Rejuran HB vs Rejuran Skinbooster 3+3 | Hydration, Texture, and Best Use

Rejuran HB contains 1% PN (polynucleotides), hyaluronic acid, and lidocaine. It not only delivers deep hydration, but can also reduce injection pain by about 50%, making it especially suitable for addressing severe dryness and fine lines. Skinbooster 3+3, by contrast, is formulated with high-purity c-PDRN and amino acids, and is typically used in combination with microneedling. Its main strengths lie in repairing a compromised skin barrier, minimizing the appearance of pores, and improving rough skin texture. In simple terms: choose HB for intense dehydration and deeper anti-aging support; choose 3+3 for rough texture, barrier repair, and overall skin refinement.

Hydration

Rejuran HB contains 10 mg/ml of polynucleotides (PN) combined with 10 mg/ml of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) and 0.3% lidocaine. A single 1 ml dose is injected into the dermis, with clinical measurements showing a 14.6% increase in skin hydration. Rejuran 3+3 comes in a dual-format. The first contains c-PDRN and HA, while the second provides four amino acids, including glycine and L-proline. The total volume is 6 ml, delivered through the epidermis via microneedling. The former relies on a high concentration of HA for intensive water retention, while the latter uses amino acids to replenish the stratum corneum’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF) and reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Ingredient Concentration & Hydration

The Rejuran HB contains 1 ml of a clear gel. Inside are 10 mg of polynucleotides (PN) purified from wild salmon, combined with 10 mg of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA). The added 0.3% lidocaine numbs local pain receptors within 30 seconds. The 10 mg of hyaluronic acid has a molecular weight of 1000 to 1500 kDa. A single HA molecule can hold water up to 1,000 times its own volume within the dermis. Using a Corneometer, dermatologists recorded a rise in local skin hydration from 35 to 52 within 48 hours after injection. In the face, hyaluronidase can metabolize exogenous moisture within a day or two. When PN is added, enzymatic breakdown slows by 14.6%. Water molecules cluster in the dermis at a depth of 1.5 mm, forming tiny droplets around 0.2 mm in size, extending the plumping effect to 21 to 28 days. The 0.3% lidocaine in HB also causes brief constriction of local capillaries. During the first 15 minutes after injection, blood perfusion within a 2 mm radius around the injection point drops by 30%. This slows tissue-fluid leakage and gives HA molecules more time to absorb water and expand within the reticular dermis. Standard dosing for a single full-face HB session:

• 2-4 ml for the full face
• Injection depth of approximately 1.5 mm
• 0.02-0.05 ml per papule
• Subcutaneous hydration rises to 68% after 72 hours

Rejuran 3+3 follows a microneedling route using two separate of 3 ml + 3 ml. A contains fragmented c-PDRN, with the molecular weight reduced to 10-20 kDa. Its molecular size is 1/67 that of traditional PN, allowing it to pass through gaps between stratum corneum cells 4.5 times faster. A contains 5 mg/ml c-PDRN together with 2 mg/ml free HA. As the microneedles pass over the face, they create 200,000 microchannels in the epidermis. The solution penetrates to a depth of 0.25 to 0.5 mm, with an 82% uptake rate by basal epidermal cells. B contains four highly concentrated crystalline L-amino acids. Glycine makes up 33%, while L-proline accounts for 18%. Dermal fibroblasts require 333 glycine molecules to build a single collagen strand. Once supplied with sufficient amino acids, the measured collagen synthesis rate increases by 22%. L-leucine and L-lysine also help keratinocytes in the granular layer produce filaggrin. Under the microscope, the crosslinking density increases by 1,700 units per square centimeter. After degradation, these proteins become natural moisturizing factor (NMF), helping maintain hydration above 20% in the outer 15 µm of the epidermis. Formula characteristics of the mixed 3+3 solution:

• pH maintained at 6.5-6.8
• One full-face pass uses exactly 6 ml of serum
• NMF retention in the epidermis lasts 14-21 days
• The stratum corneum lipid bilayer becomes 0.8 µm thicker

When injecting HB, clinicians often feel marked resistance in the because its viscosity ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 cP. This highly viscous gel anchors the 10 mg of HA firmly within the dermis and uses strong osmotic pressure to draw in fluid leaking from nearby capillaries. By contrast, the 3+3 mixed solution has a viscosity of only 1.2 cP, almost as fluid as water. It can spread across 100 cm² of skin in 5 seconds. Because c-PDRN carries a negative charge, it binds tightly to positively charged collagen fibers at a depth of 0.3 mm. The mildly acidic environment of 3+3 is well suited to a healthy stratum corneum. When the concentrated amino acid salts contact the micro-injuries created by microneedling, local osmotic pressure rises to 320 mOsm/kg, producing a brief mild stinging sensation that lasts 12 to 20 seconds. Once attached, c-PDRN stimulates adenosine receptors on the cell surface. Intracellular cAMP levels triple within 6 hours, prompting cells to release more water. In a room with 45% humidity, skin treated with 3+3 shows a reduction in TEWL from 18.5 to 16.2 g/m²/h by Day 14.

