Centellian 24 Madeca Cream is a centella-forward moisturizer built around TECA and madecassoside, and I’ve found the texture and finish make it an easy reach when my skin feels tight, dry, or mildly irritated. The pitch is simple: support the skin barrier, soften the look of redness, and layer comfortably with the rest of your routine. That promise is appealing, but the results still hinge on your skin type, climate, and how you pair it with actives.
What Is Centellian 24 Madeca Cream?
At its core, this moisturizer centers on Centella asiatica extracts and TECA to calm stressed skin and reinforce the moisture barrier, with textures that sit comfortably under sunscreen and makeup. Within the line you’ll see “Season” updates; the Season 5 “Active Skin Formula” emphasizes barrier repair with TECA alongside hydrators for daily use rather than a heavy occlusive feel. That generational naming matters because shoppers often search by season, and it signals subtle upgrades in delivery systems and supporting ingredients from the brand. Centellian 24
In daily use, the cream reads medium-weight in cool, dry weather and closer to light-medium when humidity rises. On my combination skin, it reduces that tight, post-cleanse feeling without leaving a film, and it behaves well as a final step after watery serums. The finish is softly dewy for a few minutes before settling to a natural sheen, which tends to pair nicely with satin or radiant foundations.
The brand’s story is rooted in Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s research on Centella extracts and its proprietary TECA approach. While marketing language around “tiger grass” is everywhere, the useful bit is the focus on soothing compounds—madecassic acid, asiaticoside, asiatic acid—and delivery systems designed to keep them stable and comfortable on sensitive skin. Centellian 24
Key Ingredients & How They Work
Centella asiatica has a long history in wound care research thanks to triterpenes such as madecassoside and asiaticoside. Contemporary reviews describe anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, along with support for collagen synthesis and epithelialization—mechanisms that can translate to calmer, less reactive skin when used in leave-on formulas. Importantly, these are tendencies observed in lab and clinical contexts, and individual responses vary, which is why two users can have different takeaways from the same jar. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Centella asiatica, madecassoside & barrier support. In practice, I notice this category shines when my barrier is a little compromised—after a windy day, indoor heating, or a too-enthusiastic exfoliation night. A 2024 review of topical Centella preparations summarized faster re-epithelialization and higher wound contraction rates versus untreated controls, aligning with what many users describe as “quicker calm-down” after irritation. For everyday moisturizers, that may translate into less visible redness and better tolerance of retinoids over time when you introduce actives slowly. mdpi.com
TECA and why it’s different. TECA, a titrated and highly purified Centella extract composed primarily of madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, appears widely in derma-cosmetics because it narrows variability and focuses on those specific actives. The brand positions TECA not as generic “cica,” but as a standardized, liposome-delivered complex, aiming for efficient, gentle delivery. This is valuable if you’re sensitive to fragrance or heavy occlusives and prefer a formula that targets barrier comfort with a lighter touch. Centellian 24
Beyond Centella, supporting ingredients matter. Humectants pull water into the upper layers of the skin, emollients smooth texture, and light occlusives slow evaporation. I’ve had good luck sandwiching a humectant-rich serum under the cream on drier nights; a Centella-first micro-serum can be a smart way to front-load hydration without heft. If you like that approach, a featherweight option is the Centellian 24 Madeca Micro Serum, which fits comfortably under most moisturizers when skin feels parched after cleansing. Try the micro-serum step.
When you look at the broader evidence base, recent mechanistic papers continue to explore how madecassoside derivatives dampen inflammatory signaling and protect keratinocytes from UVB stress in controlled settings. That doesn’t turn a moisturizer into sunscreen, but it does help explain why centella-heavy routines “feel” soothing during weather shifts. As always, topical benefits are adjunctive to core habits like consistent SPF. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Variants & How to Choose
If your climate is cool or you sit near air-conditioning all day, a slightly richer Centella cream can be the difference between flaky makeup and a smooth canvas. The Centellian24 Madeca Cream Hydra 3X Formula (50ml) is positioned exactly for that—hydration that stays comfortable without a greasy dry-down, and it slips into both AM and PM routines without pilling under sunscreen. See the Hydra 3X moisturizer.
If your barrier is temperamental after procedures or you’re recovering from an unintended over-exfoliation week, a pared-back, pharmacy-leaning formula may feel safer psychologically and physically. Madeca MD Cream from the Dongkook portfolio is the pragmatic, barrier-first option many reach for in that situation, with a sensorial profile that prioritizes calm over fragrance. Explore the barrier-care cream.
If your skin is reactive and you prefer a classic “cica cream” feel, Dr.G Red Blemish Cica Soothing Cream offers a gel-cream take that layers well and is easy to re-apply on no-makeup days. I keep it around for heatwaves or high-humidity travel because it delivers the reassurance of Centella without weight. Check the gentle cica gel-cream.
For the product historians among us, the “Season 5” naming can be a bit confusing. Think of it as an iteration label rather than a completely different category—the Active Skin Formula is still a moisturizer, just with updated delivery and support actives. If you search by season, you’ll find the brand’s Season 5 listing that calls out barrier care with TECA and hyaluronic acid, which lines up with how it behaves on skin. Centellian 24
Picking among variants ultimately comes down to sensorial preference, climate, and what you’re pairing it with. If your morning routine leans antioxidant-heavy and your sunscreen is already emollient, a lighter Centella cream leaves room for SPF without smearing. If you use strong actives at night, a slightly richer Centella step can reduce the chance of waking up tight or shiny-flaky.
