GatgoounWhat "cica" means on Korean skincare: centella in pads, sleeping masks and creams on Amazon US
Published Oct 28, 2026 · Gatgooun
Written with AI assistance and reviewed by the Gatgooun editor.
This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cica is one of the most common words on Korean skincare boxes, and it's short for centella, the plant Centella asiatica. The word alone doesn't tell you in what form centella is in the jar. The ingredient list shows which forms are used and, within limits, their order, though it usually doesn't give amounts. It helps to know which names to look for.
Below is what to look for, and three Korean products on Amazon US that use centella in three different formats: a pad, an overnight mask and a cream. We opened every brand page and listing on October 27, 2026. We describe labels, not results.
Quick picks
- Want centella high up a short ingredient list, in a pad → SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad (70 pads)Amazon ↗Affiliate
link - Want a fragrance-free overnight mask named after cica → LANEIGE Cica Sleeping MaskAmazon ↗Affiliate
link - Want a daily cream built on panthenol and madecassoside → ETUDE SoonJung 2x Barrier Repair Cream (60 ml)Amazon ↗Affiliate
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The names to look for
On a US label, the plant itself appears as Centella Asiatica Extract, or with the part of the plant spelled out, such as Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract. Brands also use compounds taken from the plant. The two you'll see most are madecassoside and asiaticoside; ChEBI, the chemistry database PubChem quotes, describes both as isolated from Centella asiatica. Two related names, madecassic acid and asiatic acid, often sit next to them.
Some brands give these a name of their own. LANEIGE calls its blend a Centella Repair Complex, and ETUDE calls panthenol plus madecassoside Panthenoside. A brand name like that won't appear on the ingredient list, so look for the individual names instead.
Position matters only up to a point. US rules list ingredients in descending order of amount, but ingredients at 1 percent or less may come in any order, as we explain in our label guide. Some brands print the amount, which settles it. MEDIHEAL's US page, for example, gives madecassoside in its Madecassoside Essential Mask as 50 ppm, which is 0.005 percent.
Three formats on Amazon US
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad is a jar of 70 pads, listed as sold by SKIN1004 NA. It's the easiest label of the three: ten ingredients in total, with Centella Asiatica Extract fourth, after water, 1,2-hexanediol and butylene glycol, and before panthenol. SKIN1004 suggests wiping one over the face after cleansing, or resting pads on your cheeks or forehead for a few minutes.
LANEIGE Cica Sleeping Mask is listed as sold and shipped by Amazon.com under the LANEIGE brand store. It's a balm-cream that LANEIGE says is now fragrance free. Read its list and you'll find panthenol fourteenth of 40 ingredients, then madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid and Centella Asiatica Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract in the second half. It's an overnight mask that goes on as the last step and comes off in the morning. For frequency, LANEIGE's US page says once or twice a week in its directions and two or three times in its FAQ, and the Amazon listing says two or three times, so follow your jar.
ETUDE SoonJung 2x Barrier Repair Cream is the 60 ml size, listed as sold by ETUDE Official. SoonJung is ETUDE's range for sensitive skin, and the listing names Panthenoside, panthenol plus madecassoside, as the key idea. It also says the formula is made without animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, silicone oil, synthetic fragrance, PEG or parabens. It's an everyday cream for the last step, morning or night.
| Product | Format | Centella names on the label or listing | When you use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad | Soaked toner pad | Centella Asiatica Extract, fourth of ten | After cleansing, daily |
| LANEIGE Cica Sleeping Mask | Overnight balm-cream mask | Madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, centella extract | As often as your jar says, rinsed off |
| ETUDE SoonJung 2x Barrier Repair Cream | Face cream | Madecassoside (with panthenol, as Panthenoside) | Last step, daily |
Choosing between them
Start from the step you want to change, not from the word cica. If you want something after cleansing, the SKIN1004 pad is the simplest label to read. If you already have a cream and want an extra layer on some nights, the LANEIGE mask is the one you rinse off. If you want the cream itself, ETUDE is the everyday option. You don't need all three: centella in one step is enough to see whether you like a product, and stacking several new products at once makes it hard to tell which one you're reacting to.
Add one new product at a time and read the full ingredient list first if your skin reacts easily. For more on how creams and overnight masks differ, see our sleeping mask vs night cream guide. In the morning, finish with sunscreen; Gatgooun doesn't cover sunscreen picks.
