Native primarily to Asia, Centella asiatica is a perennial herb that appears on ingredient labels under a few different names, including asiatic acid, hydrocotyl, and gotu kola. Its skin benefits come largely from active compounds like madecassoside, which functions as an antioxidant, and the plant as a whole is both rich in amino acids and strongly antioxidant in its own right.
It's also an effective hydrator, particularly for soothing irritated or compromised skin. At a 5% concentration, research shows it can meaningfully raise skin's moisture levels, but even smaller amounts, between 0.2% and 0.5%, still help maintain hydration and support the barrier by encouraging production of ceramide NS, one of the key substances that holds the skin's surface together and keeps it smooth.
Centella Asiatica Extract References
Phytomedicine, April 2018, pages 110–119 | Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, August 2017, pages 311–315 | Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jan-Feb 2016, pages 27–33 | Postepy Dermatologii I, February 2013, pages 46–49 | Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010, pages 546–556 | Scientific Reports, June 2021, ePublication
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
