I’ve had acne-prone skin for most of my life and I’m kicking myself for not trying cica a.k.a centella asiatica skincare earlier. Don’t make the same mistake that I did! Here’s why centella asiatica is amazing for acne-prone skin:
Why is Centella Asiatica good for acne?
Centella Asiatica (also know as cica) is great for all skin types but it’s truly a godsend for acne-prone skin!
I have sensitive, dry, acne-prone skin and my go-to moisturizer is a 96% cica cream. I landed on this through a lot of trial and error, but also because studies have shown that cica is naturally anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory which helps calm irritated skin and prevent future flareups!
Does Cica Help Heal Acne Breakouts?
A 2012 study found that Centella Asiatica accelerates the healing of wounds; if you have active breakouts Cica can speed up the healing process and will clear up your skin faster while also preventing future blemishes.
You may also see Centella called Tiger Grass. Wives tales may be the source of how centella asiatica got its nickname of “tiger grass”; there are actually stories about tigers rolling around in the plants after a battle in an effort to recover from their wounds.
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Can Cica Heal Acne Scars?
Cica is known for its ability to stimulate collagen production which helps tissue regeneration, speed up wound healing, and can fade acne scars as well!
COSRX has actually formulated a centella blemish cream that’s specifically made to fade blemishes and acne scars. Centella reduces redness and reduces hyperpigmentation which is part of why I love it so much ❤
Skincare with Centella a.k.a Cica
My holy grail moisturizer is the Tiger Cica Gel Cream by the Korean skincare brand It’s Skin. It’s a 68% cica formula that has worked wonders on my sensitive dry skin. I’ve gone through quite a few tubs of this cream and will likely go through many more.
It’s a thick gel keeps my skin moisturized and bouncy all day; it’s especially wonderful for the winter months when everyone’s skin needs some extra lovin’. It’s also synthetic fragrance and dye-free.?
It’s Skin also has an extremely similar formula that comes in a cream consistency if you prefer creamier skincare products. I got trial sizes of both the gel and cream and enjoyed both, but I personally prefer the gel-cream version.
Skincare Products with Centella Asiatica for Acne-Prone Skin
There are tons of ways to incorporate centella into your skincare routine! If you already have a holy grail moisturizer an easy way to add a boost of centella to an old product is to use some centella powder.
ALIVELAB has a great powder that can be directly applied to blemishes as a spot treatment, mixed into creams, or you can sprinkle it onto a sheet mask before you put it on.
If you mix centella powder into your moisturizer I recommend mixing a small dash of powder with the moisturizer on the back of your hand, if you mix it into the entire tub of cream it may cause consistency issues down the road.
Moisturizers for acne-prone skin with cica
Cica has become very popular in the world of Korean skincare and has popped up all over the place in the last year or two. It has even shown up in the states, L’Oreal Paris came out with a retinol + cica cream! I have not personally tried this cream because I’m head over heels for my Tiger Cica cream, but it’s a great option if you want a cheaper price tag.
Cica Serums & Cica Ampoules
If you can’t bear to replace any products in your skincare routine an easy way to sneak some cica in is by using an ampoule. Ampoules are used after cleansing and before serums (you can learn more about them in my full guide).
I highly recommend the BE PLAIN Cicaful Ampoule. It has 84% centella extract + hyaluronic acid and fermented yeast extract which are both amazing ingredients that I love to death.
I’m going to circle back to the Korean brand It’s Skin for my serum recommendation, they have perfectly nailed their entire line of cica products. The Tiger Cica Calming Serum is formulated with 74% centella asiatica but also does contain a small amount of citrus oil which can cause photosensitivity, so be sure to wear your sunscreen (you should be slathering on the SPF every day anyway!).
I love Korean skincare products (I’ve compiled and tested out soooo many recommendation lists) but so many formulas have citrus oil! I’m slowly trying to purge my skincare collection and get rid of all fragrance and essential oil formulas but it’s really tough. Some essential oils have skin benefits but most just cause unnecessary irritation. I have a full breakdown of why I’m ditching essential oils in my skincare posted here if you’d like to learn more!