"innisfree - Cica gel" has a good moisturizing formula. The formulation is based on a combination of good humectants and emollients. Both are needed to increase the skin hydration level. Humectants in this product (panthenol and glycerin) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Squalane, cetearyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, diisostearyl malate and c12-16 alcohols in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.

Ingredient callouts

this moisturizer contains actives derived from an extract of the Centella Asiatica plant (also known as Gotu Kola) - asiatic acid 0.01% - 0.10%, madecassic acid 0.05% - 0.15%, asiaticoside 0.10% - 0.40% and madecassoside 0.15% - 0.50% The Centella Asiatica actives, even in low concentration, can help reduce inflammation in skin, strengthen the skin barrier and reduce photodamage. They can also help to decrease scarring.
This formulation also uses an effective concentration of panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) - about 1.20% - 1.80%. Panthenol helps strengthen the skin barrier, improve hydration and reduce inflammation in skin.

Irritation risk

There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails for 51.49A$ in Australia and for 25.00$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

What can the product work for?

Does not work for

Evens skin tone

Moisturizing

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: squalane, cetearyl alcohol.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: madecassoside, panthenol

squalane 2.1% - 3.2%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.

panthenol 1.2% - 1.8%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function

asiatic acid 0.01% - 0.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An active compound of Centella Asiatica plant extract. In combination with other active compounds of Centella Asiatica extract (asiaticoside, madecasosside and madecassic acid) asiatic acid has been shown to be helpful in wound-healing, restoring skin barrier function and supporting collagen production in skin. It can, however, itself be irritating

Anti-aging

This product contains asiaticoside, madecassoside. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.

madecassoside 0.15% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations

asiaticoside 0.1% - 0.4%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

An active compound of Centella Asiatica plant extract. In combination with other active compounds of Centella Asiatica extract (madecasosside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid), asiaticoside has been shown to be helpful in wound-healing, restoring skin barrier function and supporting collagen production in skin. It can, however, itself be irritating

camellia sinensis leaf extract 0.1% - 0.35%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation

Anti-oxidation

This product contains antioxidants (asiaticoside, madecassoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

madecassoside 0.15% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

asiaticoside 0.1% - 0.4%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract 0.05% - 0.25%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin

Evens skin tone

This product contains ingredients (madecassoside) that could help reduce hyperpigmentation (for example, post-acne marks or age spots) in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.

madecassoside 0.15% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

camellia sinensis leaf extract 0.1% - 0.35%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

camellia sinensis leaf extract 0.1% - 0.35%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Antibacterial, Anti-oxidation, Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Moisturizing, Anti-blemish

madecassoside 0.15% - 0.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Anti-oxidation, Anti-aging, Evens skin tone

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Potential irritants

citrus unshiu peel extract 0.05% - 0.3%

Irritation risk:

opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract 0.05% - 0.25%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin

Comodogenic ingredients

cetearyl alcohol 1.4% - 2.1%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium

Works for: Cleansing, Moisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

All ingredients

water 40% - 60%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

propanediol 4.8% - 7.2%

Irritation risk:

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

glycerin 3.4% - 5.1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

Ingredient list view

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl alcohol, Panthenol, 1,2-hexanediol, C12-16 alcohols, Diisostearyl malate, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Hydrogenated lecithin, Palmitic acid, Cetearyl glucoside, Torreya nucifera seed oil, Disodium edta, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Camellia japonica leaf extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Citrus unshiu peel extract, Opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract, Orchid extract, Madecassic acid, Asiatic acid

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		62%	64%	59%	59%	58%	57%	55%	54%	54%	51%	50%
Key ingredients	madecassoside madecassic acid +7 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +5 more Other: centella asiatica flower/leaf/stem extract bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +5 more Other: copernicia cerifera wax glycine soja oil +2 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: niacinamide centella asiatica extract +8 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: niacinamide copper tripeptide-1 +4 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +6 more Other: niacinamide adenosine +15 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: beeswax caprylic/capric triglyceride +8 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: centella asiatica extract centella asiatica leaf extract +6 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: betaine biosaccharide gum-1 +4 more	Common: madecassoside panthenol +2 more Other: pullulan sodium hyaluronate +2 more	Common: madecassoside madecassic acid +4 more Other: colloidal oatmeal phytosphingosine +11 more	Common: madecassoside panthenol +3 more Other: ceramide np urea +5 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	orchid extract Has skin benefit? opuntia coccinellifera fruit extract Has skin benefit? +14 more	centella asiatica flower/leaf/stem extract Has skin benefit? asiatic acid Has skin benefit? +8 more	glycine soja oil Has skin benefit? madecassoside Has skin benefit? +9 more	madecassic acid Has skin benefit? asiatic acid Has skin benefit? +12 more	madecassic acid Has skin benefit? asiatic acid Has skin benefit? +8 more	panax ginseng root extract Has skin benefit? cornus officinalis fruit extract Has skin benefit? +15 more	madecassoside Has skin benefit? madecassic acid Has skin benefit? +10 more	ci 77289 Has skin benefit? chromium hydroxide green Has skin benefit? +15 more	madecassic acid Has skin benefit? asiatic acid Has skin benefit? +7 more	pullulan Has skin benefit? disodium edta Has skin benefit? +4 more	tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract Has skin benefit? potassium sorbate Has skin benefit? +13 more	ethylhexylglycerin Has skin benefit? 1,2-hexanediol Has skin benefit? +8 more
All ingredients	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +27 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +23 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +32 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +28 more	centella asiatica extract Has skin benefit? panthenol Has skin benefit? +20 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +54 more	centella asiatica extract Has skin benefit? centella asiatica leaf extract Has skin benefit? +26 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +33 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +23 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +17 more	water Has skin benefit? caprylic/capric triglyceride Has skin benefit? +43 more	water Has skin benefit? urea Has skin benefit? +31 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

innisfree Cica gel

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Ingredient callouts

Irritation risk

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Moisturizing

Anti-aging

Anti-oxidation

Evens skin tone

Honesty check

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Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

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Ingredients & concentrations

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Key Actives

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All ingredients

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