Cica in Skincare – Why You Need It and What to Try

Cica is an ingredient that’s suddenly become very relevant in my skincare routine over the past year ago, as it’s one of those ingredients that really does what it promises to do.  Centella Asiatica, or Cica for short, is a medical herb that’s regularly featured in Asian skincare, particularly many of the most reputable K-Beauty brands, and it’s an ingredient that’s slowly starting to find it’s way into more of our high street ranges too, with No7 and L’Oreal both recently releasing products containing this wonder herb.

It’s also known as a “herb for tigers” since tigers will roll around on it to help sooth and treat wounds.  It’s one of those ingredients that’s so great for treating inflammation, sensitivity, redness and any kind of reaction that would benefit from something that will gently sooth without flooding the skin and causing more problems – I find it particularly great for breakouts.  Here are three great products to help you introduce Cica into your routine:

The It’s Skin Tiger Cica Calming Serum is a product I’ve written about a few times (check out my original review here) as it’s ideal for adding Cica into your routine.  It’s light, easily absorbed and provides moderate hydration without any greasiness.  You can use it after a Retinol or acid and before a moisturising for an extra layer of healing joy.  I also really recommend this for someone with angry, acne-prone skin as it’ll sooth and treat without causing more problems.  Find it here – link – for £25.99.

Purito are a range that are quite new to me, but they have a really comprehensive Centella Asiatica range that has a bit of everything.  I’ve been trying the Calming Toner (gorgeous, essence-like, more on the blog soon!) but the product I’ve decided to include in this post is the Purito Centella Green Level All in One Mild Pad because it’s a great way to keep a mild acid in your routine that works alongside the Cica to avoid angering skin.  These are acid pads that are free from alcohol and AHAs, with 10% Cica and BHA as the main exfoliant, making them incredibly gentle, yet still great for exfoliating skin that would benefit from a light but thorough acid.  You can use them every day, but I would recommend a few times a week for an acid boost.  They are $23.10 here – link – which is roughly £18 and you get 70 pads, so it’s pretty decent value.

Finally, the No7 Laboratories Cica-Rescue Skin Paste is something I picked up during a No7 3for2 and I’m really glad I did as this is a very impressive product that’s actually quite fun to use.  You apply an opaque layer with a spatula and leave it for a few minutes to start soaking in, before gently rubbing it in, then what’s left you tissue off and go to sleep with whatever remains.  It’s an incredibly soothing treatment product that I have found particularly great this week as I had a pretty rigorous Dermastamping treatment and my skin has been feeling a little bit raw, but I used this again last night and it made a huge difference – keep it in your kit if you have skin that can get a bit reactive, as this takes the sting right down.  It’s £18 here – link.