Centella (Cica) vs Heartleaf (Houttuynia): which Korean skincare ingredient?
Centella (Cica) vs Heartleaf (Houttuynia): Centella (Cica) leans toward redness & sensitivity, while Heartleaf (Houttuynia) targets acne & breakouts. Can you use both? Yes — they layer well together.
| Centella (Cica) | Heartleaf (Houttuynia) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | “Cica” = Centella asiatica (tiger grass). The go-to soother for sensitive, stressed or breakout-prone skin. | Houttuynia cordata — a trending calming extract for oily, breakout-prone skin. |
| Best for | Redness & sensitivity, Acne & breakouts, Anti-ageing & firmness | Acne & breakouts, Redness & sensitivity, Oil control |
| When to use | BOTH | BOTH |
Which should you choose?
Choose Centella (Cica) if your priority is Redness & sensitivity; choose Heartleaf (Houttuynia) for Acne & breakouts. Many Korean routines use both — yes — they layer well together.
Centella (Cica) guide →Heartleaf (Houttuynia) guide →
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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 is heartleaf in Korean skincare?
Heartleaf, or Houttuynia cordata (어성초 in Korean), is a trending calming extract used in K-beauty to soothe and help balance oily, blemish-prone skin. It's found in lightweight toners and essences and pairs well with centella, niacinamide or BHA for troubled skin.
✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.