Product Types

Cica Cream

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Cica Cream — a soothing moisturizer named for Centella asiatica, a botanical also known as tiger grass or gotu kola, valued in skincare for its calming properties. These creams are often used to comfort redness, irritation, and dryness, and are popular in routines focused on sensitive or stressed skin. The term cica broadly signals a soothing, recovery-oriented formula.

Key points

  • Centella asiatica contains compounds like madecassoside and asiaticoside that are studied for their soothing and skin-supporting effects.
  • Cica creams are commonly used to calm visible redness and comfort skin after irritation or barrier stress.
  • Many formulas pair Centella with hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients for added comfort.
  • The name refers to the ingredient theme rather than a single standardized formula, so concentrations and pairings vary by product.

Frequently asked

What does cica mean in skincare?

Cica is shorthand for Centella asiatica, a plant extract used in soothing formulas; it is sometimes loosely associated with the word cicatrize, meaning to heal.

Is cica cream good for sensitive skin?

Cica creams are often marketed for sensitive or easily irritated skin because Centella asiatica is studied for its calming properties, though individual tolerance varies.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Centella asiatica - LiverTox StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) Reference text ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of Centella asiatica PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Burn wound healing properties of asiaticoside and madecassoside PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Emollients and Moisturizers (Moisturisers) DermNet NZ Clinical guidance dermnetnz.org
  6. Moisturizers StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) Reference text ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.