Centella asiatica (cica) in Korean skincare

Centella asiatica is a herb used in traditional medicine across Asia and now a staple of Korean skincare, where it is often called cica. Its main active compounds are the triterpenes asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.

What the research says

A 2024 review of topical centella in wound healing covers how these compounds are thought to work (enhancing collagen synthesis, modulating inflammation and offering antioxidant protection) and collects clinical trials of wound-healing preparations, including for diabetic ulcers and burns (Topical Application of Centella asiatica in Wound Healing, 2024).

That is research on injured skin, often with medical-grade preparations. It does not show that a cosmetic toner or ampoule calms redness or irritation. The brand claims on the products below are marketing, and we haven’t verified them. Our centella vs heartleaf guide sets the same evidence beside heartleaf’s.

How to read the table below

Ingredients are listed from most to least. SKIN1004’s Centella Ampoule has only 7 ingredients and puts centella extract in 4th place, which is why it is sold as a centella product. In other products the extract is far down the list: it is 12th of 24 in Anua’s Heartleaf toner and 24th of 30 in Beauty of Joseon’s Glow Serum. Torriden’s Dive-In Serum lists no centella extract, but it does list madecassoside and madecassic acid, two compounds from the plant, which is why it appears here. The position is not a percentage.