The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Centella Asiatica
aka cica · centella · tiger grass · gotu kola
The defining K-beauty soothing botanical — a small wetland plant whose extract (commonly labeled 'cica') drives one of the largest categories in Korean skincare. The active fraction is the triterpene complex (madecassoside, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid), with madecassoside the most-studied for wound-healing and barrier-repair effects. Now mainstream beyond K-beauty: Topicals, Versed, Beauty of Joseon, Skin1004, and Dr. Jart all build category lines around it.
- anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair via triterpene actives
- stimulates collagen synthesis (asiaticoside)
- calms post-acid, post-procedure, and rosacea-prone skin
- barrier creams
- post-acne recovery
- post-procedure soothing
- sensitive-skin moisturizers
Cica extracts vary wildly in triterpene concentration. Madecassoside-isolated extracts (Skin1004 Madagascar Centella) outperform generic 'centella extract'. Pairs with niacinamide, panthenol, and hypochlorous acid in barrier-rescue stacks.
'Cica' on a label may mean trace centella extract or a heavily standardized triterpene complex — the gap is enormous. Look for named actives (madecassoside %, asiaticoside %).
Strongly trusted — the K-beauty-to-clean-beauty bridge ingredient.
The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Centella Asiatica
aka cica · centella · tiger grass · gotu kola
The defining K-beauty soothing botanical — a small wetland plant whose extract (commonly labeled 'cica') drives one of the largest categories in Korean skincare. The active fraction is the triterpene complex (madecassoside, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid), with madecassoside the most-studied for wound-healing and barrier-repair effects. Now mainstream beyond K-beauty: Topicals, Versed, Beauty of Joseon, Skin1004, and Dr. Jart all build category lines around it.
- anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair via triterpene actives
- stimulates collagen synthesis (asiaticoside)
- calms post-acid, post-procedure, and rosacea-prone skin
- barrier creams
- post-acne recovery
- post-procedure soothing
- sensitive-skin moisturizers
Cica extracts vary wildly in triterpene concentration. Madecassoside-isolated extracts (Skin1004 Madagascar Centella) outperform generic 'centella extract'. Pairs with niacinamide, panthenol, and hypochlorous acid in barrier-rescue stacks.
'Cica' on a label may mean trace centella extract or a heavily standardized triterpene complex — the gap is enormous. Look for named actives (madecassoside %, asiaticoside %).
Strongly trusted — the K-beauty-to-clean-beauty bridge ingredient.