Walk through a Korean beauty store and one word appears again and again:
Cica.
Cica cream.
Cica toner.
Cica pads.
Cica masks.
Cica cleansers.
Then things get confusing.
Some products say Centella instead. Others highlight madecassoside, asiaticoside or a proprietary “Cica Complex.”
So, what is cica in Korean skincare?
Is it an ingredient?
Is it another name for Centella asiatica?
And is madecassoside the same thing?
The short answer:
In skincare, “cica” is commonly used for Centella asiatica and skincare ingredients derived from it. But Cica, Centella extract and madecassoside are not interchangeable ingredient names.
That distinction matters when you are shopping for Korean skincare.
Two products can both say CICA across the front and still contain very different formulas.
Here is how to tell what you are actually buying.
What Is Cica in Korean Skincare?
In Korean beauty, cica (시카) is closely associated with Centella asiatica, a plant widely used in skincare.
In Korea, Centella asiatica is commonly called:
병풀 (byeongpul)
A Cica product might contain Centella asiatica extract itself.
Or it might highlight individual Centella-associated compounds such as:
- madecassoside
- madecassic acid
- asiaticoside
- asiatic acid
Some formulas combine several of them.
This is why Cica on the front of the package does not tell you the complete ingredient story.
To understand that, you need to look at the actual formula.
Cica vs. Centella: Are They the Same Thing?
They are closely related, but the words are not technically interchangeable.
Centella asiatica is the botanical species.
병풀 is the common Korean name for the plant.
Cica is the consumer-facing skincare term widely associated with Centella and Centella-derived skincare ingredients.
That means you will often see the words used almost interchangeably in beauty marketing.
But when you are reading an ingredient list, the distinction becomes important.
A product may contain Centella asiatica extract.
Another may primarily highlight madecassoside.
A third may combine several Centella-associated compounds and market the mixture as a proprietary Cica complex.
All three might be sold as Cica skincare.
They are not necessarily the same formula.
Then What Is Madecassoside?
Madecassoside is where a lot of K-beauty terminology gets mixed together.
Madecassoside is not another name for Centella asiatica.
It is one of the compounds associated with the plant.
The same goes for:
asiaticoside
madecassic acid
and
asiatic acid.
A simple way to remember it is:
Centella asiatica = the plant
병풀 = the Korean name for the plant
Centella asiatica extract = an extract made from the plant
Madecassoside = a specific Centella-associated compound
Cica = the skincare term associated with this ingredient family
Once you understand that distinction, Korean Cica labels become much easier to read.
The Five Centella Names You Will Keep Seeing in Korean Skincare
If you shop Korean skincare, these names appear repeatedly.
Centella Asiatica Extract
An extract made from Centella asiatica rather than one isolated constituent.
On Korean labels, you may see it written as:
병풀추출물
Madecassoside
One of the best-known Centella-associated compounds in modern skincare.
Korean:
마데카소사이드
Madecassic Acid
Another Centella-associated compound.
Korean:
마데카식애씨드
Asiaticoside
Another compound associated with Centella asiatica.
Korean:
아시아티코사이드
Asiatic Acid
Another Centella-associated compound.
Korean:
아시아틱애씨드
A product does not need to contain all five to be marketed around Cica.
And containing more of these names does not automatically make one product better than another.
They simply tell you more about what is actually behind the word Cica on the front.
A Korean Product Shows Why “Cica” Is Not Just One Ingredient
A useful example comes from Dr.G’s Red Blemish Clear Soothing Cream.
In an Olive Young Korea feature, the brand describes a proprietary:
10-CICA COMPLEX
That sounds like a single ingredient.
But the brand’s explanation shows why Cica terminology can be more complicated.
It identifies five Centella-related components:
- madecassoside
- madecassic acid
- Centella asiatica extract
- asiaticoside
- asiatic acid
and says additional components are combined to create its broader 10-CICA complex.
This is a brand-specific formulation concept, not a universal definition of Cica.
But that is exactly why it is useful.
It shows how the word is used in the Korean market:
Cica can describe a skincare concept built around multiple Centella-related ingredients rather than one ingredient called “Cica.”
Why Is Cica So Common in Korean Skincare?
There is no single event that explains the entire Korean Cica category.
But Cica fits closely with several concerns that appear constantly in Korean skincare:
진정 (jinjeong) — soothing / calming
수분 (subun) — hydration / moisture
장벽 (jangbyeok) — barrier
Look through Korean skincare and you will find Cica-related positioning across many formats:
creams,
toners,
toner pads,
cleansers,
masks,
and serums.
