What Centella Asiatica Extract does
The active fractions (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid) have documented anti-inflammatory activity and support collagen production in wound-healing studies.
In cosmetics it is used to take the edge off redness and reactivity, particularly in barrier-repair and post-procedure formulas.
Worth using if…
- Redness and reactive skin
- Barrier recovery after actives
- Sensitive skin routines
Safety & watch-outs
- It is a plant extract — quality and standardisation vary hugely between products.
- Botanical extracts are a more common source of contact allergy than synthetics.
Centella Asiatica Extract in pregnancy: Not on standard avoid lists
Not on standard pregnancy avoid lists, though botanical extracts are always worth mentioning to your clinician.
Fungal acne (): does not feed it
Water-soluble botanical extract. The fungal-acne yeast feeds on fatty acids roughly C11–C24 and the esters built from them, so what matters in a finished formula is the whole list, not one ingredient.
Check a whole formula for malassezia triggers →Comedogenic rating: No published rating
No Fulton rating. Ratings come from the published Fulton scale, which was measured on rabbit ears rather than human faces — treat it as a rough signal, not a verdict on a finished formula.
Check a whole formula for pore cloggers →Common questions
Is cica the same as centella?
Yes — cica is marketing shorthand for Centella asiatica.
Informational only, not medical advice. Written from public regulatory and dermatology references (EU Cosmetics Regulation annexes, SCCS opinions, CIR reviews, published Fulton-scale data). Concentration, formula and your own skin all change the outcome — consult a clinician for personal concerns.
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