Who It May Suit (and When to Be Cautious)
Most skin types that appreciate barrier support—dry, normal, or combination—will find a Centella-forward moisturizer easy to slot in. Oily skin can still benefit when the barrier is disrupted, especially during retinoid ramp-up, but may prefer thinner layers and a gel-cream texture in summer. In my experience, redness-prone cheeks often look calmer after a week of consistent use, particularly if you minimize other potential irritants while you evaluate the cream.
As with any botanical-leaning formula, allergies are possible. Case reports continue to document allergic contact dermatitis to Centella extracts in a small subset of users, so a patch test is a prudent step if you’ve reacted to “cica” products before or if you have highly reactive skin. Apply to a discreet area for several days and monitor for itch, redness, or bumpiness before using it on your face more broadly. PubMed
If you lean very reactive but still want Centella’s comfort, choose the softest surrounding formula. Physiogel Hydro Cica Soothing Cream is a friendly companion when you’re rebuilding tolerance, and I like it as a calm daytime layer under a hydrating sunscreen on low-humidity days. See the cica moisturizer for dry, reactive skin.
Pregnancy and nursing warrant their usual caution with strong actives. Centella-based moisturizers are generally used for comfort rather than as medicated treatments, but always discuss your routine with a healthcare professional if you’re unsure, and keep your sunscreen habit consistent year-round.
How to Use & Routine Pairings
When skin is calm, I use a thin layer in the morning over a humectant serum, allow it to settle for a minute, and then apply sunscreen. On drier nights, I go in with a micro-serum first, follow with Centellian 24 Madeca Cream, and, if the air is particularly arid, seal with a neutral ceramide cream. If you prefer an even firmer seal on winter nights, AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Cream stacks on top without feeling waxy once you learn the right amount for your climate. Add a ceramide night cream.
Layering with actives is where Centella creams earn their keep. If you’re introducing a retinoid, buffer the first weeks by applying your Centella moisturizer either before or after the retinoid, depending on comfort, and listen to your skin. Dermatology guidance often suggests reducing frequency or applying a moisturizer to soften irritation as you adapt, which aligns with how many users eventually tolerate retinoids well. AAD
No routine is complete without diligent SPF, particularly if you’re pursuing any brightening or anti-aging goals. AAD guidance consistently emphasizes applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher to all exposed skin and reapplying during outdoor exposure. In my testing, lightweight mineral or hybrid sunscreens glide more evenly over this cream once it has sat for a minute, and they help lock in the hydrated look without pilling. AAD
Seasonally, I reach for thinner layers of Madeca Cream in humid summers and slightly more in heated, indoor winters. The finish under makeup is smoother when I let the cream absorb fully and then “press” sunscreen rather than rub aggressively; if you’re dewier than you like, a sheer setting powder tames the glow without flattening skin.
If you want a Centella-centric routine without heaviness, start with a serum and finish with the cream on nights that feel tight or wind-burned. The Centellian 24 Madeca Micro Serum is a neat “pre-cream” for this, giving a cooling drink before you seal with moisturizer; I especially like it under a lightweight SPF on travel days when cabin air is unforgiving. Use a featherweight micro-serum first.
For AM routines where you want extra hydration but minimal slip, the Centellian24 Madeca Cream Hydra 3X version is the easiest to slot under sunscreen without a greasy edge, and it holds up nicely during long office days in recycled air. Consider the Hydra 3X morning layer.
Comparisons & Narrative FAQs
Is Madeca Cream just another “cica cream”? Functionally, yes and no. It belongs to the same soothing family, but the TECA focus narrows the Centella actives to a standardized mix, aiming for predictable comfort rather than the “green balm” stereotype. If you’ve found thick cica balms too occlusive, this will likely feel more wearable in a daily routine, especially under sunscreen and makeup.
How does it compare with classic pharmacy moisturizers? For purely barrier repair, a minimal ceramide cream is hard to beat, yet many users enjoy the “calming” feel and visible redness relief they perceive from Centella-forward formulas. In my experience, the best results come from alternating: Centella on nights when skin feels hot or wind-exposed; a ceramide-rich layer when heaters are blasting. If your skin wants a straightforward, fragrance-free cica option, Dr.G Red Blemish Cica Soothing Cream is an easy, gel-cream alternative that plays well with different actives. See the fragrance-light cica option.
Is Season 5 meaningfully different? The intent is an update to delivery and synergy around TECA with hydration support, keeping wearability high. If you enjoyed earlier seasons but wanted a lighter daytime feel, Season 5’s Active Skin Formula is likely the one you’ll try first; if you need more cushion, pair it with a ceramide cream at night. Centellian 24
Centellian 24 Madeca Cream is a solid, soothing moisturizer for many routines when expectations are realistic. Think calm, comfort, and better tolerance of actives rather than a miracle anti-aging treatment. Start slow, patch test if you’re sensitive, match texture to climate, and keep sunscreen non-negotiable. The combination tends to make skin feel steadier from week to week, which is ultimately the best environment for any brightening or anti-aging work you pursue.