That breadth is more useful than claiming that “Koreans love Cica.”
There is no reliable national statistic showing that every Korean shopper uses Cica.
What we can say is:
Cica is firmly established in the vocabulary of mainstream Korean skincare.
Is Cica Actually Proven to Work?
This needs a more careful answer than the front of a skincare package usually gives you.
There is scientific literature examining Centella asiatica and its constituents.
A 2022 dermatology review in SKINmed, for example, examined Cica/Centella asiatica in skincare formulations and reviewed the existing literature around its dermatologic uses and proposed mechanisms.
But that does not mean every product labeled Cica has been clinically proven to produce the same effects.
That distinction is important.
Research on:
Centella asiatica
is not automatically evidence for:
every finished Cica cosmetic.
The specific ingredient matters.
Its concentration matters.
The rest of the formula matters.
And evidence on an ingredient should not automatically be turned into a clinical claim for every cosmetic containing it.
That is why I would be cautious when a Cica product is casually described as something that will “heal” damaged skin.
A cosmetic and a medicine are not the same thing.
Does Cica Mean “Skin Barrier Repair”?
Not automatically.
Cica products are frequently positioned around soothing and barrier care.
But Cica alone does not tell you how the entire formula is designed.
A moisturizer may also contain ingredients such as:
- glycerin
- panthenol
- ceramides
- fatty acids
- cholesterol
- other humectants and emollients
So if barrier support is your goal, do not choose a product solely because CICA is the biggest word on the package.
Look at the complete formula.
Is Cica Good for Sensitive Skin?
Many Korean Cica products are positioned for soothing or sensitive-feeling skin.
That does not mean every Cica product is automatically suitable for every person with sensitive skin.
Again:
Cica tells you only part of the formula.
A product can contain Centella-related ingredients and still contain another ingredient your skin does not tolerate well.
If your skin is reactive, more useful questions are:
Does the product contain fragrance?
What other active ingredients are present?
How complicated is the formula?
Have I reacted to any of these ingredients before?
And have I patch-tested it?
The word Cica alone cannot answer those questions.
Cica vs. Madecassol: They Are Not the Same Thing
This distinction matters particularly when shopping in Korea.
International beauty discussions sometimes connect Cica skincare with Madecassol because both are associated with Centella.
But they should not be treated as interchangeable products.
Madecassol is a product family, and products sold under that name can have different formulations and regulatory classifications.
Some versions sold in Korean pharmacies are medicines.
So a tube of pharmacy Madecassol should not automatically be treated like an ordinary cosmetic Cica cream.
I covered the different Madecassol products and the larger distinction between Korean cosmetics and pharmacy medicines in Korean Pharmacy Skincare: What Koreans Actually Buy (and What Tourists Should Know).
If you are buying Madecassol in Korea, check the exact product, not just the word Madecassol.
Is Cica the Same as Tiger Grass?
You will also encounter the term tiger grass in skincare.
It is commonly used as a nickname for Centella asiatica.
So these terms are connected:
Centella asiatica — botanical name
병풀 (byeongpul) — Korean common name
Tiger grass — common nickname
Cica — skincare term associated with Centella and its derivatives
Madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid — specific Centella-associated compounds
They all belong in the same conversation.
They just do not mean exactly the same thing.
Why Do Some Korean Products Say “Centella” Instead of “Cica”?
Often, that is simply how the product or brand chooses to communicate its formula.
Cica immediately signals a familiar skincare category.
Centella puts the botanical ingredient itself front and center.
But you should not use those words alone to rank products.
A bottle with CENTELLA printed across the front is not automatically more concentrated than one labeled CICA.
And a Cica cream is not automatically more soothing than a product that never uses the word.
The ingredient list tells you more.
How to Read a Korean Cica Product
When you pick up a Cica product in Korea, turn it around.
The Korean terms worth recognizing are:
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 병풀 | Centella asiatica |
| 병풀추출물 | Centella asiatica extract |
| 마데카소사이드 | Madecassoside |
| 마데카식애씨드 | Madecassic acid |
| 아시아티코사이드 | Asiaticoside |
| 아시아틱애씨드 | Asiatic acid |
| 전성분 | Full ingredient list |
You do not need all of the Centella-related ingredients for a product to be worth considering.
And a longer Cica complex is not automatically a better Cica complex.
The point is simply to identify:
What is actually behind the word Cica in this product?
Korean cosmetics are required to display their ingredients, along with other mandatory labeling information.
