Ingredients
Centella, or cica: the Korean ingredient that calms skin
What is centella, why do you find it in half of all Korean products, and who is it for? A guide to the best-known calming ingredient in Korean skincare.
4 November 20265 min read
Walk into any Korean beauty shop in Seoul and you'll notice the word "cica" or "Centella" across an entire shelf. This plant has become the symbol of calm in Korean skincare, with a big following among women with sensitive skin.
What is centella?
Centella asiatica is a plant that grows in tropical regions and has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine in Asia. Its everyday name, "cica", comes from its Latin name. It contains compounds such as madecassoside and asiaticoside, which are why its products are described as calming, hydrating and gentle on the barrier.
Some brands, like SKIN1004, rely on centella from Madagascar in particular and build a whole product line around it.
Who is it for?
- Sensitive skin that reddens quickly or gets irritated by new products.
- Skin with breakouts that needs calming without strong products.
- Any skin using exfoliants or retinol, as a balancing step.
- After sun or travel, when your skin feels tired.
Centella won't solve a problem on its own, but it helps your skin tolerate the rest of your routine.
In what form?
Centella comes in every kind of product, so choose it by what you need:
- A concentrated ampoule: like the SKIN1004 Ampoule. Its texture is like water, and you can use it morning and night.
- A fragrance-free serum: PURITO Wonder Releaf serum is an option for very sensitive skin, because fragrance is one of the things skin reacts to most.
- A toner: for hydration and calm from the very first step.
- A cream: for dry skin or after exfoliants, like SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Cream.
How to start
If your skin is irritated right now, simplify your routine: a gentle cleanser, one centella product, a moisturizer and sunscreen. Stop exfoliants and retinol for a week until your skin calms down, then bring them back gradually.
And if the redness won't go away, or there's itching or heavy peeling, those are signs you need a dermatologist, not a new product.
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