Nature has a way of providing us with the best solutions to our problems.
When it comes to skin care, Centella Asiatica, also called “cica”, is making a buzz in the cosmetics industry today because of its wonderful skin benefits. Korean brands have long taken notice, and Western ones are starting to adopt it as well.
Because it’s such a powerful substance, cica products are dominating the must-have lists of some of our favorite Korean brands.
In this article, we’re going to share some of the best Korean products with Centella Asiatica to get you started.
The 10 Best Korean Centella Asiatica Products
Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum
Our Pick
If you’re looking for ingredients such as ethanol, paraben, PEG, mineral oil, and other harmful chemicals, you won’t find them in products like this Centella Asiatica serum.
It doesn’t even use artificial fragrance and is 100 percent vegan. Products of this caliber make it safe even for pregnant women!
The ingredients of the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum are comprised of 49 percent Centella Asiatica extract that increases collagen production. This aids in slowing down the effects of aging by boosting skin elasticity and firmness.
Along with Centella Asiatica, ingredients include niacinamide to produce whitening effects and balance skin tone. To help even out the skin, it also has panthenol and adenosine. These ingredients decrease wrinkle appearance, boosting the effects of Centella in the product.
There are various potent ingredients in this Korean Centella product, which is why it is named a buffet serum. There’s so much to enjoy in one single bottle.
In addition, it’s made cruelty-free. In fact, it is certified by the Environment Working Group (EWG). To have certification, the company must be transparent in all its methods, processes, and ingredients to ensure that every step is ethical and environment-friendly.
This is not a surprise because Purito is a brand that values transparency. Its name comes from the word purity and the Chinese character for soil.
They focus on the quality of their products, which may explain why their packaging is not as visually appealing in the market. With the Purito Centella Green Level Serum, you need to look beyond the surface because you won’t regret using products with benefits like this.
Pros
- Effectively evens out skintone
- Reduces wrinkle appearance
Cons
- Bottle is not that appealing
Innisfree Bija Cica Gel
Best for Oily Skin
Most people think oily skin types don’t need to moisturize anymore. Not quite. Without a moisturizer, it wouldn’t be a complete skincare routine. In fact, the more you strip your skin with moisture, the more it produces unnecessary amounts of oil.
Centella Asiatica is a great ingredient when it comes to oily or acne-prone skin types because it provides just the right level of moisture you need. In essence, it hydrates the skin and keeps the oiliness at bay!
This Innisfree Bija Cica Gel is the best moisturizer on this list for oily skin types. Unlike creams that cause too much tackiness, Centella Asiatica gel is formulated to feel cool when applied and be absorbed quickly by the skin.
Its texture is even much more watery, so it spreads easily compared to other gel skincare products.
Unlike other Centella Asiatica products, this one is a quadruple threat when it comes to the Cica goodness. It has Madecassoside, Madasiatic acid, Asiaticoside, and Asiatic acid to make sure the power of Centella is optimized.
Along with Cica, it also contains an ingredient known as Torreya Nucifera seed oil to help treat pimples that are just about to appear. It also contains another familiar ingredient, panthenol, to calm the skin down from irritation.
It comes in a convenient hygienic plastic tube that is great for traveling and does not contain alcohol or artificial fragrance.
Pros
- Moisturizes oily skin without the tacky feeling
- Cools and smooths skin even during hot summers
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Does not provide enough moisture for dry winter months
SkinRx Lab MadeCera Cream
Best for Dry Skin
Business Insider has ranked this as one of the best products released in 2018 and it’s all for good reason.
What we love most about this Centella Asiatica product is that it can effectively lessen the appearance of redness on the skin within just a few days. It is great even for sensitive skin types because it can soothe your skin if you are prone to irritation.
SkinRX understands how useful hydration is, so they made this Centella Asiatica cream intensely moisturizing without being greasy. It’s even lightweight enough to be layered on during those dry months.
The formula is designed for easy absorption into the skin, so you can wear this cica cream even on hot summers and not have to worry about the product melting off.
The Cica ingredient helps with skin redness while strengthening the skin’s barrier. The ingredients help prevent premature aging while giving you a brighter look.
The niacinamide ingredient also aids in minimizing the appearance of large pores and improving skin tone. In addition, the ceramide ingredient adds to the calming effect of Centella Asiatica that has anti-inflammatory properties. Lastly, it also helps in water retention.
This Korean Centella cream is free of parabens, mineral oil, and surfactants. It also comes in a cute pink tin tube that makes it easy to travel with. Don’t worry about the tin tube, though, because these cica creams can be easily squirted out despite the slightly harder casing.
Pros
- Works wonders for skin redness
- Prevents premature aging
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Runs out quickly
- Does not have SPF
Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
If you’re looking for Centella Asiatica products that give immediate results for your acne-prone skin, then Dr. Jart Cicapair Re.Pair is one way to go.
Within a few hours, you will definitely notice improvements on your pimples. It can even take care of blemishes that come with having acne. It works like a spot treatment for those pesky breakouts.
Just put a few drops of the green liquid on your face and tap lightly all over the face. You can even use this as a makeup base because it improves the smoothness of the skin. It does not give makeup that cakey look. It can even soothe the skin before makeup application with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Perhaps what we love most about Dr. Jart is the packaging. Unlike other products that come in ordinary droppers, this one is completely sealed tight. You will hear a reassuring click when you close it so you can be sure the cica product won’t spill.
The Centella Asiatica content as well as other ingredients are also potent enough to heal malassezia folliculitis in just a few days.
It is one of the few Korean products that dry quickly and leave a faint scent that reminds you of an aloe vera and lemon combo.
Unfortunately, not all Centella Asiatica products work for everyone. Some people who have used it did not notice any appreciable results while others experienced adverse reactions to the Centella product. These are people who are extremely sensitive and those with Rosacea.
Dr. Jart Cicapair can work wonders if you don’t have any allergic reactions to any of the ingredients. But we have to caution you on this one — it works wonders for acne prevention but ONLY if your skin is compatible with it.
Pros
- Great for controlling breakouts
- Good base for makeup
- Clever packaging
Cons
- Expensive
- Can cause adverse reactions to super sensitive skin types
COSRX Centella Blemish Ampoule
