Centella Asiatica vs Madecassoside
Which is right for your skin?
Centella is the whole plant extract with multiple soothing compounds; Madecassoside is its most potent, purified active part. Madecassoside for targeted clinical repair; Centella for general soothing.
Also called "cica," it calms redness, repairs the skin barrier, and speeds up healing. The go-to for irritated or reactive skin.
A purified compound from the cica (centella) plant, laser-focused on calming inflammation and speeding up how fast skin heals.
Can you use Centella Asiatica and Madecassoside together?
Yes — Centella Asiatica and Madecassoside are documented to pair well together.
You want anti-inflammatory, barrier repair. Also called "cica," it calms redness, repairs the skin barrier, and speeds up healing. The go-to for irritated or reactive skin.
You want anti-inflammatory, barrier repair. A purified compound from the cica (centella) plant, laser-focused on calming inflammation and speeding up how fast skin heals.
Cited research
Su Z et al., The Effectiveness and Safety of a Skin Care Product With Centella asiatica Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, and Panthenol in Subjects With Sensitive Skin: A Prospective, Observational Study, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2025;24(7):e70324 — Sun Yat-Sen U 4-week study; cream provided rapid relief of facial redness and supported barrier function
Cho SY et al., Comparative analysis of bioactive compounds and the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties of Centella asiatica, Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry 2025;68:30 — Jeju-grown C. asiatica matched/exceeded imported sources for asiaticoside content; in RAW264.7 + HaCaT models inhibited iNOS/COX-2/IL-1β/IL-6 and accelerated HaCaT wound closure
Wang L et al., A two-center randomized controlled trial of a repairing mask as an adjunctive treatment for mild to moderate rosacea, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2024;23(10):3281-3286 — Centella asiatica repairing mask adjunct to minocycline improved IGA, repaired barrier, reduced rosacea symptoms (n=64)
Witkowska K et al., Topical Application of Centella asiatica in Wound Healing: Recent Insights into Mechanisms and Clinical Efficacy, Pharmaceutics 2024;16(10):1252 — modern hydrogel and nanostructured Centella delivery systems accelerate wound healing across wound types
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — Centella triterpenes show therapeutic effects across acne, burns, atopic dermatitis and wounds via multiple signaling pathways
MFDS Notified Functional Cosmetic Active — Centella Asiatica Extract (skin barrier strengthening). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety — notified active under the Functional Cosmetics Codex barrier-strengthening category; the standardized triterpene fraction (TECA: madecassoside, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid) is the documented active complex
Jenwitheesuk K et al., A prospective randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of the efficacy using Centella cream for scar improvement, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2018;2018:9525624 — 7% Centella cream produced statistically significant pigmentation-score improvements over 12 weeks on STSG donor sites
Bylka W et al., Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview, Phytotherapy Research 2014;28(8):1117-1124 — pentacyclic triterpenes in Centella enhance wound healing, scar reduction, and burn recovery
Bandopadhyay S et al., Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 2023;27(5):593-608 — comprehensive review of wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and regenerative activity
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — KR-authored review of triterpenes including madecassoside
MFDS Notified Functional Cosmetic Active — Madecassoside (barrier strengthening, as a component of the Centella TECA complex). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Functional Cosmetics Codex — one of four standardized triterpenes defining the notified Centella barrier-repair active
Haftek M et al., Clinical, biometric and structural evaluation of the long-term effects of a topical treatment with ascorbic acid and madecassoside in photoaged human skin, Experimental Dermatology 2008;17(11):946-52 — 6-month topical madecassoside + ascorbic acid produced measurable photoaging improvement
Bonté F et al., Influence of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside on human collagen I synthesis, Planta Medica 1994;60(2):133-5
Every entry points to a specific paper or regulatory document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.