It is the plant of the moment in cosmetics. Centella asiatica, also known as Hydrocotyle asiatica, Gota Kola or tiger grass, in French integrates more and more the formulation of our beauty products.

And for good reason: r épute since the dawn of time in some Asian countries, its benefits to the skin are numerous.

A healing and regenerating plant

Tiger grass grows in Asia, in swampy areas with a tropical climate. It owes its nickname to ancestral legends which, even today, make its reputation.

"It is said that tigers used to roll in the Centella asiatica to heal their wounds, so it is said that the elephants who ate them lived longer," says Katalin Berenyi, co-founder of the Erborian brand. Healing, regeneration, longevity, the virtues of which wild animals are not the only ones to benefit.

In fact, beauty products based Centella Asiatica are recommended for all people who have skin sensitized by external aggression. According to Katalin Berenyi, "more than 60% of women have so-called 'reactive' skin, so this is a more than recurrent problem."

How to use Centella asiatica?

For those of us who want to include Centella asiatica in their beauty routine , the specialist recommends two potential uses.

First, if we want to calm redness , repair and rebalance our skin or help heal, we put on rinsing products like a makeup remover for example. With daily use, the skin looks smoother, healthier and, most importantly, it is less vulnerable to external factors such as cold or pollution .

If we hope to prevent skin aging and have a more regenerating and healing action, we turn to "leave in" products that do not require rinsing: serums, day cream or night cream, repairing balm and even 2 in 1 skincare and makeup products such as BB Cream and CC Creams . "It is in the balms, creams and serums that the Centella asiatica is the most effective", confirms Katalin Berenyi.

Keep in mind though: the benefits of tiger grass are maximized when combined with other assets. The cosmetic industry often combines it with chamomile , green tea or licorice for their soothing and antioxidant properties.