What is Neova DNA Total Repair?
Neova's own framing is direct: "DNA Total Repair is not a traditional serum. It is the essential first step in restoring skin integrity at the cellular level." The formula is built on three enzymes the brand says help "identify, remove, and repair visible signs of UV-induced skin damage". Neova writes it for all skin types, even the most sensitive, naming at-rest wrinkling, distinctive pigment changes and prominent discolorations as what it is aimed at.
The three enzymes, and what each one is
Micrococcus Lysate carries UV-endonuclease, drawn from a marine microorganism. Plankton Extract carries Photolyase, which Neova calls hyper-efficient. Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract carries OGG-1, extracted from a tiny mustard plant. All three are liposome-encapsulated, and they sit twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth on the list. Alongside them, Evodia Rutaecarpa, which Neova says inhibits inflammation and soothes aggravated skin, and Ergothioneine, an antioxidant the brand says tops the ORAC score.
DNA Total Repair specifications
| Product type |
Serum with three DNA repair enzymes |
| Enzymes |
Three: UV-endonuclease, Photolyase, OGG-1 |
| How often |
Morning and night, immediately after cleansing |
| Texture |
Rich serum with smooth consistency, absorbs quickly, in Neova's words |
| Skin types |
All, even the most sensitive, in Neova's words |
| No copper peptide |
Correct. This is the enzyme serum, not a copper one |
| Worth knowing |
Contains oat kernel extract, fifteenth on the list. Skip it if oat is a problem for you |
| Size |
30 ml. Neova writes it as 1.0 fl. oz. |
Texture, frequency, skin types and the enzyme descriptions are Neova's own. Ingredient positions and the oat note are read from the ingredient list.
What buyers say about it
How long a bottle lasts is the question people actually have. Used once a day, one buyer ran out after two months and another reports about a month and a half. A third says a little bit is all you need, so it lasts her several months. Those are all once-a-day figures, and Neova directs it twice a day, so a bottle goes faster at the brand's own frequency.
Three reviewers here raise price, including two who otherwise like it. One describes it as a light-weight lotion with minimal dry-down time, and reports the last of the product is hard to get out of the bottle she received.
Where it fits in a routine
Immediately after cleansing, before anything heavier, morning and night. For hydration, Advanced HA carries the same three enzymes in a hyaluronic acid base. For antioxidant cover, Power Defense is the copper peptide serum beside it. The rest of the line is on our Neova skincare page.