Cica is the skincare ingredient of the moment, but what exactly is it and why are beauty insiders going wild for it?
Just like Hollywood has the ‘IT’ girls of the moment, the skincare world keeps us chasing the most game-changing and effective ingredients, and Cica is the new kid on the block on everybody’s lips and skin. Well, if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, let’s break it down. Cica otherwise known as Centella Asiatica has been a household name ingredient in the world of K-Beauty — which has been a pioneering force in the skincare industry.
This powerful ingredient is packed full of amino acids, fatty acids, and phytochemicals, including vitamins C, A, B1, and B2. Studies have also shown that an extract of this leaf herb is so powerful, that it could help heal incisions and burns, according to eastern medicine. It seems that this efficacious and transforming ingredient is making it’s waves to the western world too. In fact, UK consumers searches have upped by 90% so GLAMOUR spoke to Dr. Ejikeme, Medical Consultant, Skin expert and Founder of Adonia Medical Clinic, so she could answer all of your burning questions.
Question: What is Cica?
Answer: “Cica is short for centella asiatica, a medicinal plant or botanical. Worth noting that Centella asiatica also goes by other names including gotu kola, Indian pennywort and tiger grass. The active ingredients which are extracted from this plant include: pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.”
Question: What are the benefits of Cica?
Answer: “The active ingredients within it are beneficial for dry-very dry skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help support the barrier function of the skin.”
Question: Best ways to implement Cica in your skincare routine?
Answer: “Cica can be implemented in your skincare routine by using it in your daily moisturiser or serum once or twice a day. Everyday of the week”
Question: What should we be looking for when choosing a good Cica product?
Answer: “Best way to identify Cica in a product is to look out for the key ingredients above as these may be more likely listed as such; pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly asiaticoside, madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Sometimes it is listed by the full names centella asiatica or others such as cicaplast or cicapair.”
Now that we have the science out of the way, let’s get shopping. We have collated 19 highly sought after Cica products for you to choose from, suitable for different skin needs.
DIOR Skin Recover Balm Face & Body, £40, Feel Unique
This multi-use balm is infused with chamomile extract and tiger grass to revitalise the skin and keep it moisturised for up to 72 hours. The soothing properties offer a comforting sensation and maximum nourishment, without leaving your skin feeling greasy or sticky. The balm is suitable for sensitive skin as: it's free of synthetic fragrance, its formulated with 91% natural-origin ingredients, has a pH close to the skin's natural pH.
Swissline Cell Shock Age Intelligence Recovery Serum, £186, The Skin Experts
Dr. Ejikeme recommends this silky textured serum to tackle fine lines and wrinkles and maximise the suppleness of the skin. The cica works hard to help minimise irritation, rebalance and repair skin’s barrier and that potent blend of amino acids help keep the skin hydrated.
Liz Earle Cica Skin Restore Paste, £29, Look Fantastic
This hybrid formula of mask / deep treatment will keep skin hydrated for up to 48 hours. As well as the Cica which provides nourishment deep into pores and combats redness, the formula is also packed with essential fatty acids to strengthen the skin natural barriers and induce repair.
philosophy Nature in a Jar Cica Complex Recovery Moisturiser, £38, Look Fantastic
This moisturiser is not only a jar of Cica, but it’s packed with all that good stuff we look for in skincare like shea butter for intense hydration, and pear fruit extract and agave cryoextract which serve as antioxidants. 93.9% ingredients on the formula are of natural origins to help soothing, which makes it suitable for sensitive skin.
By Beauty Bay Skinhit Calming Serum With Cica And Mushroom, £5.95, Beauty Bay
This vegan calming serum is developed to soothe skin, and due to the Cica's anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces irritation and redness. It’s gentle enough to suit all skin types but also effective enough to create genuine nourishment to the skin.
COSRX Centella Blemish Cream, £23.90, Feel Unique
Cica comes in many forms and one of the benefits is how effective it is on spot treatments. This cream is formulated with Zinc Oxide and Centella Asiatica Leaf Water which help prevent breakouts and loss of moisture and normalises the sebum production on the skin, by calming down problematic areas and clearing the pores.
