Is Cica the dry skin saviour you need?

Cassie Steer,-Beauty Editor

It’s the skincare ingredient cropping up in everything from cleansers to serums. Here’s what you need to know

With an ever-revolving roster of new skincare ingredients making the beauty headlines – all espousing younger, glowier skin – you might be forgiven for suffering from a touch of ingredient fatigue. But bear with us on this one. Despite sounding like a brand you might find in the sports department, Cica is in fact a plant-based ingredient known for its regenerative, skin-soothing properties. These are qualities very much in demand after the anxieties of the past couple of years…

Also known by the name of Tiger Grass, the K beauty (Korean beauty) favourite Cica claims to help counteract the effects of pollution on the skin, such as inflammation and redness. But even if you live in the leafiest of locations, a product designed to help calm an irritated complexion is an invaluable asset to add to your beauty arsenal.

We caught up with Elemis founder (and ingredient know-it-all) Noella Gabriel for a quick-fire guide to the extract everyone is talking about.

What is Cica?

‘Cica is short for Centella asiatica, a herb largely found in Asia and Africa. It has been used for centuries for its healing properties,’ says Noella. Despite being used in the East for everything from wound healing to helping to relieve anxiety, we in the West only seem to be catching on relatively recently to the whole plethora of therapeutic benefits of this perennial herbaceous creeper.

Why have you added it to your own range?

‘At Elemis, we believe that skin health is the foundation of a great complexion at any age. We’ve included Cica in our products because we’re all faced with external environmental factors that increase the skin’s sensitivity, whether that’s due to pollution, UV light or cosmetic products.’

How can Cica help skin?

‘Naturally rich in antioxidants to help combat free radicals generated by environmental aggressors and known for its soothing properties, this ingredient has been bio-transformed to enhance its compatibility with skin.’

Who should use it?

‘Anyone who has red, irritated or sensitive skin can benefit from Cica, as it can help soothe and repair – which is why we created Cica Calm Hydration Juice. This gel moisturiser packs the additional benefits of 75% organic aloe vera juice to instantly cool and hydrate skin. With the new season and the change in temperatures, this is the perfect time to include Cica in your beauty regime. And Cica Calm Hydration Juice is your go-to if you want a lightweight daily moisturiser designed to help soothe and balance your skin.’