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Cica: The superhero ingredient that will change your sensitive skin forever

Cica: The superhero ingredient that will change your sensitive skin forever

By Carolina Malis

Oh Cica… what my life was before I met you I truly don't know. For years I tired to battle my skin's sensitivity with the most diverse range of products, from special toners to serums and sunscreens, but it wasn't until a few months ago that I discovered the ingredient that would change the relationship with my skin forever.

If you're into skincare you've probably heard about Cica already. If you're not familiar with it let me introduce you to the ingredient that could change your skin. Cica - short for Centella Asiatica - is an antioxidant-rich herb that acts like a superhero on troubled skin (AKA dry, inflamed, red, sensitive, acne prone or flaky complexions). Its anti-inflammatory properties are incredible to calm down the dermis and heal it, all while repairing the skin barrier which can be easily damaged because of dryness, eczema, sun exposure, aging or other skincare ingredients.

Now, this is not a newly discovered ingredient. Centella Asiatica has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat everything from stomach aches and depression to skin disorder. I know, I know, sounds amazing. Well, even more amazing is the fact that so many brands have spent years trying to develop formulas containing Cica that really help skin heal itself, an we - the skincare enthusiasts - have been patiently waiting for those to arrive to our lives.

With all that said, you can now imagine my happiness when I learned Neogen was launching a line of Cica cleansers. I already know my skin and Neogen have a great relationship, but now they were also bringing my favorite ingredient to the formula? This truly felt like what skincare dreams are made of. I've been trying all three: the cleansing water, the cleansing oil and the cleansing foam, but today I'm here to talk about the former.

Let first talk about texture: the cleanser comes out of the tube like a mix of a cream and a gel, and while it bubbles up a little after mixing it with water it doesn't turn into actual foam, which is a good sign. The white lather spreads easily all over my skin without stripping even a little bit, leaving my skin plump but overall soothed. I usually need to apply toner no later than 1 minute after I cleanse my skin if I don't want for it to start feeling tense and dry, but with this cleanser I'm sure I could go longer before I run to apply my toner.

Now - and this is my personal choice - even when it's really gentle and sensitive skin friendly I'd still use it only at night as a second cleanser. Don't wanna give out spoilers here but let's just say there's a certain Micellar cleansing water that's maybe or maybe not from the same line that I'd keep for morning time (you'll have to stay tuned to hear more about that).

Overall this cleanser works for everyone and every skin type, but if you struggle with redness, inflammation, acne or sensitivity then let me tell you, this is not only a must but a need. Go ahead and give it a try! You can find it exclusively at SokoGlam.