Centella Asiatica, or Gotu Kola, in Cosmetics

You can find it under many names—gotu kola, centella, kodavan, cica—but it is always one of the most important medicinal plants: Centella asiatica. Korean cosmetics make extensive use of this perennial marsh plant, and it’s no wonder—its beneficial effects were known even to ancient cultures, and it is often called a rejuvenating miracle. 

Beneficial effects

Centella asiatica has a reputation as a rejuvenating miracle with a tradition spanning thousands of years. Its health and healing effects have been confirmed by many scientific studies and medical research, and it has even been used since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine to treat skin diseases. It has amazing antioxidant and antibacterial effects, helps heal damaged skin, and supports its regeneration. It also soothes and reduces irritation, helps with psoriasis and eczema, lowers the risk of cellulite, and slows skin aging. However, it isn’t used only in cosmetics or for the skin—it actually has a very wide range of uses: it helps with digestive issues and fevers, and when fresh, its leaves are a popular addition to salads. It also supports appetite, improves cognitive function, and helps with rheumatism, asthma, or allergies. It is even said that Bengal tigers know the effects of centella too—they roll around in places where it grows and heal the wounds they suffered while fighting for prey. 

A marsh plant packed with vitamins

In Latin it is called Centella asiatica, and it is a small perennial marsh plant with a creeping rhizome that can grow up to 2 meters long. It has long stalked flowers that are green at first and then turn red. This medicinal herb originally occurred in Southeast Asia, from where it spread from the swampy mountain areas throughout the humid belt of the tropics and subtropics—so you can find it in Australia or Indonesia as well as in Madagascar or southern Africa. You can also grow it at home, because it is an undemanding plant that prefers sunny or partially shaded places. However, it is valued mainly for its herb, which contains many medicinal substances, such as asiaticoside, brahmoside, or asiatic and centellic acids—these have strong regenerative and healing effects. It is also a plant loaded with a huge amount of minerals—for example calcium, magnesium and potassium, selenium, chromium, as well as vitamins A, C, and B. 

Try this skin miracle for yourself 

Try this beneficial plant on your own skin! In Korean cosmetics, you can find many soothing and hydrating products containing an extract from this herb. You can take full advantage of its effects, for example, with the Etude House Soonjung Centella Skincare set for sensitive skin, containing a cleansing toner, nourishing emulsion, and soothing balm. Their low-pH formula maintains balance in the skin and contributes to its health. Also worth exploring is the Some By Mi Set Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Starter Kit—a set with a cleansing gel, a highly regenerative toner, and a refreshing cream. It contains not only a deeply nourishing snail mucin extract, but also a Truecica complex with extracts from tea tree leaves, mugwort, and Centella asiatica itself.
For deep cleansing and soothing irritated skin, reach for a cleansing face mask with activated charcoal and clay and with Centella asiatica extract, Some By Mi Cleansing Face Mask Charcoal BHA Pore Clay Bubble Mask, which absorbs excess sebum, fights blackheads, acne, and imperfections, and intensely soothes skin irritation. 

The ultra-light gel face cream Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Calming Gel Cream, thanks to Centella asiatica hydrosol, helps heal and regenerate your skin, soothes irritation, reduces redness, and leaves the skin calmed, evened out, and hydrated. You can also reach for the regenerative cream Purito Centella Green Level Recovery Cream, which deeply regenerates, hydrates, and nourishes the skin and has smoothing effects thanks to supporting collagen production.