Does centella asiatica really calm irritated skin?

Centella asiatica, also called cica or gotu kola, is widely studied and shown to have soothing properties in cosmetic research. Published reviews support its use for irritated or sensitive skin.

Is centella asiatica safe?

The evidence documents no safety concerns with centella asiatica in cosmetics. It's used globally in skincare and has traditional use in Asian medicine.

active · antioxidant

Centella Asiatica

Generally safe·Moderate evidence·INCI: Centella Asiatica Extract

A plant extract long used in traditional wound care and now common in "cica" soothing products, valued for calming redness and supporting the skin barrier. It is generally well tolerated, with rare contact allergy reported.

Questions

Does centella asiatica really calm irritated skin?: Centella asiatica, also called cica or gotu kola, is widely studied and shown to have soothing properties in cosmetic research. Published reviews support its use for irritated or sensitive skin.
Is centella asiatica safe?: The evidence documents no safety concerns with centella asiatica in cosmetics. It's used globally in skincare and has traditional use in Asian medicine.

Products with Centella Asiatica

References

FDA: Cosmetic Ingredients ↗

This dossier covers safety and concern. For what the efficacy evidence says about Centella Asiatica, see SerumTruth ↗, our sister site.

Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. A verdict is a reading of the published evidence, never a guarantee for your skin: any ingredient can irritate someone, so patch test new products and see a professional if you react. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.