What is Cica? Benefits of Centella Asiatica For Skincare
Those who are regular fans of K-Beauty would have come across the term Centella Asiatica, or cica, at least once in their lives. Most Korean skincare brands have started to implement this ingredient in their formula. If you’re curious as to what’s so great about Centella Asiatica for skin, read on to find out why it’s a lifesaver!
What is Cica and Centella Asiatica?
Centella Asiatica, also known as cica for short, is a herb native to certain parts of Asia and grown in between tropical areas. Some of the other common names include Gotu Kola or tiger grass. The latter name was used due to the fact that wild tigers will make use of the plant and roll all over it to heal their wounds.
These herb extracts have been used as part of the ingredients in natural Chinese medicine. Many have used it to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. The key ingredients of Centella Asiatica skincare products would be asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, and madecassodie.
Benefits of Centella Asiatica for skin
The cica extract is known to deeply penetrate the skin, which is why it has been used for many years now to treat wounds. Below are some of the main benefits of Centella Asiatica for the skin you should know about:
1. Prevent dryness
The ingredient asiaticosides are particularly great to soothe the skin, making it a great option for those suffering from inflamed or irritated skin. That’s also why those who have sensitive skin will benefit from Centella Asiatica skincare products.
2. Great for anti ageing
When our skin is exposed to the sun, the harmful UV rays will cause damage to our skin such as uneven skin tone. When using Centella Asiatica skincare products, the herb will increase collagen production and reduce fine lines or wrinkles.
3. Provide moisture for the skin
Providing moisture is one of the key Centella benefits for the skin. Centella Asiatica contains various antioxidants such as amino acids, beta carotene and fatty acids, all of which provides nutrients to the skin. Thus, it helps to restore the skin’s natural oils and maintain the skin’s moisture levels.
4. Act as a healing treatment
Centella Asiatica skincare products have produced great results for those suffering from acne-prone skin as well as skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It also helps to strengthen the skin barrier.
Why should you include Centella Asiatica in your skincare routine?
Without a doubt, including Centella Asiatica skincare into your Korean skincare routine would do wonders for your skin! Besides, it can also be combined with other ingredients like aloe vera or vitamin C, which will enhance its effects making it even more effective!
The best part about Centella Asiatica skincare products is that you can use them at any time of the day – morning, noon or night! Take a few minutes to try out different timing and see what works best for your skin.
Things to know before using a Centella Asiatica skincare product
Much like other skincare ingredients, there are several things you should know about such as nausea, headache, and dizziness. However, these side effects rarely occur.
If you are currently on medication to reduce the symptoms of anxiety or to treat insomnia, it would not be advisable to take a high dose of Centella Asiatica as it may cause further drowsiness.
It’s best to perform a patch test so that you can avoid any adverse effects.
Introducing the WonderDewi Cica series
After learning all about Centella Asiatica, we bet you want to try out some of the skincare products! Start with our WonderDewi Cica series! Get to know each product below:
A makeup remover that’s so lightweight, that you’ll barely feel it on your skin. It removes your makeup effectively alongside other impurities, leaving your skin refreshed and hydrated after. If you include a double-cleanse as part of your regular skincare routine, the Cica Makeup Remover would be your best bet!
This scrub is gentle enough for those who have sensitive skin. The microcrystalline cellulose is fine enough to remove all the dead skin cells from the face without causing any harm to the skin barrier. The plant-based acne complex made out of citric acid helps to remove dead skin cells effectively too.
With a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5, this cleansing gel removes any impurities, dead skin cells, and oil buildup while forming a protective barrier to retain moisture. With the key ingredient soybean extract, it’ll help to produce melanin which evens the skin tone. Since it’s high in antioxidants as well, it can prevent signs of photo ageing on the skin.
Your go-to Centella Asiatica toner for soothing irritated skin! The combination of Centella Asiatica and betaine help to retain moisture and prepare your skin for the other skincare products. The ingredient sodium hyaluronate also can penetrate deeply into the skin, making it one of the best toners for your face.
Cica Moisturiser is one of the best moisturisers in Malaysia you can find! Lightweight and non-greasy moisturiser that soothes and protects your skin against free radical damage. Together with panthenol and squalene, it provides the hydration you need all day long.
Protect your skin from sun damage with the Cica Sunscreen which contains SPF50. It’s truly a 3-in-1 sunscreen that not just protects from harmful UVA and UVB rays as well as environmental stressors like blue light and infrared radiation, but also moisturises and hydrates the skin at the same time. Great for all skin types, including oily skin as it controls sebum production too.
