever formulations and a playful science-meets-nature ethos. Its latest mouthful of a launch, Purple Pdrn Pore Minimising Serum, arrives with a promise to tighten pores, smooth texture and return bounce to skin that has seen better days. The brand credits a hefty dose of its proprietary Purple PDRN Complex along with collagen, peptides and a cocktail of hydrators and brighteners for tackling elasticity loss, excess oil, dehydration and uneven tone in one fell swoop.
That is a tall order, so I cleared space in my routine and spent a solid two weeks using the serum morning and night to see whether its multi-tasking claims translate into visible results and if it deserves a spot in your budget-conscious lineup.
What is Purple Pdrn Pore Minimising Serum?
At its core this is a lightweight non comedogenic serum designed for the pore treatment step of a routine. Pore treatments are formulas that aim to reduce the look of enlarged pores by addressing factors like excess oil, slackened skin structure, surface buildup and dehydration. They are typically used after cleansing and any watery essences, before moisturiser, to give concentrated ingredients direct contact with the skin.
Eqqualberry positions Purple Pdrn Pore Minimising Serum as a four in one solution. A 3 percent blend of rice derived PDRN, peptides, vegan collagen and elastin focuses on firmness so stretched pores appear tighter. A tannin complex supported by gentle LHA targets overactive sebum to curb midday shine. Hyaluronic acid, ceramides and panthenol replenish water and lipids to keep the pore lining supple rather than collapsed. Finally 4 percent niacinamide and mild PHA work on uneven tone and texture so the surrounding skin looks smoother.
The formula is water based, absorbs quickly and is fragrance free. It is intended for twice daily use and is marketed as suitable for all skin types including sensitive or acne prone.
Did it work?
In the name of Very Serious Science, I benched my usual pore serum for three days before starting Purple Pdrn so I could give its claims a clean playing field. I then used three drops every morning and night right after essence and before moisturizer, patting until the whisper-light texture disappeared. Fourteen days feels like a reasonable window to spot genuine changes, especially with a formula that bills itself as a multitasker.
Days one to three were mostly about feel. The serum sank in fast, left zero tackiness and added a pleasant cushion of hydration. My skin looked calm and felt comfortably balanced, but pores around my nose and cheeks still read the same size in zoom-in mirror checks. By day five I noticed less mid-afternoon shine and a slightly smoother glide when applying foundation, suggesting the tannin and LHA duo was nudging sebum production in the right direction.
The second week offered the real verdict. Texture along my nose bridge felt refined and there was a subtle but visible soft focus quality around larger pores when I wore no makeup. However pores were not dramatically tighter and on humid days oiliness crept back by lunchtime. I appreciated that no new breakouts appeared (always a risk when I toy with pore formulas) and post-inflammation redness from an old blemish faded faster than usual, likely thanks to the niacinamide and cica elements.
All in all Purple Pdrn delivered gentle hydration, modest oil control and a slight improvement in pore visibility without irritation. It did not vault into miracle territory, so I will finish the bottle but I am unlikely to repurchase. Still, if you want a lightweight serum that plays nicely with sensitive skin while chipping away at multiple concerns, this one earns a respectful nod.
Purple PDRN pore minimising serum’s main ingredients explained
The star is the brand’s Purple PDRN Complex at 3 percent. Traditional polydeoxyribonucleotide is sourced from salmon but Eqqualberry swaps in rice DNA fragments so you still get the wound healing and elasticity support without the fish allergens. The complex is paired with cica exosome for anti inflammatory benefits and purple rice extract rich in anthocyanins that provide antioxidant cover. Together they aim to coax sluggish skin into making more collagen which in theory firms the pore walls.
Oil management comes from a tannin rich blend led by chestnut inner shell extract plus a 0.5 percent hit of LHA (capryloyl salicylic acid). LHA is a fat loving cousin of salicylic acid that stays mostly on the surface, nibbling at dead cells and dissolved sebum so pores look clearer. The tannins act like natural astringents which is why afternoon shine tapered off during my trial.