Kiehl's Centella Sensitive Cica Balm, £38, Feel Unique
This Cica balm is formulated specifically to enhance the properties of the centella asiatica. It helps reinforce the moisture barrier function of compromised skin, while helping to reduce feelings of discomfort and sensitivity and reduces the look of dry skin and fine lines.
Avène Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream, £8, Boots
Adding Cica onto lip cream creates a brilliant fusion of protection and shielding to minimise irritation caused by external aggressors like the cold and exposure to air pollution. This restorative lip cream is also water-resistant and provides long-lasting nourishment for lips prone to chapping.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm, £7.50, Look Fantastic
This soothing repair balm is the ideal go-to product for irritated skin. The fusion of the vitamin B5, madecassoside, glycerin and shea butter create intense nourishment which can moisturise very dry and uncomfortable skin and reduce the appearance of redness.
Dr. Ceuracle Cica Regen 95 Soothing Gel, £22, Kosame Beauty
This soothing gel can be used both as a moisturiser or a leave-on mask. It’s formulated with 95% centella asiatica and helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes as well as soothing inflammation and redness.
Dr. Jart Cica CC cream 15ml, £13, Cult Beauty
This Cica CC cream is a Tik Tok sensation and adorned by gen-z skincare enthusiasts. This color correcting treatment is designed to neutralise redness and blur out imperfections leaving you with a dewy finish. Although be warned as it might leave a white cast on dark complexions.
Elemis Superfood CICA Calm Hydration Juice, £40, Feel Unique
The superfood range at Elemis is super popular with good reason. This CICA Calm hydration juice is enriched with Biotransformed Cica, 75% organic aloe vera juice, fruit water and antioxidants that help hydrate, soothe and balance skin barriers.
YourGoodSkin CICA Repair sleep paste, £8, Boots
This Sleep Paste works hard while you rest. The Cica helps to strengthen your skin's barrier, and brightens skin. The formula also boasts green tea extracts which works as an antioxidant to help fight free radicals and vitamin C which is known to help brighten the appearance of the skin.
Grow Gorgeous Sensitive Ceramide Rich Hair and Scalp Mask, £25, Look Fantastic
You may or may not already know this but scalps are an extension of the skin on your face, and it must be treated with the same level of care. Cica is ideal to have on hair and scalp mask as it can calm and soothe itchy and irritated scalps, as it would the skin on your face. Fermented CICA extract is rich in antioxidants, protecting the skin from environmental aggressors whilst reducing the appearance of redness.
No7 Laboratories Cica-rescue Skin Paste, £18, Boots
This skin paste works best as an overnight restorative treatment that works hard while you sleep. Tiger grass offers those calming properties while the bisabolol and the mondo grass help to soothe and strengthen the skin's protective barrier respectively. The balm has been clinically proven to increase the appearance of healthier looking skin & reduce the appearance of redness.
Revolution Skincare Cica Cream, £10, Look Fantastic
This budget friendly, tiger grass cream actively works to aid healing and repair the skin, by locking in moisture to keep skin smooth and supple while combating breakouts. The cream is also formulated with a fusion of chamomile and grapeseed oil for nourishment, leaving skin looking glowy and dewy.
Seoulista Beauty Fresh Skin Facial Mist, £13.95, Look Fantastic
This facial mist is an ideal on-the-go Cica product with a potent formula that can cool and calm your skin, leaving it refreshed and hydrated from just a few spritzes. It’s ultra-fine texture allows for an even coverage for the perfect pick me up or WFH desk partner.
Sisley Ecological Compound, £175, John Lewis
This best selling moisturiser is saturated with cica to stimulate the production of younger, healthier collagen, and to help to maintain a firmer complexion. The formula also contains a synergistic complex of plant extracts to restore skin radiance, help skin fight environmental stress and promote super supple skin.
SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair Cream Lotion, £70, Look Fantastic
This small but mighty and powerful cream delivers direct moisture and hydration that is quickly absorbed by the skin and works hard to soothe it and correct complexion with consistent use, overtime. It’s ideal for minimising redness and can also be used after chemical peels, laser treatments or microdermabrasion.
