What is Centella Asiatica and how does it benefit your skin?
What is Centella Asiatica and how does it benefit your skin?
Centella Asiatica is an Asian herb that has been finding its way into Western beauty products with increasing frequency in recent years.
Provided by Woman&Home centella asiatica
It's no wonder this botanical ingredient, also known as cica or tiger grass, is so popular. It boasts multifaceted healing, soothing and protective qualities and can be slotted into almost any skincare routine without fear of a flare-up.
As well as being completely edible (and even a staple of Sri Lankan cuisine) Centella Asiatica is found in a number of skincare products, including soothing serums ideal for sensitive skin, anti-scarring creams, and the best toners to calm inflammation. It can also provide quick relief to people with psoriasis, eczema, and other problems that involve the skin becoming inflamed. If this calming natural skincare ingredient with powerful antioxidant properties has piqued your interest, welcome to cica skin school! Here's everything you need to know.
Your complete guide to Centella Asiatica
What is Centella Asiatica?
Centella Asiatica, also known as gotu kola, kodavan, tiger grass, Indian pennywort, and Asiatic pennywort, is an herb native to wetlands in India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It has been used medicinally for centuries in the East, but only recently found its way to Western beauty products. It's rich in antioxidants and has a variety of healing properties.
Old Indian legends say that when tigers were injured, they would roll in patches of Centella Asiatica to speed up wound-healing, which is where the name tiger grass comes from.
Centella Asiatica benefits
"Cica is an anti-inflammatory ingredient, which helps protect your skin from environmental stressors," explains global skin and wellness expert, Marie Reynolds. "It contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals and triterpene saponins (a pre-curser to squalane), known to firm and tighten your skin's appearance."
"Plus, Cica is abundant in flavonoids, a powerful antioxidant agent which may help to regulate your skin’s cellular activity and fight off free radicals. So not only does it support the lipid barrier by preventing the formation of bacteria, but it also protects the skin."
Because of its wide variety of uses and gentle action, Centella Asiatica is available in a wide variety of beauty products, including:
- Nourishing creams
- Skin replenishing serums
- Gentle cleansers
- Soothing skin toners
- Sunscreens
Centella Asiatica is also used to help heal small wounds and prevent the appearance of scarring. This is why it's a common ingredient in treatments designed to help with how to get rid of acne or how to get rid of acne scars.
Does Centella Asiatica have side effects?
As a highly gentle and soothing ingredient, Centella Asiatica has very few known side effects, especially if you take it according to the manufacturer's directions. In fact, those with reactive skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis often find this to be a highly beneficial ingredient in a skincare routine for sensitive skin.
However, any ingredient carries risks of a reaction, and this is no exception to the rule. When applying Centella Asiatica to your skin, if you experience symptoms of allergy such as irritation, redness, or stinging stop using it immediately.
When and how to use Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica is most tested in its skin-healing applications. If you want to harness its anti-inflammatory properties look for a leave-on product such as a cream or serum containing this ingredient. It works equally well on the body as it does on the face, so if you have scars or stretch marks, or just fancy using a soothing preparation top-to-toe, it may be worth adding Centella Asiatica to your body care routine.
There are no known drug interactions involving Centella Asiatica, which means it's generally safe to use with any other skincare products. If you know how to use retinol and want to combine your best retinol cream with a calming cream or serum, Centella Asiatica products can do just that.
There are a few situations where you shouldn't be using Centella Asiatica. It hasn't been tested on people who are pregnant or nursing, so it's best to avoid it if you are. Regardless of how you use Centella Asiatica, you should start seeing results within three to four weeks of using it. Some studies recommend applying cica for up to six weeks then taking two weeks off, although won't always be necessary—the joy of this powerful plant is that most of its power lies in how gently it works.
Reference: Woman & Home
Articles-Latest
- We've bleached, relaxed, and damaged our hair to make ourselves look more white
- Will this be the year that facial filler is cancelled?
- Shock of the old: 10 painful and poisonous beauty treatments
- Sun Poisoning
- 8 common mistakes that could be making your dry lips worse
- Dermatologist's insight on shower frequency without harming skin
- ‘Making Black More Beautiful’: Black Women and the Cosmetics Industry in the Post-Civil Rights Era
- A damaged skin barrier can leave you dry, itchy or oily. So, how do you fix it?
- What is collagen and why is it so popular in the beauty industry?
- Skin icing's not just for summer – this cryotherapy technique will get you party season ready
- How much sunscreen should you use and how often do you need to apply it?
- Are AHAs Safe?
- EXFOLIANTS - Cosmetics Unmasked
- ASTHMA - Toxic Beauty
- PHOTOSENSITIVITY - Toxic Beauty
- How to Tighten Your Loose Skin After Weight Loss
- Everything You Need To Know Before Getting A Septum Piercing
- What you should know about treating rosacea in darker skin tones
- Shampoos and Conditioners Designed to Soothe Dry, Itchy Scalps
- 3 things an expert wants you to know before getting filler
Cosmetic ingredients
LOGIN
Who's On Line
We have 70 guests and no members online
Articles-Most Read
- Home
- Leucidal
- White Bees Wax
- Cosmetic Preservatives A-Z
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Cosmetics Unmasked - How Safe Are Colorants?
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Choosing Ingredients
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Colorants And Fragrances
- EcoSilk
- Toxic Beauty - Who's Looking At Cosmetics?
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Fragrances
- Microbes and Cosmetics
- Chemicals Lingering In The Environment
- Microbes and Safety Standards
- Toxic Beauty - Hazardous To Your Health
- Yellow Bees Wax
- Potassium Sorbate
- Synthetics In Cosmetics - The Industry Fights Back
- Fresh Goat's Milk Soap
- Active Ingredients
- What's Happening in the USA - Cosmetic Regulations - Toxic Beauty
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Listing Cosmetics
- Natural Waxes A-Z
- Toxic Beauty - Cocktails and Low Doses
- Natural Butters A-Z