Cica 시카
Shorthand for Centella asiatica, the soothing botanical behind an entire Korean product category. Named for the centella-derived compounds associated with calming irritated-looking skin.
Related ingredients
See also
Every term in this glossary is used the way Korean brands and Korean dermatology-adjacent marketing actually use it — which is often narrower than the English equivalent implies.
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What is cica or centella in skincare?
Cica is short for Centella asiatica, a plant also called tiger grass and widely used in Korean skincare to soothe the look of redness and support a comfortable, resilient barrier. It's a go-to for sensitive, stressed or breakout-prone skin in calming creams and serums.
What does cica mean in Korean skincare?
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.
✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-10.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.