For your skin
Another cica (centella) compound. This one specifically pushes collagen production, so the benefit is more about firmness than calming.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Purified triterpene from Centella that upregulates type I collagen via TGF-beta signaling.
Why we tier this moderate
7 cited papers across 3 countries. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.
Cited research
Bandopadhyay S et al., Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 2023;27(5):593-608 — asiaticoside and madecassoside have wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and dermatological potential
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — documents asiaticoside efficacy across wound healing, scarring and inflammatory dermatoses
Peng Q et al., Transdermal characteristics and mechanism of asiaticoside nanoemulsions and asiaticoside nanoemulsions-based gels, Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica) 2018;43(9):1857-1863 — asiaticoside nanoemulsions achieved 6-7x greater drug permeation and 5-6x greater skin deposition vs commercial cream
Lee J et al., Evaluation of the effects of a preparation containing asiaticoside on periocular wrinkles of human volunteers, Int J Cosmet Sci 2008;30(3):167-73 — DB vehicle-controlled split-face RCT n=27, periorbital wrinkles
Lee J, Jung E, Kim Y et al., Asiaticoside induces human collagen I synthesis through TGFbeta receptor I kinase (TbetaRI kinase)-independent Smad signaling, Planta Medica 2006;72(4):324-8 — asiaticoside upregulated type I collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts via Smad signaling
Lu L et al., Asiaticoside induction for cell-cycle progression, proliferation and collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts, International Journal of Dermatology 2004;43(11):801-807 — in vitro: asiaticoside upregulated 54 genes for fibroblast proliferation and ECM synthesis
Bonté F et al., Influence of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside on human collagen I synthesis, Planta Medica 1994;60(2):133-5
Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.