Is Centella The Next Niacinamide? Why K-Beauty's Skin1004 Is The Brand To Watch
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
If you’ve scrolled TikTok lately, chances are you’ve already seen the name: SKIN1004. Quietly viral, clinically clean and anchored by one star ingredient: Centella asiatica. The Korean brand has become a go-to for skin that’s stressed, sensitive or just in need of a reset.
Founded in 2012, SKIN1004 (pronounced cheonsa, meaning “angel” in Korean) builds every formula around calming, balancing care. Nothing overly complicated.
My own affinity for hydrating barrier-first K-Beauty is well documented, and SKIN1004 has quickly become a standout. They're all about healing and long-term balance. Bliss!
Bonus points: everything is under $60. Affordable, effective, and angelic (in both name and intent), SKIN1004 isn’t just following the Centella trend - they made it.
The team and I have put their top products to the test, here's everything you need to know.
What Is Centella In Skincare?
Centella asiatica, also referred to as “cica” and "tiger grass" in skincare lingo, is a leafy green plant that’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries but in the recent years, it’s become somewhat of a skincare mainstay. The ingredient is particularly popular in Korean skincare and considered a core ingredient for calming, repairing and strengthening the skin barrier.
Centella Skincare Benefits
One of the more adaptable (and highly effective) ingredients, it’s best known for its soothing and calming properties. Centella reduces inflammation and redness, making it especially helpful for reactive, acne-prone or easily sensitised skin. It’s also being used more frequently in formulas for rosacea, eczema, and even psoriasis thanks to how quickly it calms aggravated skin.
The ingredient also excels on the repair front. With proven wound-healing abilities, it works to support skin regeneration by stimulating collagen production. This, in turn, helps minimise the appearance scarring, soften stretch marks and can improve overall skin elasticity.
It’s also increasingly being included in anti-ageing formulas. Why? Its antioxidant profile. Centella fights oxidative stress while encouraging collagen synthesis, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and supports firmer, more elastic skin.
Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits can help reduce breakouts and calm the kind of flare-ups that often come with compromised skin.
The ingredient pairs well with hyaluronic acid and niacinamides to boost hydration and barrier repair. It doesn't pair so well with aggressive exfoliants or strong retinoids, so we'd recommend proceeding with caution.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad.
Fast Facts:
- Soothes redness and irritation in 2 minutes
- Triple-layered design holds more essence
- Large, crescent-shaped pads fit comfortably on facial curves
- Contains only 10 safe, skin-friendly ingredients
I'm a recent, but committed, convert to toner pads. It's become one of my favourite steps in the routine and these Centella-spiked pads are particularly enjoyable to use.
Saturated with just the right amount of essence (enough to soothe without dripping), I'll place the crescent-shaped pads around the contours of the face and let them sit for two or three minutes. The texture of the pads is soft and flexible (no stiff, scratchy edges here), and they hold more essence than you'd expect.
The result? Reduced redness (a godsend for rosacea flare ups), calmness and increased hydration. Instantly.
The formula itself is pared back; just ten ingredients. The hero is Centella, of course, but it’s supported by panthenol and sodium hyaluronate to moisturise, soften, calm and soothe skin.
Ideal for a quick refresh, post treatment soothe or travel staple. These beauties also works wonders on reducing inflammation, calming redness, minimising acne and pore control. She's a multi-tasker.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule.
Fast Facts:
- Soothes redness, irritation and inflammation
- Deeply hydrates without heaviness
- Helps improve breakouts and skin sensitivity.
- Made with pure Centella Asiatica extract from Madagascar
- Free from fragrance, alcohol, and harsh additives – perfect for reactive skin
This is the brands most viral product and a great entry point. If you were to only purchase one product from the range - let this be it. My gorgeous colleague Ada, who put me onto this serum (and sparked the love affair) has reviewed the cult-formula below.
"Okay I'm a big Skin1004 fan and I’ve been using this Centella ampoule for what feels like forever! Whenever my skin flares up or feels dry, I reach for this and it calms things right down.
It’s super lightweight, is so refreshing on my skin, and never feels heavy. If you have acne-prone skin, I can’t recommend it enough.
Its anti-inflammatory properties really help with flare-ups and it keeps my skin barrier feeling strong and happy. Also a huge bonus is that it lasts super long for me." - Ada Chau
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Brightening Toner.
Fast Facts:
- Boosts hydration and soothes sensitive skin
- Helps brighten dull, uneven tone
- Lightweight texture for fast absorption
This juicy toner is a b-line to a brighter and more even complexion.
Brimming with Centella leaf water and a multi-weight hyaluronic acid base to flood skin with hydration. I press it in with my hands post-cleanser to rehydrate and soften skin. The texture is seriously featherlight, watery and laps straight up into skin.
What sets this formula apart is how it balances gentle exfoliation with barrier support. AHA and LHA work quietly to smooth texture and bring a soft radiance to the surface without any tingling or irritation.
After a few weeks of use, I've noted some less post-inflammatory redness, more even tone and polish to skin. There’s definitely a noticeable luminosity that I swear, wasn’t there before.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum.
Fast Facts:
- Deep, multi-layer hydration without heaviness
- Soothes irritation and supports a healthy skin barrier
- Brightens dull skin and improves texture
- Strengthens elasticity for firmer-looking skin
Another standout ampoule (and one to try), Chloe reviews the formula below.
"Not sure what’s in the air this winter, but my skin has been extra dry, like, visible dehydration lines dry.
The SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Blue Serum has officially earned a permanent place in my routine. It’s thicker than a milky essence, which is exactly what my combo-but-dehydrated skin needs.
The hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and centella work together to leave my skin feeling plush and soothed. I’ve been using it day and night. Truely rate it." - Chloe Nguyen
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Enrich Cream.
Fast Facts:
- Rich moisturiser with a smooth, non-greasy finish
- Deeply hydrates and nourishes dry, damaged skin
- Fermented Centella delivers enhanced soothing power
- Suitable for dry, normal and combination skin
This is the kind of moisturiser you reach for when your skin has simply had enough.
The formula is dosed with skin-repairing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica. It also contains ceramide NP and phytosterols to support barrier function and reinforce moisture retention. Shea butter and macadamia seed oil bring that longer-lasting moisture.
The texture is rich and plush, without being overly greasy. I've been using it in the evening, pressing it into slightly damp (serum-soaked) skin so it really locks all that hydration in. It plays well with the rest of my routine - no tack, no residue.
I've noticed an improvement to my skin's texture (she's pillowy soft) and balanced tone over the last few weeks of use. If your skin veers on the dry, compromised or simply tired side - this is a great one to try.
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