Skincare Ingredient Facts: Asiaticoside

Asiaticoside (Centella Asiatica) is a staple of traditional earth medicine called “Indian Pennywort”.

It’s a ursane-type triterpene glycoside, a collagen stimulator and can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles from beneath via collagen deposition. And it helps give a smooth, soft appearance to the skin by inhibiting the loss of hydration.

Asiaticoside is derived from the Centella Asiatica plant (sometimes called Tiger Grass, Cica, and Gotu Kola ). The Centella Asiatica plant also provides madecassic acid,  madecassoside, and asiatic acid. Asiaticoside is an active saponin, meaning it has characteristics of an emulsifier to help preserve hydration in the skin.

It’s long been thought to enhance wound healing by stimulating angiogenesis and collagen deposition. Collage formed in its presence has been shown to contain high quality elastin to help make newly generated skin more flexible. It has a well documented anti-inflammatory effect for benefit in the appearance and the healing of injuries to the skin. It’s anti-oxidant properties are also beneficial in the reduction of free radicals.