Centella Asiatica

A plant extract used for centuries in traditional medicine and now one of the most common calming ingredients in Korean skincare.

It is used to settle redness, support the barrier and help skin recover after it has been irritated. It is not an active in the way a retinol or an acid is, so it will not resurface or brighten. Its job is to make skin comfortable.

They are closer than the labels suggest.

• Centella asiatica is the plant itself, sometimes called gotu kola or tiger grass
• Cica is just shorthand for centella. It means the same thing
• Madecassoside, asiaticoside and madecassic acid are the individual active compounds pulled out of the plant

A product listing madecassoside is usually more concentrated than one listing a general centella extract, but both are doing the same job.

Anyone whose skin runs red, reactive or uncomfortable.

It is particularly useful if you are using strong actives. A retinol or acid routine is much easier to stick with when something is calming things down alongside it.

It also suits skin that is fine most of the time but flares with weather, stress or a new product. There is nothing in it that oily or blemish prone skin needs to avoid.

One calming product in the step you already have is better than rebuilding your routine.

• Serum or ampoule: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule or Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum
• Moisturiser: Dr. Althea 147 Barrier Cream, Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream or SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Teca Cream
• Toner: Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner or Medicube PDRN Pink Cica Soothing Toner
• Cleanser: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

If your skin is actively irritated, the moisturiser is the one that will help fastest.

Yes, and it is one of the better pairings in skincare.

Centella is not an active and does not compete with anything, so it layers under or over your treatment steps without a conflict. A calming moisturiser over a retinol is a standard way to make the retinol tolerable.

Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream Mist is an easy way to add it during the day if your skin is feeling tight.

With redness, yes. It is one of the more reliable ingredients for calming a flushed, reactive complexion, and results show within a few weeks.

With the marks left behind after a breakout, it helps indirectly. Calmer skin tends to mark less in the first place, and SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair Cream supports skin that is recovering.

For marks that are already there, niacinamide, azelaic acid and daily SPF do more of the work. Centella keeps the skin comfortable while they do.