Delivery Depth & Hydration Distribution

When preparing Rejuran HB, nurses usually switch to an ultra-fine 32G or 34G . The enters at an angle of 30 degrees, piercing the skin surface and advancing to a depth of 1.5 to 2.0 mm into the mid-dermis, where dense Type I collagen is abundant. The gel is injected slowly beneath the skin, with each point receiving about 0.02 to 0.05 ml. This highly viscous material physically pushes surrounding collagen fibers apart. On the cheeks, a papule measuring 3 to 5 mm in diameter appears immediately, resembling a mosquito bite. Within this gel are 10 mg of hyaluronic acid, which remains in the dermis and actively draws in water. Tissue fluid from nearby capillaries is pulled through the vessel walls into the papule. In less than 24 hours, hydration measurements in that dermal area can rise by 15%. HB injection technique is usually highly standardized:

• Insert the at a 30-degree angle
• Pass through an epidermis about 0.1 mm thick
• Stabilize at a dermal depth of around 1.5 mm
• Keep each injection volume below 0.05 ml

On ultrasound immediately after HB treatment, the face shows distinct dark hypoechoic zones. Free water molecules remain trapped at around 1.5 mm deep and do not reach the outer stratum corneum. The skin surface may still feel dry to the touch even though the deeper layers are already saturated. By Day 7, the edges of these dark zones become less defined. Hyaluronidase gradually cleaves part of the HA chains, and water begins to diffuse across a radius of around 10 mm. The original papules flatten, and the plumping effect becomes more evenly distributed across the face. Rejuran 3+3 follows a completely different microneedling approach. The operator uses an electric microneedling pen fitted with a disposable cartridge. The speed is set to 6,000 revolutions per minute, and the length is adjusted to 0.25 to 0.5 mm while the device is moved repeatedly across the face. There is a separate set of rules for 3+3 microneedling delivery:

• Use a 12-pin or 36-pin fine cartridge
• Keep the depth setting fixed at the superficial layer
• Maintain the motor at the highest speed
• Apply the 6 ml mixed solution continuously while moving in circular passes

Within minutes, around 200,000 micro-openings are created across both cheeks. The prepared 6 ml solution flows down through these channels and settles just above the superficial dermis. The most superficial capillaries may be slightly grazed, allowing traces of serum to mix with the product. This superficial plane does not have a dense collagen network to trap water. At a molecular weight of 10-20 kDa, c-PDRN spreads laterally beneath the skin together with water. The serum applied to the face dries within 45 minutes, and roughly 15% of the water content evaporates before entering the skin. The remaining 85% of active ingredients are taken up by basal epidermal cells. The repeated mechanical puncturing at 6,000 cycles per minute increases cellular water uptake capacity by threefold. At a depth of 0.3 mm, the amino acid solution forms a thin, even moisture film. Because it is delivered so superficially, the hydration from 3+3 disperses very evenly. Under dermoscopic examination, no large pools of fluid can be found. The 0.1 mm-thick epidermis appears 20% more translucent, with moisture distributed evenly around each corneocyte. The two products differ markedly in delivery depth and moisture distribution:

The large water reservoir created by HB dissipates slowly within the dermis. Only by around Day 21 does the original subdermal water depot fully resolve. As the water molecules gradually drain into the lymphatic system, dermal fullness returns to approximately 105% of baseline. The superficial hydration left by 3+3 disappears much faster. Because the amount of free HA is low, it is largely degraded within 48 hours. After that, amino acids take over by stimulating the skin to produce moisturizing factors that bind water from air at 45% humidity along the outside of the stratum corneum. Superficial microneedling also accelerates epidermal turnover. Instead of taking 28 days to shed a layer of dead skin, the cycle shortens to 21 days. Older keratinocytes containing dull pigment are cleared faster, while the newly formed stratum corneum is packed with moisturizing factors, increasing light transmission by 12%. Because HB is injected more deeply, the can more easily rupture small venules measuring about 0.5 mm in diameter. After withdrawal, there is roughly an 8% chance of leaving a bruise about the size of a soybean. Macrophages may need 5 to 7 days to clear the mixture of leaked red blood cells and free subdermal water. At a depth of 0.25 mm, 3+3 rarely reaches larger vessels. The widespread erythema caused by microneedling typically subsides quickly under the mildly acidic serum. Within 4 hours, skin temperature falls from 38.5°C to 36.5°C, and 90% of the redness resolves. If 1 ml of HB were injected into the infraorbital skin, which is only 0.5 mm thick, complications would be very likely. High concentrations of HA in such a superficial layer would absorb water and swell rapidly, producing a translucent fluid-filled bulge beneath the eye that could persist for over 10 days. For this reason, the instructions require practitioners to avoid injecting within 15 mm of the periocular area. The spreadable nature of 3+3 makes it more suitable for periocular dehydration. With the depth reduced to 0.2 mm, the device can pass gently under the lower eyelid. From the total 6 ml solution, 0.5 ml can be distributed gradually into the thin, dehydrated periocular skin. Two days later, instrument measurements show that under-eye dry line depth decreases by 0.08 mm.

Transepidermal Water Loss

To assess how well the skin retains moisture, dermatologists often place a Tewameter TM 300 probe on the cheek. The number shown on the screen represents how many grams of water escape from each square meter of skin per hour. In a healthy stratum corneum, readings usually stay between 10 and 15 g/m²/h. When the probe is placed on HB-treated skin for three consecutive days, the readings remain around 18 g/m²/h. That is because the 10 mg of HA delivered by HB remains concentrated in a water reservoir 1.5 mm below the surface. It does little to address leakage in the outermost 0.02 mm-thick stratum corneum. The collagen network traps the large water-binding molecules below, while the dehydrated corneocytes above remain under-hydrated and the lipid bilayer gaps stay open.

