Korean beauty fans like us have likely heard of the ingredient centella asiatica, commonly known as cica or tiger grass. The ingredient itself dates back centuries due to wound-healing and repairing properties. Now, you’ll see it in skin care made for those with sensitive or reactive skin because it’s remarkably good at soothing redness and irritation.
I spoke to four board-certified dermatologists to learn more about centella asiatica and rounded up their product recommendations alongside options tested and reviewed by NBC Select editors.
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What is centella asiatica?
Centella asiatica, also known as cica, tiger grass or gotu kolam, is a medicinal herb native to Asia and parts of Africa. The plant has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for wound healing and skin repair. That same benefit translates into today’s skin care, particularly in the K-beauty space: Centella asiatica helps soothe redness and irritation, strengthens and repairs your skin barrier and and hydrates skin, so it’s great year-round for those with sensitive or stressed skin, says NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah. It also speeds up the collagen synthesis process, which keeps the skin elastic and firm, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Fine.
Since it primarily calms irritated skin, it’s a popular ingredient to use after treatments like retinoids, chemical peels and microneedling, all of which can cause irritation and compromise your skin barrier, says Shah. It’s also commonly found in products marketed for post-procedure skin because it tends to be well tolerated and soothes and repairs skin, says Dr. Danilo C Del Campo, board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Skin Clinic.
That said, though centella asiatica has promising data, it doesn’t have the same amount of evidence as most active ingredients like retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, says Del Campo. “A lot of the excitement is based on smaller studies, lab-based research and strong anecdotal clinical experience, but not huge long-term trials,” says Del Campo.
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The best centella asiatica products
Best overall
This serum, which comes recommended by Shah, combines centella asiatica with allantoin, which helps support your skin barrier, according to the brand. “When redness starts creeping in, I reach for this serum,” says NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson. “The texture is light but comforting and it immediately takes the edge off angry, reactive skin. It feels like a buffer between my face and the outside world, which is exactly what sensitive skin needs.” Swanson says she uses this serum specifically on days when her skin feels fragile and unpredictable.
Best SPF
NBC Select senior social media and newsletter editor Julie Huang uses this serum daily, which she gets shipped directly from Korea (which has a slightly different formula). “This is my ride-or-die sunscreen to the point where I start to panic if I’m down to half a tube and I’ll immediately place an order for six more,” says Huang. “The formula, like most Korean sunscreens, is a lightweight consistency, goes on like lotion and absorbs quickly, even though the SPF is 50+. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated, slightly dewy, but no sticky residue or whitecast.” Huang also notes that it has not caused her sensitive, acne-prone skin to break out or her eyes to sting like some other sunscreens do. It layers nicely under foundation, too, she says.
Best for barrier repair
One of our favorite creams for eczema and dermatitis, La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Balm comes recommended by Del Campo and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman because it helps hydrate, repair and strengthen dry or irritated skin with ingredients like panthenol, glycerin and shea butter. It’s suitable for babies as young as a week old, children and adults, and you can use it as a spot treatment on your face and body, according to the brand.
“In college, I made the mistake of getting my eyebrows waxed after starting retinol and my eyelids blistered, peeled and scabbed within about two hours. I tried ice, aloe vera and Vaseline, but this was the only cream that soothed the pain,” says NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi. “Now, I use it after all my threading appointments and it prevents the redness and rashes.” Alabi also uses the cream to soothe dry and cracked skin on her elbows and knees. “It goes a bit beyond your average lotion (and trust me, I’ve tried dozens),” she says.
Best moisturizer
I have very dry, sensitive and rosacea-prone skin, so I need a moisturizer that’s both gentle and very hydrating, especially during the colder months. This Aestura moisturizer has been my savior this winter; it has a light, gel-like texture that instantly soaks into my skin and gently gets rid of dry patches and redness. Plus, it layers well underneath my makeup and keeps my dryness at bay for hours. It does have a slightly unpleasant scent at first, but that goes away quickly once I blend it in.
Best face mask
These gel-based face masks cool and soothe red or irritated skin. “When my skin needs an extra boost of hydration but I don’t feel like wearing an overnight mask, I use this sheet mask,” says former NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez. “My skin instantly cools down, which feels so relaxing and makes me never want to take it off.”
Most soothing
One of our favorite K-beauty ampoules, this Round Lab water-gel serum has pine tree leaf extract, which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that calms irritated skin, according to the brand. It also has plant-based peptides to help your skin produce more collagen, which improves the skin’s firmness. “I brought this ampoule along with me on a trip to Brazil, and it helped soothe my skin after long days in the harsh sun,” says NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris. “It also prevented my skin from getting overly dry or spawning any new pimples, which is usually what happens to me after spending hours swimming in the beach’s salty waters.”
