What is Cica-Cream?

Discover the Power of Cica for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, using a Cica-Cream can be an effective way to gently moisturize and comfort skin while helping to strengthen skin’s barrier. The word "cica" is believed to have originated from the Latin word "cicatrix" which means scar. These moisturizers often contain Centella Asiatica and have historically been used to soothe and strengthen skin.

Cica-Creams originated in Europe and have recently gained a cult following in Korean skincare. While Cica-Creams are growing in popularity, Kiehl’s has actually used Centella Asiatica since the mid-2000s – when we first launched Dermatologist Solutions™. Our experience with this ingredient inspired our own Cica-Cream, carefully formulated to help soothe sensitive skin while helping to strengthen, repair and protect a compromised skin barrier.

What are the Benefits of Using a Cica-Cream for Sensitive Skin?

Often characterized by dryness and redness, sensitive skin may not always show visible signs of sensitivity but may still have limited tolerance to everyday products. Sensitive skin types often have a compromised skin barrier which can lead to dryness and susceptibility to external conditions like the sun, cold temperatures, and pollution. Using a Cica-Cream can help comfort skin while also helping to restore and strengthen skin’s barrier.

What is Centella Asiatica?

Centella Asiatica is a perennial plant commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas in Asia and Southern Africa. Centella Asiatica flourishes in swampy and shady areas and cannot be cultivated so it is always harvested in the wild. In China, it is also known as "Gota Kolu" and is called one of the "miracle elixirs of life." Centella Asiatica is known to have healing properties – legend even has it that tigers in Asia have been seen rubbing their wounds in this herb earning it the name of "tiger herb" or "tiger grass."

Kiehl’s Centella Sensitive Cica-Cream

Drawing from our experience with Centella Asiatica, our Cica-Cream is formulated with Madecassoside, one of the main potent components derived from Centella Asiatica, along with D-Panthenol. Richly moisturizing, our formula provides 48-hour hydration and feels instantly soothing, and nourishing on skin. Our Cica-Cream helps strengthen and protect while also helping to accelerate skin barrier recovery. After using for 3 days, this cream visibly reduces redness and dry fine lines. With a rich texture, our non-comedogenic Cica-Cream absorbs easily into skin without excess rubbing. Free of fragrances, dyes and alcohol, our gentle barrier cream is also suitable for the eye area.

What Makes Kiehl’s Cica-Cream Unique?

Inspired by the traditional uses of Cica-Creams, our chemists drew from our expertise in sensitive skin and designed a formula that helps soothe and care for skin while also helping to strengthen and fortify skin’s barrier.

Hypoallergenic

Our Cica-Cream is expertly formulated to be hypoallergenic, meaning it is unlikely to cause skin sensitivity. While it is impossible to guarantee that a formula will never cause sensitivity, we carefully selected ingredients and designed a stringent testing protocol to confirm that our Cica-Cream is efficacious, yet gentle. We tested our formula around the world on over 300 people with 100% self-reported sensitive skin to ensure that our Cica-Cream is allergen-free.

Clinically-Tested

Demonstrated to strengthen and protect skin’s barrier, this formula was clinically-tested to help ensure its efficacy. Our Cica-Cream is clinically-demonstrated to help repair the moisture barrier of sensitive skin.*

Key Ingredients

With our experience with Centella Asiatica in other skincare formulas, we infused our Cica-Cream with Madecassoside, a component of Centella Asiatica, along with D-Panthenol.

Madecassoside

One of the most potent components of the Centella Asiatica plant, Madecassoside is extracted, isolated and purified to form a concentrated extract. To produce Madecassoside, four times the amount of Centella Asiatica leaves are required as is needed to produce Centella Asiatica Extract. Within our formula, Madecassoside is known to help improve skin’s texture while helping soothe and relieve discomfort.

D-Panthenol

We also infuse our Cica-Cream with D-Panthenol, also known as Vitamin B3. Within our formula, it helps reinforce the skin barrier and is also known to help dry skin increase its water-holding capacity.

Pair Cica-Cream with a Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

As part of your skincare routine for sensitive skin, start with our mildest facial cleanser. Centella Sensitive Facial Cleanser gently cleanses away dirt, oil and impurities from skin’s surface while helping to soothe and strengthen skin’s barrier. Formulated with Centella Asiatica, this non-comedogenic cleanser leaves skin feeling clean, supple and soothed with all-day hydration. Free of fragrances, dyes and alcohol, this non-stripping cleanser has also been dermatologist tested for safety on a 100% self-reported sensitive skin panel and is suitable for the eye area.

Cleansing Tip

This unique formula has a dual-use removal. After applying facial cleanser to dry skin, rinse with water or remove with a cotton pad or tissue.

*Based on an instrumental test of the skin barrier.

Expert Tip

"It is important to look for non-abrasive formulas that help repair and strengthen skin’s barrier function. Additionally, use products specifically formulated for sensitive skin and avoid ingredients that are known to be skin irritants or potential allergens." – Dr. Megan O’Brien, Kiehl’s Consulting Dermatologist