CENTELLA ASIATICA: Ingredient of the week + Skin Care Benefits and Recommended Products

If you're into K Beauty skin care products, you have probably come across this ingredient that almost all K-Beauty products have: CENTELLA ASIATICA.

The thing is, Centella Asiatica has been around; there were other brands that used it in skin care preparations long before K-Beauty dominated the beauty industry; it's just being highlighted intensely nowadays, thanks to the popularity of K Beauty products, particularly CICA CREAMS and MADECA CREAMS where Centella Asiatica is one of the main ingredients.

Let's get to know this ingredient and find out why it's a favorite among acne- prone individuals.

Centella Asiatica is from the Parsley family and is native to Asia and goes by the names Pennywort, Tiger's Grass, or the more popular term, Gotu Kola; the name of the plant depends on the region it grows.

For centuries, it's used in ancient medicine as it is used to treat bacterial infections, UTI, parasitic infections, cholera, syphilis, leprosy, and flu to name a few; it is even used to treat Alzheimer's and depression.

CENTELLA ASIATICA: BENEFITS

Gotu Kola has anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits, and have been found to have profound effects on collagen production that's why it's used in a lot of anti-acne and anti-aging skin care preparations. One of its compounds, Madecassoside has potent anti-redness and collagen- boosting effects, which help prevent and treat acne scarring, improve wrinkle appearance, and eliminate redness and skin sensitivity.

Centella Asiatica is not directly an anti- acne ingredient per se; it's more like an ingredient that minimizes the unfavorable effects of acne like redness, sensitivity, itch, and scarring; some of its benefits are just favorable for those who are suffering from acne.

CENTELLA ASIATICA: SIDE EFFECTS

Gotu Kola side effects are pretty rare, although we can't deny the fact that there is a possibility that some skin types do not fare well with this ingredient. Side effects on the skin can be eczema for Madecassoside- formulated products. Unsupervised use of pure Gotu Kola on the skin can cause burning on the skin should the individual have an allergy to this plant.

CENTELLA ASIATICA: USES

- as supplement

- as skin care

Here are some of the products infused with Centella Asiatica:

Photo credit: Amazon.com

1. CENTELLIAN 24 MADECA CREAM

- A highly raved product by local Beauty Vloggers. This cream apparently helps treat acne including acne scarring, and makes skin look clearer and smoother.

Photo credit: lookfantastic.com

2. COSRX CENTELLA BLEMISH CREAM

- An anti- acne and anti- scarring treatment that can also be used on other areas of the body where needed.

3. BIODERMA CICABIO CREME

- A multi-purpose cream with Madecassic Acid to help heal minor skin lesions; has Antalgicine for an antiseptic effect.

4. HUDA BEAUTY FAUX FILTER FOUNDATION

- Huda Beauty's famous foundation features Centella Asiatica to help keep skin hydrated and soothed despite the full coverage effect.

5. DEAR, KLAIRS MIDNIGHT BLUE CALMING CREAM

- A calming skin cream that helps soothe irritated, red, painful skin due to acne and acne lesions, and also a good after sun care product.

Hope you loved this post! :)