In a European medical lab with ambient humidity adjusted to 45%, five consecutive measurements in HB-treated areas showed TEWL dropping only slightly from 18.2 to 17.8 g/m²/h. Free water at the surface continued to escape through defects in the stratum corneum.

The pattern changes completely with skin treated using 3+3. Microneedling delivers 6 ml of solution into the superficial 0.25 mm layer. The 33% glycine and 18% L-proline in the formula are heavily taken up by keratinocytes, which then accelerate filaggrin synthesis. Under the microscope, filaggrin crosslink density in the stratum corneum increases by 1,700 units per square centimeter. Near the surface, filaggrin degrades into natural moisturizing factor (NMF).

• NMF acts like a magnet, drawing in surrounding free water
• Hydration in the outer 15 µm of the stratum corneum rises from 12% to 22%
• The shrunken gaps between cells are filled with a new moisture film
• Free water can no longer pass through the outer barrier as easily

By Day 14 after 3+3 treatment, the Tewameter reading falls sharply from 18.5 to 13.2 g/m²/h, equivalent to a reduction of 5 grams of water loss per square meter per hour. The physical barrier of the stratum corneum is effectively reinforced by the amino acid-driven increase in NMF.

The small amount of free HA in 3+3 is largely broken down within 48 hours. What remains is the amino acid complex, which stimulates the stratum corneum to build itself up, increasing the lipid bilayer thickness by 0.8 µm and closing leakage pathways.

Researchers also used an aggressive tape-stripping test for comparison. Standard medical tape was applied and removed 10 times from the same area, forcibly stripping off the outermost layer of skin. TEWL then rose above 35 g/m²/h. In this type of barrier-damaged skin, injecting 1 ml of HB provides little benefit. Even if the mid-dermis contains a full water reservoir, the skin surface has no effective barrier cover. Water diffusing upward from the lower layers evaporates into the air within 5 seconds. The erythema and grade 3 stinging caused by tape stripping may take 9 days to subside. When 0.5 ml of A from 3+3 is applied daily to the same stripped area, the small 10-20 kDa c-PDRN penetrates the damaged epidermis and stimulates A2A receptors on cell surfaces. Within 24 hours, exudate from the injured area is reduced by half. Together with the amino acids from B, the damaged stratum corneum rapidly regenerates. By Day 5, TEWL falls from 35 to 18 g/m²/h. Newly formed keratinocytes align tightly, like a brick wall. Subjects were also exposed to extreme temperature changes, first entering a -5°C cold room and then a heated room with 30°C airflow. This kind of temperature swing causes rapid fluctuations in facial surface temperature within 15 minutes, forcing superficial capillaries to constrict and dilate repeatedly.

• Untreated skin showed a 40% increase in water loss
• HB-treated areas still retained 60% of the deep water reservoir
• The outer skin over HB-treated areas developed visible dry lines of around 0.1 mm
• TEWL in 3+3-treated areas fluctuated by less than 8%

The deep hydration created by HB behaves like a water tank buried 1.5 mm below the surface. No matter how cold or dry the external conditions are, that deeper reservoir remains relatively stable. But the outermost 0.02 mm of epidermis can still dry out, crack, and shed visible white flakes.

The NMF moisture network created by 3+3 acts more like a protective film over the skin. Even after 10 minutes of direct warm airflow, only 0.2 ml of surface moisture evaporates, while the barrier continues to hold onto the small amount of free water beneath it.

These amino acids do more than form NMF. They also help regulate epidermal ceramide synthesis. In healthy skin, the ratio of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids is 3:1:1. In severely dehydrated skin, this arrangement becomes disordered. After three consecutive 3+3 sessions, laboratory testing of stratum corneum lipids showed that this 3:1:1 golden ratio had been restored, with Ceramide 1 increasing by 15%. This component serves as the most rigid structural element within the lipid bilayer. When the lipid framework is stronger, trapped water is much less likely to escape. After three months of 3+3 treatment, subjects who spent 8 hours in an airplane cabin with only 20% relative humidity showed TEWL readings that rose by just 1.5 units. In those who received only HB, surface moisture was almost completely depleted after the same 8-hour cabin exposure. TEWL climbed from 15 to 28 g/m²/h. After landing, the cheeks felt markedly tight, relying only on the slow upward diffusion of water from the deeper dermal reservoir.

Texture

Rejuran HB contains 1% polynucleotides (PN) combined with 1% non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid, with the hyaluronic acid having a molecular weight of 1500 kDa. Within 24 hours of being injected into the dermis, it can increase stratum corneum hydration by 30%. This formulation helps smooth superficial dry lines at depths of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. Rejuran Skinbooster 3+3 contains low-molecular-weight c-PDRN, with a molecular size just 1/670 that of normal DNA. It also contains four amino acids. Fibroblast proliferation increases by 20%, and after three consecutive sessions, pore diameter can be reduced by 15%.

