Decoding Popular Korean Skincare Ingredients

With the growing popularity of Korean skincare and its power-packed ingredients, we thought it might make sense to break down three ingredients we can’t stop hearing about.

Cica
I’m sorry… Ci-what?
One of the most commonly heard words by anyone that is into skincare is “cica.” ‘Cica’, as Centella Asiatica (aka gotu kola) is colloquially known, is a type of herb extract gathered from Indian Pennywort and Tiger Grass.

Why:
It’s added in skincare because of its extremely high healing and soothing abilities considering it’s packed with a whole bunch of vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids etc. Adding cica into your skincare routine can help to alleviate redness, inflammation, reduce the effects of pollution on the skin, decrease the skin’s moisture loss and even aid collagen production.

Product recs with cica:
Daily Dip enriched with CICA, Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, and Polyglutamic Acid

Fermented rice water
What??
Simply put, it’s the water that’s the byproduct of letting rice soak in it overnight or for prolonged periods of time.

Why?
Fermented rice water is power-packed with antioxidants that are known to reverse sun damage, condition, and smoothen the skin. It even has anti-ageing properties. Additionally, due to the amount of starch present in this ingredient, it works miracles for sensitive skin since it can massively reduce inflammation.

DIY for rice water:
Boil rice in water for 30 minutes. Once done, strain the water out, store it in a spray bottle and store it in the refrigerator. Spray it onto your face in place of your toner 2 times a day. That’s how simple it is! 

Fermented Rice Water is rich in probiotics that are great for gut & skin health!

Our Basic Skinstick is a serum-in-stick format. Along with Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Squalene, Basic Skinstick also has Probiotics that help to protect, hydrate & soothe your skin!

Licorice root
What root?
Licorice root extract or ​​”Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract” as it is known scientifically is simply an extract derived from the roots of Glycyrrhiza Glabra (a plant that is found in Western Asia, North Africa, and Southern Europe).

Why?
Licorice root extract is now found in hundreds of Korean skincare products due to its antioxidant properties (just like rice water). The presence of Glycyrrhiza acid in the roots makes for an excellent ingredient to tackle inflammation, ageing, dullness and pigmentation.

Products recs with licorice root extract:
Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin

We hope we’ve talked you into trying one if not all three of these power-packed ingredients. Tell us, which Korean skincare ingredients are you looking forward to trying next? 

Until next time, 

Stay curious. Stay #freequal