What does cica mean in Korean skincare?
⏱ 1 min read
⚡ Quick answer: Cica is shorthand for Centella asiatica, a botanical used across Korean soothing products. Cica formulas are aimed at the look of redness, irritation and a stressed barrier.
Cica is shorthand for Centella asiatica, a botanical used across Korean soothing products. Cica formulas are aimed at the look of redness, irritation and a stressed barrier.
More detail
The plant supplies several related compounds — madecassoside and asiaticoside among them — which is why some products list those individually rather than the whole extract.
🇰🇷 시카 (cica) is one of the most recognisable words on Korean packaging, and 진정 (soothing) usually appears alongside it.
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✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.