To keep dehydration from exaggerating pore size the formula layers several humectants. High up the list are butylene glycol, glycereth-26 and plain glycerin which pull water into the upper layers. Sodium hyaluronate then locks it down while ceramide NP, AP and EOP plus hydrogenated lecithin shore up the lipid barrier. Panthenol and allantoin add a gentle soothing note so the actives can work without triggering redness.
Texture refining and tone evening duties fall to 4 percent niacinamide backed by gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid known for being kinder than glycolic yet still able to unglue flaky cells. Copper tripeptide 1 supports repair and may subtly stimulate collagen while adenosine offers a mild wrinkle smoothing effect.
The peptide story continues with vegan collagen and hydrolyzed elastin that try to mimic skin’s own structural proteins. While the label calls out vegan collagen it also lists hydrolyzed collagen whose provenance is less clear so strict vegans may want to double check with the brand. Vegetarians are unlikely to object but transparency here could be better.
No ingredient on the roster is a classic heavy hitter on the comedogenic scale, although caprylic/capric triglyceride can bother very pore prone skins at high percentages. Comedogenic simply means an ingredient has the potential to clog pores which would defeat the purpose of a pore serum.
The formula is free of added fragrance and drying alcohols which explains the zero sting experience. It also skips retinoids, essential oils and strong exfoliants so it should play nicely with most routines. Pregnant or nursing readers should still show the ingredient list to their doctor before diving in because even gentle acids and growth factor analogues such as PDRN do not have extensive safety data for that group.
Worth noting is the serum’s pH which my strips pegged around 5.5, comfortably skin friendly and optimal for barrier function. All told the ingredient deck walks a balanced line between science led actives and barrier loving support players which partly explains why results were solid if not spectacular.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of regular use here is the straightforward breakdown.
What works well:
- Feather light texture absorbs fast and sits comfortably under sunscreen and makeup without pilling
- Noticeable bump in surface hydration plus a soft focus blur that makes pores look a touch tighter
- Fragrance free formula stays calm on reactive skin with no stinging or breakouts during the trial
- Midday shine is dialed down thanks to the tannin and LHA combo yet skin never feels stripped
What to consider:
- Pore size reduction is subtle so results may fall short if you expect a dramatic transformation
- Oil control loses steam on very humid days meaning blotting papers might still be needed
- Ingredient list mixes vegan collagen with standard hydrolyzed collagen which could be a drawback for strict plant based users
My final thoughts
Pore treatments live in that awkward middle ground where patience and realistic expectations matter more than in almost any other skincare category. After two weeks of daily testing I can say Purple Pdrn Pore Minimising Serum earns a respectable 7/10. It hydrates beautifully, reins in moderate sebum and offers a soft optical blur yet stops short of the pore tightening revelation its marketing hints at. That makes it a solid choice for sensitive or combination skins that want incremental wins without the risk of irritation. If you prefer dramatic resurfacing or battle truly stubborn blackheads you will likely crave a stronger acid or retinoid based solution.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, but with the caveat that expectations stay in the realm of refinement rather than reinvention. I have cycled through more pore formulas than I care to count and this one lands comfortably above average for comfort and multitasking though not quite in my personal hall of fame.
If you are shopping around, a few alternatives I have used and rate highly deserve mention. Deascal’s Poreless Perfection Serum is an excellent allrounder that balances oil, smooths texture and fits any skin type at an approachable price. StriVectin’s Super Shrink Pore Minimizing Serum punches up the actives for those who can tolerate a bit more intensity and crave faster visible tightening. For a gentler path Brightening Pore Serum by Innisfree marries niacinamide with green tea to calm and clarify while lending a healthy glow.
Before you slot any of these into your routine remember the basics. Patch test on a discreet area first (sorry for sounding like an over protective parent) and keep usage consistent because pore benefits fade once you stop. Skin is a living organ not a one time project so steady application and sun protection remain the unglamorous keys to lasting results.