If the rest of the package is difficult to decode, my How to Read a Korean Skincare Label explains terms such as 전성분, 사용기한, manufacturing information and other Korean label details.
Cica vs. Centella vs. Madecassoside: The Simple Version
If you remember only one part of this article, make it this:
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cica (시카) | Skincare term associated with Centella and Centella-derived ingredients |
| Centella asiatica | The plant |
| 병풀 | Korean common name for Centella asiatica |
| Centella asiatica extract | An extract made from the plant |
| Madecassoside | A specific Centella-associated compound |
| Asiaticoside | A specific Centella-associated compound |
| Madecassic acid | A specific Centella-associated compound |
| Asiatic acid | A specific Centella-associated compound |
| Tiger grass | Common nickname for Centella asiatica |
That is the distinction most Cica shopping guides skip.
What “Cica” Does NOT Tell You
Seeing CICA on a Korean skincare product does not automatically tell you:
how much Centella-related material it contains,
which Centella ingredient is being highlighted,
whether it is fragrance-free,
whether it will suit sensitive skin,
whether the finished formula has been clinically tested,
or whether it will work better than a product without Cica on the front.
In other words:
Cica tells you where to start reading — not where to stop.
The Bottom Line
So, what is Cica in Korean skincare?
Cica is a skincare term closely associated with Centella asiatica and skincare ingredients derived from it.
But it is not useful to treat every Cica product as if it contains one identical ingredient.
Centella asiatica is the plant.
병풀 is its common Korean name.
Centella extract is an extract from the plant.
Madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid are specific compounds associated with Centella.
And Cica is the word you will repeatedly encounter around this ingredient family in skincare.
That is why two Korean products can both have CICA printed across the front and still be very different formulas.
So when you shop for Cica in Korea, don’t stop at the headline.
Turn the package around.
Look for 병풀추출물.
Look for 마데카소사이드.
Look at the rest of the formula.
Because once you know what those words mean, “Cica” stops being a mysterious K-beauty ingredient.
It becomes something much more useful:
a clue to what you should check next.
FAQ
What does Cica mean in Korean skincare?
Cica is a skincare term commonly associated with Centella asiatica and ingredients derived from it. In Korea, Cica is written as 시카.
Is Cica the same as Centella asiatica?
Not exactly. Centella asiatica is the plant. Cica is the skincare term commonly associated with Centella and Centella-derived ingredients.
What is Centella asiatica called in Korean?
Centella asiatica is commonly called 병풀 (byeongpul) in Korean. Centella asiatica extract is commonly listed as 병풀추출물.
Is madecassoside the same as Cica?
No. Madecassoside is a specific compound associated with Centella asiatica. Cica is the broader skincare term.
Is Cica the same as tiger grass?
Tiger grass is a common nickname for Centella asiatica. Cica is a skincare term associated with Centella, so the terms are closely related but are not technically identical.
Why is Cica so popular in Korean skincare?
Cica fits closely with Korean skincare categories centered on soothing (진정), hydration (수분) and barrier care (장벽). Cica-related ingredients now appear across many mainstream Korean skincare formats.
Is Cica good for sensitive skin?
Many Cica products are marketed for soothing or sensitive-feeling skin, but Cica on the label does not guarantee that a finished formula will suit every person. The entire ingredient list and individual skin sensitivity matter.
Is Cica good for the skin barrier?
Cica products are often positioned for soothing and barrier care, but the overall formulation matters. Other moisturizing and barrier-supporting ingredients may contribute significantly to the finished product.
Is Madecassol the same as Cica cream?
No. Madecassol is a product family associated with Centella, and some versions sold in Korean pharmacies are medicines. A pharmacy Madecassol product should not automatically be treated as an ordinary cosmetic Cica cream.
What should I look for in a Korean Cica product?
Check the ingredient list for terms such as 병풀추출물 (Centella asiatica extract), 마데카소사이드 (madecassoside), 마데카식애씨드 (madecassic acid), 아시아티코사이드 (asiaticoside) and 아시아틱애씨드 (asiatic acid). Then evaluate the rest of the formula rather than choosing solely from the word Cica.
Sources
- Role of Cica (Centella asiatica) in Skincare Formulations: Examination of a Popular Ingredient — PubMed
- Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety — Cosmetics Labeling Requirements
- Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety — Cosmetics Labeling and Advertising Guidance
- Korea Cosmetic Association — Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary
- Olive Young Korea — Dr.G 10-CICA Complex Feature
- Picked in Korea — Korean Pharmacy Skincare
- Picked in Korea — How to Read a Korean Skincare Label