That ‘cica’ – written in bold letters on this Rovectin Cica Care Balm tube – represents the so-much-hoped relief acneic skins were looking for.
Korean skincare fanatics know what cica stands for and why Centella Asiatica extract (cica) is an excellent addition to any skincare routine for problematic skin type. Today, I’m going to put my spotlights again on Rovectin and its Cica Care range.
Rovectin Cica Care Balm: product & packaging
Rovectin Cica Care Balm is a day-to-night face cream for acne-prone, impure skin types and more.
Also, skin which develops sensitivity and redness to drugstore anti-imperfection and young skincare ranges can enjoy this cream. This treatment is part of the Cica Care line, which consists of a Purifying Toner (reviewed here), sheet masks and sleeping pack. Instead of the usual jar or pot, this cream comes in a tube with a screwable cap and minimalistic design for 40 ml of product in total.
Formula
This face cream takes its name from a specific ingredient: Centella Asiatica also known as ‘cica‘. Cica is very popular at the moment and, of its many properties, it’s highly praised for its healing/cicatrising action – which explains its nickname – but it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial powers as well. The formulation is vegan and cruelty-free, and includes calamine (a soothing lotion), Camellia Sinensis leaf extract (green tea with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and astringent action), and madecassoside (an antioxidant compound found in centella asiatica).
Rovectin Cica Care Balm, like the other products of the brand, is hypoallergenic and free from mineral oil, parabens, synthetic colourants, perfumes and animal-derived ingredients. Hence it’s made to be suitable for all skin types and the most sensitive ones.
Scent and texture
Rovectin Cica Care Balm has a fresh and dainty floral scent. It took me a while to remember where I smelled this note first, then my neurons cooperated brilliantly: it smells of jasmine as experienced with this Avon hand cream. Indeed, it’s not hard to spot jasmine extract at the very bottom of the inci, and I wonder if this explains why its fragrance is so lively. This feminine touch is accompanied by a sheer pink hue which disappears on the skin, leaving no traces. This face cream has a thick texture, for which ‘balm’ or unguent would be a better description. Its balmy consistency reminds of CeraVe face cream, but Rovectin balm is more spreadable, breathable and with faster absorption.
How to use:
Rovectin Cica Care Balm can be applied morning and evening, on clean skin. It follows your toner like Rovectin Cica Care Purifying Toner as its perfect soulmate. However, this cream seems to be compatible with other toners rather than Rovectin’s. In fact, at least from my experience, it works wonderfully with I’M FROM Rice Toner and also with byWishtrend Quad Active Boosting Essence used as a toner (which is the way I prefer to use it as I’m going to explain in a next post).
This cream provides no UVA/UVB protection; thus, it requires a lightweight face sunscreen (I’m using Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence as shown here). It can also be layered with other creams for specific needs. I’m currently using Nahaia Active Organics Intensive C face cream*, especially overnight to combine hydration and anti-ageing in one. I’ve been lucky so far, and my skin hasn’t reacted to any product combination!
PROS:
- it has a gentle formula (no itchiness occurred);
- it instantly calms redness;
- helps healing wounds left by spots or acne;
- evens skin tone;
- keeps hydration level high;
- gets absorbed relatively fast;
- doesn’t clog pores;
- highly compatible with other skincare products;
- is cruelty-free and vegan-friendly;
- its packaging is hygienic;
- has a delicate smell.
CONS:
- no SPF;
- thicker than a cream (minor con/subjective);
- less than a usual cream – 50 ml (minor con).
It’s not a cream nor a lotion; Rovectin Cica Care Balm is made to feel soothing while massaging it. Or, at least, this is what thicker creams usually feel to me. At first, I wasn’t used to its ‘weight’ and thought it was too heavy for me. But its fast absorption helped me to appreciate and actually use it day and night. I love the way I could combine this face balm with many other products without occurring in any side effect or uncomfortable after-feel. The lack of SPF could be a problem for some, but it means it can be applied both during the day and before going to sleep (to save money).
Moneywise, Rovectin Cica Care Balm is available online in many Korean skincare shops, and it usually has a good value for money. From my experience, my cream comes from Wishtrend where it’s available at the regular price of $26.00 (now at $15.60 for Black Friday**). On the same website, you can save 15% extra with code VALENTINA15 until the end of December***.
I’ve been using Rovectin Cica Care Balm for exactly a month now, after fighting hormonal and stress-related acne since May. This treatment instantly makes my skin feel supple and smoother, while redness started to disappear progressively. This face balm takes a couple of days to calm the more irritated areas, while pimples reduce in size. In two weeks, pores looked refined as skin texture did; open wounds got almost completely healed, and the most affected zones see a reduction in new spots.
From the before&after pictures above, you can see how the wound left from a whitehead and subsequent inflammation on my right cheek has almost disappeared (image #1). Do you know how hormonal acne tends to show in the same areas? Well, my problematic zones have been my temples and jawline all through summer. It’s evident how the areas with small pimples on the top of my eyebrows show fewer spots after a month of application (image #3). I call it a small victory.
If there’s anything I don’t like is the very materialistic idea this balm contains less product than a regular face cream, but for the price and its effectiveness, I close both eyes! I can always take my scissors and scoop out what’s left in the tube. Nothing gets wasted in this house, and a better skin remains my achievable goal.
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
*You can save 15% OFF on Nahaia Active Organics with the code VALE2020 (no min. order)
**Read more about Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals at Wishtrend in my previous post.
***VALENTINA15 gives you an extra 15%off your order (some items are excluded)
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