Long story, short
- CICA is derived from the Centella Asiatica plant (also known as Gotu Kola, Indian Pennywort, or Tiger Grass) and has been used in Korean and Eastern medicine for decades to heal and soothe the skin.
- Centella Asiatica contains active terpenoids (including Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, and Madecassoside) that are soothing, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying. It also contains antioxidants, amino acids, and Vitamins C, A, B1, and B2.
- You don’t need sensitive skin to benefit from CICA. It’s a great daily moisturiser for all skin types — especially useful during extreme temperatures, when introducing Retinol for the first time, or whenever skin feels dry or irritated.
- CICA creams can be used morning and evening, alone as a moisturiser or layered over a serum or oil for added nourishment.
CICA is a skincare ingredient that’s gaining more and more traction as a true complexion super-soother. Used in Korean skincare for decades, it has now grown in popularity globally for its ability to heal and soothe a stressed, sensitive complexion without the need for a rich, heavy cream. But sensitive skin or not, skincare products containing CICA might just be an excellent addition to your routine. Here’s why…
So what exactly is CICA?
CICA is a skincare ingredient that has super-soothing and healing properties. It comes from the Centella Asiatica plant; a herb that’s mostly found in Asia. (Centella Asiatica also goes by other names, including Gotu Kola, Indian Pennywort and Tiger Grass.) The name CICA is both a shortened version of Centella Asiatica, and a reference to the process of ‘cicatrising’, which means to heal a wound by forming a scar. Centella Asiatica has long been used in Eastern medicine as a herbal remedy to help heal incisions and burns.
CICA has long been used in Eastern medicine to help heal incisions and burns.
How does CICA benefit the skin?
CICA contains active ingredients called terpenoids, which when used in skincare can be soothing, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying. (The main ones found in Centella Asiatica are Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside and Madecassoside.) As well as terpenoids, Centella Asiatica also contains antioxidants, amino acids, and Vitamins C, A, B1 and B2. In other words: a total skincare powerhouse.
Do you have to have sensitive skin to benefit from CICA?
Not at all. Because CICA is so good at replenishing the skin with soothing moisture, CICA creams are a really good option as a daily moisturiser, whether your skin is feeling dry and irritated, temperatures are extreme (hot or cold), or you’re using ingredients like Retinol for the first time and want to keep the rest of your routine as gentle as possible.
How often can you use CICA creams?
You can use a skincare cream with CICA in it morning, night — or both. CICA is an ideal ingredient to use twice a day if your skin is particularly dry or sensitive. A cream like BEAUTY PIE’s Happy Face, which contains the powerful skin-soother Madecassoside Extract from the Centella Asiatica plant, can be used twice a day — either as a moisturiser by itself, or in conjunction with a serum or oil for added skin-nourishing.