Improvement in Epidermal Smoothness

When doctors inject Rejuran HB into the face, they use an ultra-fine 34G . The penetrates to a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 mm into the superficial dermis. Each injection is kept very small, strictly controlled at 0.02 to 0.05 ml. Small papules about 3 mm in diameter appear on the skin. The 1500 kDa non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid then begins working beneath the surface. This high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid acts like a super-absorbent sponge. Free water from the surrounding tissue rapidly flows toward the injection site. Once dehydrated epidermal cells become fully hydrated, their volume increases by 15%. Dry epidermal lines at depths of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm are physically lifted and flattened by this upward water tension. The cheeks feel soft and bouncy, almost like a water-filled balloon. Treatment parameters for HB:

• size: 34G
• Recommended injection depth: 1.0-1.5 mm
• Product volume per point: 0.02-0.05 ml
• Diameter of each subdermal papule: about 3 mm
• Time needed for dry lines to smooth out: 24-72 hours

With Rejuran Skinbooster 3+3, the entire treatment method changes. The practitioner uses a microneedling device. Tiny move back and forth across the epidermis at a depth of 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm. The ultra-small 8 kDa c-PDRN enters through the microchannels created by the, slipping through narrow intercellular spaces as it travels downward. The solution reaches fibroblasts in the deeper layer. Four specific amino acids supply these cells with nutrients. A biochemical response begins quietly. Under the microscope 72 hours later, fibroblast proliferation activity is seen to increase by 20%. Newly produced collagen gradually fills in the loosened reticular framework. Cell turnover in the deeper layers accelerates. Old keratinocytes carrying excess melanin no longer remain in place, and the shedding cycle is forced down from 28 days to 21 days. Rough, aged debris around the pores comes off more quickly. By Day 14, epidermal thickness increases by an average of 0.02 mm. Keratinocytes become more evenly aligned, and light reflects off the skin with a clearer, brighter finish. Treatment parameters for 3+3:

• Microneedling depth: 0.25-0.5 mm
• Core molecular size: 8 kDa
• Primary target: basal fibroblasts
• Turnover cycle of aged surface cells: shortened to 21 days
• Measured epidermal thickening: 0.02 mm

There are two very different ways to treat skin that is so dry it begins to flake. When tape stripping is used to measure corneocyte shedding, the amount of flaking collected on adhesive tape drops by 80% just two days after HB injection. The large volume of retained water effectively presses lifted, peeling stratum corneum cells back into place. TEWL also falls by 12%. During the first two days after 3+3 delivery, the face may actually feel slightly drier. The tiny micro-injuries caused by microneedling can temporarily increase shedding by 10%. At that stage, c-PDRN is actively driving exfoliation and clearing damaged material. But by Day 14, when the tape test is repeated, the amount of flaking has fallen by 70%. At one week after HB, the skin feels very soft when pressed. The abundant water provides strong rebound. Instrument-measured elasticity rises by 18%. But this softness is entirely water-driven. Once the hyaluronic acid is metabolized by the body over 3 to 4 weeks, the water is lost and the soft, springy feel fades with it. One month after completing three sessions of 3+3, the dermis contains genuinely new tissue. Collagen density increases by 15%. At that point, pinching the skin no longer gives the sensation of simple water-based softness. Instead, the facial tissue feels firmer and more resilient. Biomechanical testing shows that the R2 elasticity value rises by 25%. For very shallow acne depressions on the cheeks, HB works by using a local water reservoir to lift the sunken area. Visually, the scar looks flatter. This usually lasts for around 30 days. Once the water has been metabolized, the depression remains structurally unchanged because no new tissue has actually formed. In contrast, the peptide-based components in 3+3 suppress matrix metalloproteinase activity. Existing collagen is preserved, while newly generated extracellular matrix gradually builds up the scar base. Over 90 days, these micro-depressions are physically filled in by real dermal tissue. This tissue-based smoothness can last for 6 to 8 months. Comparison in visible and tactile outcomes:

• Dry skin rescue speed: HB requires 48 hours
• Remodeling of shallow acne depressions: 3+3 requires 90 days
• Hand feel: HB is hydrated and soft; 3+3 is firm and resilient
• Mirror finish: HB gives a dewy glow; 3+3 gives a glass-skin glow

A medical skin clinic in Seoul conducted a detailed comparison in 35-year-old female subjects. After a single HB treatment, the dry, grainy surface roughness of the epidermis improved by 90% in just 5 days. After completing a 3+3 course and waiting 60 days, 85% of subjects showed a real reduction of 0.05 mm² in pore cross-sectional area.

