VT Cica Reti-A Essence 0.3 30ml
VT Cosmetics Cica Reti-A Essence 0.3 30ml carries five separate centella asiatica forms on its own ingredient panel, including Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid.
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- Duties prepaid
- Suited to
- DryNormalCombinationDehydrated
- Helps with
- DullnessDehydrationRough textureUneven surface
In stock. Ships from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days
You’re $100.00 away from free US shipping.
- Duties prepaid
- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Dispatched within 2 business days
Key benefits
- Five forms of centella asiatica on one panel, not a single token inclusion
- Niacinamide on the same panel, the formula's active
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil on the same panel, the formula's occlusive
- 30 ml to a unit
- Korean GS1 barcode matched against a Korea sourcing supplier's record for this item
Key actives
Centella Asiatica Extract
Centella Asiatica is the plant behind the whole cica category, sold as gotu kola or Madagascar centella. Its extract is the anchor of Korean formulas built for easily reddened skin, and its work is done by four triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid.
Madecassoside
Madecassoside is the centella triterpene most associated with the look of redness, and the one brands lead with in cica products. It is water soluble and stable, so it appears in essences as readily as in creams.
Asiaticoside
Asiaticoside is one of the four active triterpenes isolated from centella and the most studied of them. Korean formulas name it separately when they want to show which fraction of the plant they standardised.
Asiatic Acid
Asiatic Acid is the third of centella's four triterpenes and the aglycone form, meaning it has no attached sugar. It is oil soluble, so it turns up in cica creams and balms more than in watery layers.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Plant oil hardened by hydrogenation. It behaves as a soft solid, so it gives balms and sticks their body and slows water loss from the surface.
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate is a retinoid ester that binds skin's retinoid receptors directly, with no conversion step. Brands use it where they want retinoid-style results with less of the flaking retinol brings.
How to use
- Cleanse and tone first so the skin is clean and slightly damp, not dripping wet.
- Dispense a few drops of Cica Reti-A Essence 0.3 into the palm or fingertips and press it over the face and neck.
- Pat gently until it is absorbed rather than rubbing it in.
- Follow with a moisturizer or cream within a minute or two to seal the hydration in.
When do I use Cica Reti-A Essence 0.3 in my routine?
Use Cica Reti-A Essence 0.3 after cleansing and toner, before your moisturizer or cream. It is a leave-on step, so apply it to a clean face and let it settle for a minute before layering the next product. Most people use it once in the morning and once at night, though a single evening application is fine while your skin adjusts to a new step.
Can I layer it with other serums or ampoules?
Yes. Apply thinner, more watery formulas first and heavier creams last, so this ampoule generally goes after a toner and before a thicker serum or moisturizer. If you use it alongside an actives-heavy routine, introduce it on its own for the first week so you can tell what any reaction is coming from.
Does it feel greasy or heavy on the skin?
No. It has a water-forward, leave-on base rather than a heavy oil or wax base, so it absorbs into the surface rather than sitting on top of it. Most people describe the feel as light and quickly absorbed, not tacky or greasy.
Is this the same formula sold in Korea?
Yes. This is the Korean-market VT Cosmetics release, imported with its original Korean-language packaging, barcode, and batch code intact, rather than a version reformulated or repackaged for US retail. We check that batch code against the one on the box before it ships, instead of relying on the listing alone.
How long does one bottle last with daily use?
At roughly a few drops per application, twice a day, a 30 ml bottle typically lasts about six to eight weeks, though usage varies with how much product a person applies each time.
- Ships from
- California
Duties are prepaid. Nothing is owed at delivery. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
Orders ship from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days, and arrive in 3 to 5 days. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Customs
Duty paid by us before it enters the US - 3California
Ships domestically, no international leg
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Import duties are paid by us before the parcel reaches you, so nothing is owed at the door, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
Payment and security
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How it works
The panel on this essence names five forms of centella asiatica rather than one: Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid. Centella Asiatica is the plant behind the whole cica category, sold as gotu kola or Madagascar centella. Its extract is the anchor of Korean formulas built for easily reddened skin, and its work is done by four triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. On this panel it sits alongside Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate. Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
Worth knowing
- Patch test on the inner arm before the first full-face application, as with any new ampoule.
- Stop use and rinse if stinging, redness, or itching develops after application.
Reviews
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Korean-market original
VT Cosmetics ampoule, 30 ml.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
Match the batch code on the box against the code printed on the bottle or tube itself; the two are stamped separately and should agree.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about the key actives in this formula, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Centella can make your skin appear more hydrated, plumper and healthier.
Samantha Stein, PA-CDermatology physician assistant, Cleveland Clinic Small, preliminary studies suggest that madecassoside can dial down inflammatory cellular messengers called cytokines, including those that are typically turned on during an acne flare.
Whitney Bowe, MDDermatologist, Byrdie
1 more professional perspective
Niacinamide helps reduce the appearance of pores in a few ways. By strengthening the skin barrier and improving elasticity, pores appear less noticeable and more even.
Ashlyn YankeAesthetician, Cleveland Clinic
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