Cica Guide In Korean Skincare

CICA in Korean Skincare Trend

It has been several years since CICA became a trendy ingredient in Korean skincare. I can easily find Cica items on my dressing table. With the soothing and calming effects of Cica, various Korean cosmetics contain it to restore, strengthen, and delicately care for a disrupted epidermal barrier caused by frequent stress, lack of sleep, a fast-paced lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet. Cica or Centella Asiatica products like toner, essence, ampoule, moisturizer, and sheet mask will aid in this endeavor.

What is CICA?

CICA is also known as Centella Asiatica, a medicinal plant commonly utilized in Korean cosmetics. With an action that aims to restore the dermis intensively while also reinforcing the protective barrier, it became the most popular skincare ingredient. The extract from Centella Asiatica has mainly 4 ingredients, Madecasosside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid. Creams, toners, lotions, serums, essences, and masks all have a natural, delicate, and safe component added to them.

Benefits of CICA for Skin

Centella Asiatica is prized by cosmetologists for its rejuvenating, hydrating, and anti-aging effects.

• Accelerate wound and scratch healing

One of the main extracts, Madecassoside is beneficial in the treatment of wounds, burns, and even helps scars recover faster.

• Stimulate dermal collagen production.

It protects cells from premature aging by acting as a natural antioxidant. CIca (Centella Asiatica) is a powerful component in the fight against aging skin. The chemical helps to smooth wrinkles and minimize puffiness by speeding up the skin’s collagen production by up to 30%.

• Restore damaged skin areas

This impact is achieved by increasing collagen formation in the skin. What’s more, it has a rejuvenating action and helps to hydrate and enhance skin elasticity when combined with vitamin C.

• Eliminate irritation and redness

The plant, CICA fights pigmentation, and rashes by reducing puffiness, evening out skin tone and color and stimulating the natural processes of filling cells with the necessary quantity of moisture.

• Reduce the number and depth of wrinkles, and tightening effect

Another Cica ingredient, Asiaticoside effectively reduces deep wrinkles around the eyes as a powerful component in the fight against aging skin. Therefore, Centella Asiatica is used not only for calming but also for wrinkle care and skin aging.

Side Effects of CICA

Side effects from using CICA aren’t common. However, it is still a herbal ingredient, despite its extensive use in medicine and cosmetics, therefore it’s worth first testing the product on a small patch of skin first to rule out allergies.

Since CICA isn’t a reactive ingredient, it will typically play nice with other ingredients especially Green Tea, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin C which are all good partners. Korean Cosmetics with CICA extracts are beneficial for mature, dry, irritated, and removing inflammations.

Top 3 Korean Skincare products with CICA

iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

• iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream
• 60ml
• Skin Concern: Anti-aging/ Wrinkles, Dryness/ Hydration, Dullness / Radiance, Irritation/ Calming, Whitening
• Skin Type: Dry, Normal, Combination, Oily
• Paraben-free, Fragrance-free, Sulfate-free, Alcohol-free, Essential oil-free

This gel-type cream does a great job of calming and hydrating with a light texture. iUNIK moisturizer, which contains Centella Asiatica, is great for sensitive skin, troublesome rashes, redness, rosacea, and irritation. It improves skin irritation and helps the skin tone up naturally. Plus, iUNIK cream has a cooling effect that absorbs quickly into the skin without feeling heavy.

Overall, It’s such a good light moisturizer for all skin types with only clean ingredients. The Cica hydrates, regenerates, and calms the skin of the face. The product is differentiated by its rapid application results, which include the elimination of irritation, rashes, and itching.

KEY INGREDIENTS :

• Brightening: Niacinamide, Licorice Root Extract
• Hydrating: Arginine, Sodium Hyaluronate
• Anti-aging: Adenosine
• Soothing:  Allantoin, Centella Asiatica Extract

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Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule

• Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule
• 30ml / 50ml
• Skin Type: All Skin Types
• Skin Concern: Dryness/ Hydration, Dullness / Radiance, Irritation/ Calming
• #alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty

Just like the name of the cosmetic brand, Be Plain, the ingredients in this ampoule are quite minimal but effective. The main ingredient part of the Cica used to repair the skin is highly contained in Be Plain Cicaful Ampoule. Nearly 82% of Centella Asiatica Extract is intended to treat severe inflammatory processes, as well as the removal of troublesome rashes and acne, as well as irritation. It also has Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) and Glycerin to keep your skin soft and moisturized during the day.

I applied this ampoule in the morning and evening when the weather turned my skin red and pimply. After a couple of days, I saw my skin even out and soothe. In addition, It is at ease putting the ampoule on. I highly recommend it, especially for sensitive skin types as a clean beauty item without potentially harmful ingredients like fragrance.

KEY INGREDIENTS :

• Soothing: Centella Asiatica Extract, Chamomile Flower Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate

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COSRX Pure Fit Cica Serum

• COSRX Pure Fit Cica Serum
• 30ml
• Skin Type: All Skin Types
• Skin Concern: Dryness/ Hydration, Dullness / Radiance, Irritation/ Calming
• #alcohol-free #fragrance-free #paraben-free #sulfate-free #essential oil-free #clean-beauty #vegan-friendly

COSRX Pure Fit Cica Serum is made specifically for those with sensitive, damaged, or troubled skin. It includes extremely concentrated seven different types of Centella. The peculiarity of the serum is that it adapts to your type and skin condition. It offers a lightweight texture and does an amazing job at calming down angry skin. Besides using it as an all-over treatment, I can also use it on spots to help reduce redness. 

So, Cica cream is suitable for practically everyone, especially if you need to reduce redness and inflammation while also restoring the skin barrier.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

• Soothing: Centella Asiatica Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Centella AsiaticaRoot Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, MadecassicAcid, Madecassoside, Betaine, Panthenol
• Hydrating: Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin

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What is CICA good for?

Centella Asiatica, CICA has aided in the maintenance of health and longevity, as well as the healing of skin illnesses and damage. It is also known as Gotu Kola is one of the most efficient anti-aging substances in current cosmetics, capable of smoothing even deep wrinkles.

Moreover, Centella’s popularity stems from the presence of active compounds in the plant, such as Madecassoside and Asiaticoside, which aid in skin regeneration. Madecassoside extract helps to minimize acne-causing bacteria-induced inflammation.

Where is CICA from?

CICA, Centella Asiatica is most commonly found in high-humidity forests, beside lakes, marshes, and rivers in the natural environment. In Southern Africa, India, and Madagascar, this kind of plant is widely used for cosmetic and therapeutic uses. Due to its remarkable therapeutic powers, Centella Asiatica has been employed in Asian medicine for hundreds of years. It is a component in modern cosmetics that benefits all skin types, especially sensitive skin. And it’s all thanks to a variety of reasons. Cica, which is another name for this plant, has gained most of its popularity in K-beauty. Due to an active lifestyle, overwork, and air pollution, it is most loved from all around the world these days.

Is Cica good for acne?

Yes, to everyone, without exception, and especially to those who have skin problems, the ingredient actively combats a variety of dermis flaws, including normalizing the skin’s water-fat balance, removing flaking and dryness, reducing inflammation and irritation, healing acne, and lightening post-acne scars.

Centella is also helpful for rosacea as well. The chemical strengthens veins and capillaries, improves blood circulation, and reduces redness. Regular application of cosmetics containing Gotu Kola extract strengthens blood vessels and makes them less permeable.

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