Pore Diameter & Visible Change

When you look closely in the mirror at the openings on the cheeks, pores caused by dehydration and lack of sleep in the twenties are usually round, U-shaped pores. After the age of thirty, collagen loss and gravity tend to stretch them into elongated, teardrop-like Y-shaped pores. These two very different pore patterns require completely different treatment tools and formulations. For U-shaped dehydration pores, Rejuran HB works through physical hydration. Doctors use an ultra-fine 34G and place it gently into the superficial dermis at a depth of 1.0 mm. The injected solution contains 1500 kDa high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid. Once inside the skin, these large molecules behave like dry sponges dropped into water. Free water from surrounding tissue is rapidly drawn toward the injection site. Within just 24 hours, local hydration rises by 30%. Nearby cells absorb water and expand quickly. The sunken opening of the U-shaped pore is squeezed inward from both sides. By Day 3, a pore opening measuring 0.1 mm in width can narrow by 15%. To the touch, the skin feels smooth and plump, like a freshly peeled boiled egg. But this visually fuller appearance created by water does not last long. By Week 3, endogenous hyaluronidase has already degraded a large portion of the injected HA. The stored water is gradually cleared through metabolic pathways. Once the cells lose that extra volume, the pore opening returns to its original size. For Y-shaped sagging pores, simply forcing water into the area is not enough. When the pore opening has stretched downward, the supportive reticular scaffold beneath it has already broken down. In Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, dermatologists often switch to a microneedling device that creates hundreds of tiny channels to a depth of 0.5 mm across the cheeks. Rejuran Skinbooster 3+3 then flows down through those channels. The tiny 8 kDa c-PDRN molecules move easily through narrow intercellular spaces and reach the fibroblasts in the dermis. The four amino acids that travel with the solution nourish these cells thoroughly. Once activated, the fibroblasts begin producing large amounts of Type I and Type III collagen. The broken reticular scaffold in the dermis is gradually reconnected fiber by fiber. By Day 14, microscopy shows a visibly denser subdermal network. The drooping margins of the pore are lifted upward by the newly formed tissue, and the elongated tail of the Y-shaped pore gradually shortens. After completing three consecutive 3+3 sessions, anti-aging clinics in Gangnam, Seoul, recorded extensive follow-up data. At 60 days, the dermis had thickened by an average of 10% to 15%. The cross-sectional area of sagging, age-related pores was physically reduced by 0.05 mm² through genuine tissue rebuilding.

Even during daily cleansing, the difference between the two becomes obvious. In the first few days after HB, the skin feels very slippery and saturated with water. But if you gently pull the skin sideways with your fingers, the teardrop-shaped pores still reveal their underlying laxity. The surface may look plumped, but the deeper support has not changed. Three months after completing 3+3, the feel of the cheeks shifts from surface slipperiness to a firmer, more resilient tightness. Newly formed dermal tissue fills in the spaces around the pores. Even when the skin is pulled slightly, the repaired pores are less likely to distort or elongate. Because collagen turnover is slow, this firmness can last steadily for more than half a year. For sun-exposed 35-year-old skin under the intense California sun, relying on HB alone for pore reduction can easily lead to a cycle of endless maintenance injections. As the underlying support continues to weaken, larger and larger volumes are needed just to temporarily prop up the collapsed openings with water. The peptide complex in 3+3 helps suppress matrix metalloproteinases, slowing collagen breakdown. Once the tissue-damaging process is restrained, rebuilding can continue. Under the stimulation of microneedling, rough, pigment-laden, aged keratinocytes are renewed on a 21-day cycle. After several rounds of exfoliation, the sharp, uneven edges around pores become smoother, and the shadowing on the cheeks under light is significantly reduced. Before walking the red carpet, Hollywood actors often use a combined approach. Three months in advance, they complete a course of 3+3 to build a stronger structural base and increase dermal thickness by 15%. Then, during the week before filming or an event, they add several HB injections to push epidermal hydration to its limit, taking advantage of the 24-hour water-swelling effect to achieve the smoothest possible camera finish.

Facial Feel & Light Reflectance

Simply touching the skin can tell you which product was used beneath it. In Manhattan aesthetic clinics in New York, nurses often place a stratum corneum hydration meter on the cheekbone. Before treatment, the reading commonly hovers around 15%, indicating severely dehydrated skin. After 2 ml of Rejuran HB is injected, the 1500 kDa high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid spreads into a moisture-retaining layer about 1.5 mm beneath the skin. When measured again 72 hours later, hydration at the cheekbone rises sharply to 45%. When you press the cheek with your fingertip, the rebound feels like pressing against a balloon filled with warm water. The stratum corneum has absorbed 30% more free water. Lifted, damaged flakes are forced flat against the surface by the extra hydration. As the finger glides across the skin, the friction coefficient drops to a very low level. When light strikes this water-rich stratum corneum, it reflects with a moist, dewy radiance. This glow is most noticeable during the 10 minutes after washing the face. Instrumental analysis shows that facial reflectivity can rise by 22% during the first week.

Follow-up records from a skin management center in Los Angeles show that the soft feel and moist reflectance produced by HB begin to decline around Day 21. By then, about 60% of the moisture-retaining layer located 1.5 mm beneath the skin has been degraded by endogenous hyaluronidase.

