The British brand Elemis may be best known for the iconic Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. Or, depending on who you ask, the intoxicating Cleansing Balm. But if you were to dive deeper into the spa-grade range, you’d be amazed at the number of formulas tailored with laser precision to address every skin care concern for any age. The Superfoods range was created with ‘those just getting started on skincare’ in mind but the latest additions of Cica Calm Cleansing Foam and Cica Calm Hydration Juice are perfect for absolutely everyone.
What are Superfoods?
This vegan-friendly range of gentle and nutritious products is packed with superfood extracts and prebiotics. It’s an excellent starting point for those new to self-care or for anyone who prefers gentle cleansers and mild exfoliators in lieu of more aggressive actives. Personally, as much as I enjoy experiencing these products, my skin needs a bit more help, especially when it comes to treating fine lines, enlarged pores or uneven skin tone. With that said, because I do use retinoids and various resurfacing acids regularly, incorporating calming Cica-infused formulas has become a common move.
What is Cica?
Popularized by the K-beauty industry, cica (proper name: centella asiatica) is an herbal extract with soothing and healing properties that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. You may have encountered it under other names in various products’ ingredient decks, Tiger Grass or Gotu Kola, for example. Cica labeled formulas are often marketed to those with sensitive or reactive skin types because of their redness-reducing and calming benefits. If your skin can become temperamental during the winter months, it’s definitely worth trying the new Elemis Cica Calm duo.
Cleansing Foam
The self-foaming formula is fueled by Cica and Agave Extracts, fermented Rice Water as well as Mango and Olive derived cleansing agents to remove the impurities without disturbing skin’s protective barrier. Since Elemis mentions ‘calming micellar cleanser’ on the bottle I will be trying it on dry skin to see how it works with my tinted SPF next.
It’s been a great sinkside and shower addition for a morning cleanse. At night, it works great as a follow up to an oil or balm. Since I’m obsessed with Neroli, I am loving the scent but it’s important to mention that the delicious notes are indeed, an added fragrance. $32 (180ml)
Hydration Juice
Though I’m rarely prone to sensitive skin, I consider cooling, hydrating Aloe Vera based product to be a must-have in my stash. The Cica Calm Hydration Juice is currently looking bright and cheery sinkside but I plan to move it to the fridge when summer arrives. The liquigel formula is packed with soothing and calming botanicals (75% concentration of Aloe and Cucumber) and when my skin feels parched, it drinks up 3-4 pumps in mere seconds. It absorbs great without leaving a hint of stickiness behind.
I’m loving it so far and it’s about to become my go-to after using any clay masks. It feels refreshing and smells of cucumber, kiwi, and citrus. Similar to the cleansing foam, fragrance is an added ingredient here as well. $48 (50ml)
Yay or Nay
If your skin is sensitive but not sensitive to fragrance, I say go for it. I plan to enjoy this duo to the last drop but my Elemis Hall of Fame has a bright No Vacancy sign as of now. These spots are taken by the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30, Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash, and Ultra Smart Pro-Collagen Aqua Infusion Mask.
Available at elemis.com and dermstore.com
