For your skin
Another cica (centella) compound. This one specifically pushes collagen production, so the benefit is more about firmness than calming.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Purified triterpene from Centella that upregulates type I collagen via TGF-beta signaling.
Why we tier this moderate
7 cited papers across 3 countries. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.
Cited research
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 — asiaticoside and madecassoside have wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and dermatological potential
Tan M et al., Centella triterpenes cream as a potential drug for the treatment of hypertrophic scar through inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT3: A network pharmacology analysis and in vitro experiments, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2023;22(12):3511-3519 — Huazhong U Wuhan; asiaticoside inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation as proposed hypertrophic-scar mechanism
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — documents asiaticoside efficacy across wound healing, scarring and inflammatory dermatoses
MFDS Notified Functional Cosmetic Active — Asiaticoside (barrier strengthening, as a component of the Centella TECA complex). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Functional Cosmetics Codex
Peng Q et al., Transdermal characteristics and mechanism of asiaticoside nanoemulsions and asiaticoside nanoemulsions-based gels, Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica) 2018;43(9):1857-1863 — asiaticoside nanoemulsions achieved 6-7x greater drug permeation and 5-6x greater skin deposition vs commercial cream
Lu L et al., Asiaticoside induction for cell-cycle progression, proliferation and collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts, International Journal of Dermatology 2004;43(11):801-807 — in vitro: asiaticoside upregulated 54 genes for fibroblast proliferation and ECM synthesis
Bonté F et al., Influence of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside on human collagen I synthesis, Planta Medica 1994;60(2):133-5
Sources: PubMed · KCI · J-Stage · CNKI · Wanfang · SFD · MFDS · Cochrane · SCCS · CIR. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.