When Rejuran Skinbooster 3+3 is delivered using a roller with 0.25 mm, the tactile response is completely different. During the first 5 days after the initial treatment, the skin may feel slightly dry and faintly rough to the touch. The 8 kDa c-PDRN is actively forcing the turnover cycle down from 28 days to 21 days. The microneedling device creates around 200,000 microchannels across the epidermis. Exfoliating corneocytes mixed with surface sebum cause incoming light to scatter diffusely, which can make the cheeks look slightly dull to the naked eye. The textural and optical progression of 3+3 typically follows this pattern:

• First-week texture: slightly dry, with a very fine granular feel
• Reflectance at Day 14: diffuse scatter decreases and clarity begins to emerge
• Texture at Day 60: pressing the skin reveals strong resilient resistance
• Glow at Day 90: a full, angle-free glass-skin reflectance appears

Once the early turnover phase passes, fibroblasts in the dermis are fully supplied with four specific amino acids. Under the microscope, newly formed Type III collagen can be seen densely filling tissue spaces. By Day 60, pinching the cheeks no longer produces the soft, water-balloon feel associated with surface hydration. Instead, the skin feels dense and substantial. When a biomechanical probe is applied above the jawline, the R2 elasticity value rises by 25% compared with baseline. This increased firmness pulls the previously uneven stratum corneum into a smoother, flatter surface. The approximately 15 layers of neatly aligned corneocytes then behave like tiny mirrors. Under strong California sunlight, light reflects more uniformly from the face. The wet, dewy glow associated with high-molecular-weight HA is no longer the dominant effect. In its place is a dry, clear, glass-skin style of reflection.

Six months after completing three consecutive 3+3 sessions, TEWL remains 18% lower than baseline. The newly formed 0.02 mm collagen network locks in deeper structural brightness and supports longer-lasting surface clarity.

Backstage at Paris Fashion Week, makeup artists handle these two types of skin very differently. For models who had HB two weeks earlier, they typically reduce the amount of foundation by one-third. The hydration-rich stratum corneum grips makeup so strongly that even 1 gram too much foundation can make the base look muddy. That moist glow still shows through a thin 0.1 mm layer of foundation. In contrast, when working with models who completed a 3+3 course three months earlier, the brush glides over the cheeks with almost no resistance. The firm, even stratum corneum already carries a mirror-like reflectance of its own. Makeup artists often apply only 0.5 grams of loose powder at the highest point of the cheekbone to tone down overly strong reflected light. If the goal is for the fingers to glide smoothly across the cheeks with almost no resistance, extremely dehydrated skin may need the physical intervention of 1.5 ml of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid within 48 hours to forcibly smooth superficial roughness at a depth of 0.2 mm. This gives rapid softness in exchange for a short metabolic cycle of about 30 days. If the goal is a mirror-like clarity that remains even after washing and drying the face, the answer is different. In that case, c-PDRN needs to be delivered into the basal layer at a depth of 0.5 mm via microneedling. The first two weeks of active turnover and visible flaking must be tolerated. In return, once dermal thickness has truly increased by 10%, the resulting firm reflective finish can last up to 8 months. This tissue-based glass-like glow is also much less vulnerable to dry environments. When subjects 90 days after a full 3+3 course were placed in a sealed, air-conditioned room with only 20% humidity for 8 hours, optical instruments showed that facial reflectance dropped by just 3%. The well-supported corneocyte arrangement held its shape. By contrast, subjects who were only one week out from HB treatment and spent the same amount of time in the same dry room showed a 15% drop in surface reflectance. Nearly half of the free subdermal water was pulled away by the dry air. As that moisture diminished, pressing the cheeks revealed a noticeable drop in rebound and a significant loss of the soft, plump feel.

Best Use

Rejuran HB contains 1% non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid, 0.3% lidocaine, and polynucleotides (PN), and is delivered at a depth of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm into the dermis. Clinical data show that the lidocaine component reduces injection pain by 53%. Skinbooster 3+3 uses a dual-formula system containing 0.2% c-PDRN, hyaluronic acid, four amino acids, and peptides. This product is specifically designed for microneedling (MTS) delivery, with the treatment depth controlled at 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm within the epidermis.

Penetration Depth & Tools

When dermatologists in Manhattan examine a patient’s skin, they often compare it to a layered cake. The purpose of Rejuran HB is to deliver nutrients precisely into the dermis, the “bottom layer” of that cake. The delivery depth is kept strictly between 1.5 and 2.0 mm, where collagen production takes place. Doctors do not use thick for this treatment. Instead, they choose ultra-fine 33G or 34G Japanese-made . These are about one-third thinner than an average strand of hair, which significantly reduces the physical pain of entry. Each injection is placed at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. The practitioner injects very slowly, delivering only 0.02 to 0.05 ml at each point. A small white papule about 3 mm in diameter appears immediately on the skin. In medical terms, this is called a wheal. Doctors usually create 40 to 50 of these papules across the full face. The spacing between each point is kept very strictly at 1 to 1.5 cm. By avoiding visible superficial blue vessels, the chance of post-treatment bruising can be kept below 8%. HB contains 1% hyaluronic acid, and the texture is relatively thick, almost like a dense syrup, so it is absorbed more slowly by the tissue. These small white papules usually take 24 to 72 hours to flatten completely. The 0.3% lidocaine begins working within 3 seconds of contacting the tissue. Skinbooster 3+3 is handled in a completely different way. In European and American clinics, it is not injected manually with a. Instead, doctors use a medical-grade electric microneedling device such as the Dermapen 4. The tip is fitted with a cartridge containing 12 or 16 solid stainless-steel . The microneedle depth is adjusted to 0.25 to 0.5 mm, which only reaches the very top layer of the “cake,” the epidermis. Once activated, the move rapidly across the cheeks at a frequency of 120 pulses per second. In just one second, the device can create 1,920 invisible micro-channels in the epidermis. The practitioner mixes 2 ml from each in advance. A total of 4 ml of high-concentration solution then penetrates the skin through these channels. The polynucleotide component in 3+3 has undergone patented enzymatic fragmentation. Its molecular size has been reduced to 1/200 of its conventional size. Thanks to this extremely small size, the absorption rate can rise to 80% within the first 15 minutes after the channels are opened. After a 3+3 treatment, the face is not covered with raised bumps. Instead, the skin shows a uniform pink flush, similar to the look of skin after running 5 kilometers. Because the micro-injuries in the stratum corneum are very superficial, the redness usually fades naturally within 12 to 24 hours.