Best body cream
This Cetaphil cream is one of our favorite body lotions for mature skin because it’s hypoallergenic (meaning it’s safe for sensitive skin), fragrance-free and gentle enough to use twice daily on aging skin, according to the brand. In addition to centella asiatica to soothe and firm skin, the cream has mandelic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that helps brighten your complexion, experts say.
Best for dark spots
This spot treatment fades scars and brightens skin using ingredients like tranexamic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid and, of course, centella asiatica. Several NBC Select editors tried this serum for two months on scars and acne-related hyperpigmentation, and they all noticed their dark spots became lighter and their scars had begun to fade almost entirely. “Anyone who knows me, knows that I’ve been a loyal Topicals fan for years now. I reach for the Faded serum whenever I’m dealing with particularly stubborn dark marks,” says Morris, who is currently using it to fade acne spots on her back caused by post-workout breakouts. Topicals recommends using this serum at night after washing your face and before your moisturizer. Avoid using it with actives like AHAs, BHAs and retinols because it can irritate your skin, according to the brand.
Best for redness
This serum is one of our favorites with azelaic acid because it reduces redness and soothes irritation, especially for those with rosacea-prone skin. It also has panthenol, which is a humectant that helps the skin retain moisture, experts say. You can use this serum both day and night, according to the brand.
Best toning pads
Dr. Althea is one of our favorite K-beauty brands for sensitive skin, and these toning pads are one of the best products in its lineup. I use these when I need an extra boost of hydration in the morning before I put on my moisturizer and sunscreen, and it makes a huge difference in terms of reducing dry patches on my skin. I also have moderate rosacea, which can worsen during the colder months, so I use these pads to soothe redness and reduce rosacea-related bumps. I love the lid packaging that I can close to prevent the pads from drying out, and it includes a tiny pair of tongs to avoid having to use my fingers. However, keep in mind the packaging leaks, so you’ll need to keep it upright to avoid a mess.
How I picked the best centella asiatica products
When choosing skin care products for this list, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists about what to look for. Here’s what they recommend:
- Sensitive skin-friendly: Look for complementary ingredients that’ll soothe redness and won’t irritate skin. That includes hyaluronic acid and panthenol to hydrate, ceramides soothe and niacinamide to brighten skin. You can also pair centella asiatica with stronger actives like retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids (like lactic and glycolic acids) and vitamin C since it helps calm redness and irritation that may result from those ingredients, experts say.
- Formulation: You’ll find centella asiatica in most types of skin care formulations, including serums, moisturizers, toners, face masks and cleansers.
Frequently asked questions
Most people can tolerate centella asiatica, and it’s especially great for those with sensitive skin due to its soothing properties. It’s best for people with reactive skin, including those with eczema, mild rosacea or anyone using active ingredients and trying to protect their skin barrier, says Del Campo. The ingredient also helps to regulate dermatitis, which is when the skin barrier is damaged and it can’t easily hold on to moisture, says Fine.
You’ll commonly find centella asiatica in serums and creams, which are generally safe to use one to two times per day, says Shah. “Because it is soothing, it’s compatible with most skin care ingredients and you can apply it after stronger actives like retinoids or acids,” she says. You can use it both morning and night and because it’s such a well-tolerated ingredient, you can use it everyday, says Fine.
The benefits of using centella asiatica in the morning are to reduce redness and strengthen your skin barrier underneath sunscreen, while the benefit of using it at night is to help repair your skin barrier overnight, says Shah.
“Most people tolerate [centella asiatica] well, but like any botanical ingredient, reactions can still happen,” says Del Campo. While side effects are rare, they can include allergic contact dermatitis (which can look like a red, itchy rash). People with known allergies or sensitivities to the plant extract should steer clear of the ingredient, says Spearman.
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Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Sejal Shah is a board-certified dermatologist at a private practice in Manhattan.
- Dr. Danilo C Del Campo is a board-certified dermatologist at Chicago Skin Clinic.
- Dr. Dara Spearman is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- Dr. Lauren Fine is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in both general and cosmetic dermatology for adult and pediatric patients.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an updates editor at NBC Select who has covered beauty, skin care, hair care and wellness for over five years. I’ve also tested hundreds of skin care products to find the best ones worth buying. For this article, I spoke to four board-certified dermatologists and highlighted their recommendations for the best products with centella asiatica to consider. I also included products that NBC Select editors use and love.
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