Centella Asiatica Skin Care Benefits
Centella Asiatica, Centella Asiatica, Tiger Grass, this herb has many names and has become a highly sought after ingredient in the skin care industry, especially in the Korean beauty industry, which is known to have a huge following. So what makes this herb so popular?
What is Centella Asiatica or Gotu Kola?
Centella Asiatica, also known as Centella Asiatica, is a plant herb that grows in tropical swamps in parts of Asia. Extracts from this herb have been used in natural Chinese medicine for thousands of years for its skin healing properties. You may also notice that products containing Centella Asiatica have the name “Tiger Grass” on their labels. This is because wild tigers roll around in the plant to heal battle wounds and regenerate their skin.
Known for its healing, skin soothing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is great for treating skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and scars. It is also incredibly moisturizing and helps dry skin types!
With our busy, hectic lifestyles, our skin often becomes unbalanced due to lack of sleep and environmental influences. Centella asiatica strengthens the skin barrier and improves the overall appearance, giving you a clearer complexion. Cica benefits are numerous and are becoming increasingly popular with skincare brands, making it a regular ingredient in a variety of products on the market, such as moisturizers and even CC creams.
What are the benefits of Centella asiatica or Gotu Kola for the skin?
Anti-Aging
Centella asiatica is rich in antioxidants and helps neutralize free radicals from pollution and the sun’s UV rays. These free radicals damage the skin barrier, leading to uneven skin tone and other issues associated with skin aging. Once skin starts to age, you’ll notice a loss of elasticity leading to sagging and wrinkles. Centella asiatica can improve blood circulation and collagen production, making the face look younger, firmer, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Calming
Centella asiatica contains asiaticoside, which has an incredibly soothing and healing effect on the skin. Sensitive and extremely dry skin types who experience redness, inflammation, and sometimes itchiness will notice a dramatic improvement in skin health, with visible signs of irritation significantly reduced.
Moisturizing
In addition to being rich in antioxidants, Centella asiatica is also rich in amino acids, fatty acids, and beta-carotene, all of which provide a ton of nutrients to the skin, keeping it hydrated and restoring the oil and water content of the skin barrier.
Healing
Centella asiatica can help treat many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, varicose veins, and stretch marks. Centella asiatica contains “madecassoside,” a compound that boosts the skin’s antioxidant activity, healing wounds and scars by improving circulation and strengthening the skin barrier. Those with blemish-prone skin will find that all breakouts (such as blackheads) can be treated and eliminated without leaving any marks or scars.
Where can I buy XIKA?
Skincare – Due to the popularity of this ingredient in the Korean beauty industry, you can find it in a variety of skincare products such as serums, moisturizers, and balms.
Topicals – Centella asiatica can be applied topically to burns, scars, inflammation, and stretch marks.
Dietary Supplements – You’ll find Centella asiatica is also available in oral supplements that improve blood circulation.
Cooking – This plant seems to have made its way to the kitchen as well, as many cultures add it to salads and rice dishes.
Can Centella asiatica or Gotu Kola Help Treat Acne?
As mentioned earlier, there are many benefits of Centella asiatica for the skin, one of the most important of which is its anti-inflammatory properties. Cica contains active concentrations of hydroxy-Centella asiatica compounds that can reduce and calm inflammation. Therefore, anyone who is prone to blemishes can easily tone their skin and reduce the redness and size that accompanies the appearance of spots and pimples. This natural ingredient can improve the appearance and protect the skin from further acne due to its antimicrobial properties.
What are the side effects of Cica?
Some of the side effects of Centella asiatica include:
Nausea
Upset stomach
Photosensitivity (sunlight sensitivity)
Drowsiness
Burns
Itching
If you find yourself experiencing any of these side effects, it is best to stop consuming or using products containing Centella asiatica.
There are also some more serious side effects. See your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:
Yellow eyes
Comfort
Stomach pain
Clay-colored chairs
If you have any questions or concerns about using Cica, contact your primary care physician or dermatologist for further advice.
Should I use Centella with other skin ingredients?
While Centella on its own can work wonders for your skin, there are a few ingredients that can be used regularly to enhance its effects on the skin.
Centella and Aloe Vera
The combination of these two creates the ultimate acne-fighting combo. Centella reduces inflammation and kills acne-forming bacteria on the skin. By combining it with Aloe Vera, you can soothe and heal breakouts faster than before, leaving your skin soothed, happy.
Centella and Vitamin C
As mentioned earlier, Centella is a great booster of collagen production, and when combined with Vitamin C, it can significantly improve the softness, firmness, and hydration of your skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles after just 6 weeks of use. If you want to learn more about Vitamin C, read our blog post on the benefits of Vitamin C for skin.
Centella Asiatica and Glycolic Acid
The combination of Centella Asiatica and AHA Glycolic Acid gives you uneven skin texture and youthful, supple skin. Glycolic acid also supports collagen production in the skin, giving Centella Asiatica a huge boost.
Now that you know a little more about this ancient herb, it’s taken the beauty industry by storm and shows no signs of going away anytime soon. Well, if it’s good enough for the king of the jungle, it’s good enough for us too!
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DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.