In Manhattan clinics, the standard routine is to apply topical anesthetic beforehand. Before HB injections, a 5% numbing cream is applied for a full 40 minutes. For 3+3 microneedling, only a thin layer is needed, and 15 minutes is usually enough. Some patients with a higher pain threshold even choose to skip numbing cream altogether for very superficial 0.25 mm microneedling. HB contains very large nucleotide structures with a molecular weight of up to 1000 kDa. Doctors must use the physical pressure of a to force the formula into the dermis. With simple topical application or very shallow microneedling, molecules of this size cannot penetrate and would simply evaporate on the skin surface. Because HB injections go deeply into the skin and come into contact with subcutaneous tissue fluid, the used must be discarded immediately into a designated red sharps container for medical waste. Microneedling cartridges are also strictly single-use and single-patient only, eliminating any risk of blood-borne cross-contamination.

Choosing Based on Skin Symptoms

When dermatology nurses in Manhattan see patients during autumn and winter, the most common complaint is dryness. After a hot shower at night, if no cream is applied, the cheeks can feel so tight they seem ready to crack. As soon as the person smiles, dry lines as long as 2 mm may appear around the corners of the mouth. Even expensive face cream applied in heavy layers cannot fully suppress that sensation of dryness and cracking. At that point, the skin’s internal moisture level has already fallen below the 15% safety threshold. Rejuran HB contains 1% hyaluronic acid. Doctors use a fine to place it about 1.5 mm beneath the skin. The tissue at that depth behaves like a dried-out sponge, pulling in moisture aggressively within 24 hours. At Beverly Hills clinics in Los Angeles, patients who have just undergone high-energy fractional CO₂ laser treatment often experience widespread barrier damage and peeling. By Day 3, the entire face may feel hot, swollen, and stinging. Doctors then use HB. The 0.3% lidocaine in the solution can reduce the burning pain by more than half within 3 seconds. If you visit a clinic and your symptoms match most of the following, the nurse will usually check off the blue-box HB on your treatment chart:

• Your entire face feels painfully tight within 5 minutes of washing if you do not apply toner or moisturizer
• Dense mesh-like fine lines over 1 mm long appear around the eyes and mouth
• You had Thermage or a high-energy laser treatment less than one week ago
• After spending 2 hours in a room heated to 26°C, your cheeks become dry, red, and flaky
• You are extremely pain-sensitive and cannot tolerate the 7/10 or higher pain level of standard skin booster injections

Now look at a different group: younger oily, acne-prone patients in their twenties. Dryness is not the main issue. In light medical aesthetic clinics in London, young women who have stayed up late finishing long dissertations often arrive with skin that looks as though it is covered by a dull brownish filter. If you touch the forehead and jawline, you can feel obvious rough particles. Under magnification, the pores around the nostrils may be enlarged to more than 0.2 mm by excess oil. For concerns limited to the superficial 0.5 mm of the epidermis, opening the dual-Skinbooster 3+3 is often the more suitable approach. This formula does not rely on high concentrations of hyaluronic acid to force water into the skin. Instead, it uses four compounded amino acids to reactivate sluggish epidermal cells. Microneedling rolls the 0.2% c-PDRN beneath the stratum corneum, helping accelerate the removal of dull, deposited pigment. If your face tends to remain in the following states when you look in the mirror, 3+3 is usually the better match:

• A thick layer of oil appears over the forehead and nose first thing in the morning
• Fresh red post-acne marks remain on the cheeks from breakouts within the last three months
• Foundation begins separating around the nose in less than 4 hours
• Skin tone is highly uneven, with the corners of the mouth visibly darker than the forehead
• You do not want a 3-day recovery period full of papules and can only accept mild redness that resolves within 24 hours

Fresh red or light brown acne marks left on the skin often appear about two shades lighter to the naked eye by around Day 14 after treatment. Enlarged pores with sagging, teardrop-shaped edges also begin to show visible tightening under the action of the peptide complex. In Sydney, anti-aging clinics use ultrasound imaging during quarterly skin reviews. Patients who received HB once a month for three consecutive months showed an average dermal thickening of 0.08 mm. For sensitive individuals with chronically flushed cheeks and extremely thin barrier layers, the skin develops a genuine additional layer of structural protection. By contrast, patients who complete three sessions of 3+3 microneedling show very little measurable change in epidermal thickness. The most significant change captured by instruments is a 15% increase in facial light reflectance. In natural daylight, the skin appears clearer, brighter, and more polished. Some financial professionals in New York develop a particularly difficult mixed skin pattern in winter: cheeks that are dry and flaky, but a nose that remains excessively oily. Experienced practitioners do not mix these two products together in the same sterile. Instead, the face is divided into zones and treated in layers. On the extremely dry and fragile U-zone of the cheeks, the doctor uses a 33G ultra-fine to slowly place 2 ml of HB into the dermis at a depth of 1.5 mm. This area needs deep hydration and thickening. Once the papules on the cheeks are placed, attention shifts to the oilier T-zone—the forehead, nose, and chin. There, an electric microneedling device is used instead. 4 ml of high-concentration 3+3 is delivered into the superficial epidermis at around 0.25 mm. This customized regional approach takes about 45 minutes and avoids the limitations of trying to force one single product to handle the entire face.

Pain & Recovery Time

With older-generation skin booster injections, nurses had to force thick product into the skin at a depth of 1.5 mm. The pressure pain could be intense enough to make patients break into a sweat. On a 10-point pain scale, it often reached 7 to 8, and patients lying on the treatment bed would instinctively grip the sheets. Rejuran HB is different because it contains 0.3% lidocaine. Within 3 seconds of the entering the cheek, the local pain nerves are temporarily numbed. The tearing, splitting sensation that patients fear is reduced by more than half.

Follow-up records from Manhattan clinics show that once this 0.3% anesthetic is added, patients’ average pain score falls to around 3 to 4. What remains is mostly just a mild sense of pressure.

Even though the pain is reduced, the physical reaction of deep injection remains unavoidable. When 2 ml of HB is placed into the cheeks, the face ends up with 40 to 50 injection points. Each point immediately forms a white papule about 3 mm across. The high concentration of hyaluronic acid and large polynucleotide molecules sit tightly within the subdermal tissue spaces, making the face look as though it is covered in white mosquito bites. With that kind of appearance, going out for dinner the same evening is usually not realistic. With a normal metabolic rate, the papules on the forehead and apple cheeks gradually flatten within 24 hours. In areas where circulation is slower, such as the jawline or neck, they may take up to 72 hours to fully disappear. Because a 33G still has to pass through 1.5 mm of skin, it can easily nick small vessels. Even with excellent technique, the under-eye area and corners of the mouth still carry about an 8% chance of developing 1 to 2 mm purple bruises. These generally need 5 to 7 days to resolve fully. For many professionals in London’s financial district, a full 3 days of visible papules feels difficult to tolerate. Clinic staff usually give several strict reminders in advance to determine whether the patient can manage the recovery period:

• Leave the clinic on Friday afternoon and stay indoors over the weekend, away from cold wind
• Do not use any foundation or concealer during the first 48 hours while the marks are healing
• Do not enter hot yoga rooms above 40°C before the papules have flattened
• Use a clean silk pillowcase at night to avoid friction against the cheek injection sites

For patients who cannot tolerate those three days of visible recovery—or who cannot even manage a pain score of 3—nurses often switch to Skinbooster 3+3 instead. It follows a completely different superficial microneedling route and greatly reduces both pain and downtime. The 3+3 formula does not need to be physically forced into the skin with a. A medical electric microneedling device is used instead, with the depth locked between 0.25 and 0.5 mm. This very superficial epidermal layer contains almost no large pain-sensitive nerves.

After 15 minutes of topical numbing cream, the device moves across the face at high speed. Pain is usually rated at only 1 to 2 out of 10. Most people describe it as feeling like an electric toothbrush vibrating lightly across the skin.

Because there is no forceful injection into the dermis, the face does not develop 3 mm raised papules. The microneedles create 1,920 micro-openings per second, and the 4 ml mixed nutrient solution passes into the lower stratum corneum through these channels. As soon as patients sit up from the treatment bed, the face looks similar to skin after 2 hours of unprotected sun exposure on a California beach. The entire face appears evenly pink and slightly congested, with a very mild hot or stinging sensation. This superficial redness fades quickly. Within 12 to 24 hours, the diffuse pink tone usually disappears. TEWL may temporarily rise by 20% during the first 2 hours, but then rapidly returns to the normal range. Because recovery is so short, 3+3 works extremely well as a lunchtime treatment. The full microneedling session can be done within 90 minutes, and patients can return to the office wearing a normal face mask that same afternoon. By the next morning, after washing the face, there is usually no visible sign that a device was used. Hollywood publicists are often extremely busy and cannot take extended recovery time for facial treatments. Clinic records show a very consistent routine for 3+3:

• Wash the face with lukewarm water 12 hours after the procedure and apply a thin layer of additive-free moisturizer
• The next morning, use a high-SPF sunscreen as usual and go out wearing a light mineral foundation
• There is no visible bruising in the mirror that needs concealer
• Follow-up appointments can be booked smoothly every 4 weeks without needing to plan personal leave in advance

A medical aesthetics center in Chicago compiled postoperative survey data from patients who received either HB or 3+3 over the past six months. On the first day after HB, as many as 92% of patients said they absolutely did not want to be seen in public. Among those who had 3+3 microneedling, 85% went back to attending full-day in-person meetings the very next day, even while wearing makeup. The speed at which redness and swelling resolve directly influences how willing people are to return and pay for their next treatment. The high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid in HB needs time to settle into the deeper dermal framework. That difficult 3-day papule phase is the necessary trade-off for delivering water deep into the tissue. By contrast, 3+3 reduces the formula to 1/200 of the original molecular size and delivers it through superficial microchannels, giving up deep water storage in exchange for the convenience of redness that fades within 24 hours.