Cica & Ceramide Deep Hydration Gel Moisturizer
Cica & Ceramide Deep Hydration Gel Moisturizer
Product Description
A lightweight, fast-absorbing gel moisturizer from Skin Hero that pairs soothing Centella Asiatica (Cica) with barrier-repairing Ceramide AP and hydrating Hyaluronic Acid. Built on a minimalist 10-ingredient formula, it's fragrance-free, fungal-acne safe, and designed to calm, hydrate, and strengthen reactive, sensitive, and acne-prone skin without any heavy or greasy feel.
โจ Texture & Feel
Cica Soothing
A high level of Centella Asiatica (Cica) calms redness, irritation, and reactive skin.
Barrier Repair
Ceramide AP replenishes the skin's natural lipids to rebuild a stronger moisture barrier.
Deep Hydration
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol pull water into the skin for a plumped, comfortable feel.
Featherlight Gel
Watery, oil-free texture absorbs quickly and never leaves a greasy or heavy film.
๐ก๏ธ Safety & Compatibility
Contains no retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, or chemical sunscreens. All 10 ingredients are widely considered safe during pregnancy and nursing.
Independently verified as malassezia-safe. No esters, fatty acids, or polysorbates that can feed fungal acne.
Plays nicely with vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, and AHA/BHA. Apply it after your actives to buffer and hydrate.
Fragrance-free and allergen-free, but very reactive skin should still patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours first.
๐ฌ Ingredient Breakdown
๐ฟ Centella Asiatica Extract (Cica) ~20% Proven
The star of the formula. Cica (also called Gotu Kola) is a Southeast Asian herb rich in antioxidants and soothing compounds like madecassoside and asiaticoside, prized for calming irritation and supporting wound healing.
- Soothing: Well-documented anti-inflammatory action that helps reduce redness and reactivity.
- Repair: Studies link its active compounds to enhanced collagen synthesis and faster skin recovery.
- Hydration: A 4-week, 25-person study confirmed measurable skin-moisturizing benefits.
๐งฑ Ceramide AP <1% Proven
Also known as Ceramide 6. Ceramides are lipids that naturally make up about half of the "glue" between skin cells, binding them together to form a healthy, water-retaining barrier.
- Barrier: Restores depleted lipids to firm, hydrate, and protect the skin barrier.
- Defense: A stronger barrier shields against irritants and helps reduce inflammation.
๐ง Hyaluronic Acid ~1-2% Proven
A humectant naturally found in healthy skin that can hold many times its weight in water, drawing moisture in to hydrate, soothe, and plump.
- Hydration: High-molecular-weight HA is an excellent surface hydrator and skin protectant.
- Healing: Research notes anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that aid recovery.
๐ ฑ๏ธ Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) ~1% Promising
A humectant amino-acid relative and part of the skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor. It increases surface water content and supports a soft, supple feel.
- Moisture: Helps lift water content at the skin's surface for lasting comfort.
- Soothing: Commonly used to calm and condition stressed skin.
๐ผ Glycerin & Chamomile Supporting Proven
Glycerin is one of the most effective humectants known, while Chamomilla Recutita (chamomile) extract adds extra calming, antioxidant support.
- Glycerin: A 2016 study found it more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
- Chamomile: Skin-protecting botanical traditionally used to soothe sensitive skin.
10 ingredients
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ceramide AP, Hyaluronic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Propanediol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Leucine
๐ Where It Fits in Your Routine
Use morning and night. Because it's a lightweight gel, very dry skin can layer a richer cream or facial oil on top at night to lock in hydration.
๐ How to Use
Start With Clean Skin
Cleanse and tone as usual so the gel can absorb into freshly prepped skin.
Apply Your Treatments
Layer any serums or actives (vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol) and let them settle first.
Press In the Gel
Take a pea-sized amount, warm it between fingertips, and gently press over the face and neck.
Seal & Protect
In the morning, follow with sunscreen. At night, add a richer cream on top if your skin needs more.
๐ค Who Is It For?
โ Perfect for you if:
- You have sensitive, reactive, or easily irritated skin
- You're prone to fungal acne and need a malassezia-safe option
- You want a lightweight, fragrance-free gel for daytime
- You have oily or combination skin that hates heavy creams
- You prefer a short, minimalist ingredient list
โ Consider alternatives if:
- You have very dry skin and want all-in-one hydration
- You prefer a rich, occlusive night cream
- You want a pump dispenser (this formula is quite runny)
- You're seeking active anti-aging ingredients like retinol
- You dislike a slightly dewy, shiny finish
๐ฏ Skin Type Compatibility
Oil-free, watery gel hydrates without adding grease or clogging pores.
Hydrates dry zones while staying light enough for an oily T-zone.
Fragrance-free and cica-rich; users report it calms redness without stinging.
Non-comedogenic and fungal-acne safe; a favorite for breakout-prone skin.
Soothes and hydrates but is light; very dry skin should layer a cream on top.
๐ Results Timeline
Instant Comfort
Skin feels hydrated, cooled, and soothed the moment it absorbs. Tightness and dryness ease.
90% noticedCalmer, Less Reactive
Redness and irritation begin to settle as the cica and chamomile work over consistent use.
70% noticedStronger Barrier
Ceramides and hyaluronic acid help skin retain moisture better and feel more resilient.
60% noticedBalanced & Healthy
With ongoing use, skin looks more even and comfortable, with fewer flare-ups.
55% noticedโญ Ratings by Platform
โ๏ธ Pros & Cons
โ Praised
- Genuinely fungal-acne safe with a clean, short ingredient list
- Doesn't sting, burn, or cause breakouts on reactive skin
- Very lightweight and absorbs quickly
- High level of soothing cica for redness-prone skin
- Fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe
โ Criticized
- Watery, runny texture can be tricky to dispense
- Too light on its own for very dry skin
- Packaging isn't a pump bottle
- Finish can look slightly shiny rather than fully matte
- Limited international availability outside the Philippines
๐ฐ Budget-Friendly Alternatives (Dupes)
Another lightweight Filipino gel-moisturizer with hyaluronic acid and a low price. Less cica and no added ceramide, but a solid everyday hydrator.
Affordable, fragrance-free, and barrier-friendly with amino acids and HA. Richer cream texture and no cica, but great for sensitive skin.
Shares the cica + hyaluronic acid gel concept. Free from harsh alcohols, oils, parabens, and sulfates, with a similarly light, soothing feel.
๐ Comparison with Competitors
Skin Hero Cica & Ceramide Gel (This Product)
~$7COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream
~$25Thank You Farmer Phyto Relieful Cica Cream
~$24Dermedic Hydrain3 Ultra-Hydrating Cream-Gel
~$20๐ฆ Storage & Shelf Life
12 months after opening
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; keep the cap closed tightly.
Squeeze bottle (note: formula is runny, so dispense slowly)
Yes โ at 50ml it's under the 100ml carry-on limit
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The formula contains no retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, or chemical sunscreen filters โ the ingredients usually flagged during pregnancy. Its 10 ingredients (cica, ceramide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, glycerin, chamomile, and supporting bases) are generally regarded as safe. As always, check with your doctor about your full routine if you're pregnant or nursing.
Yes. It has been independently verified as fungal-acne (malassezia) safe. It contains no esters, fatty acids, or polysorbates that can feed malassezia yeast, which is why it's a popular pick for people managing fungal acne breakouts.
Yes. This is a gentle, soothing gel with no actives of its own, so it layers well over vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, or exfoliating acids. Apply your treatment first, let it absorb, then press this moisturizer on top to hydrate and buffer potential irritation.
It performs best on oily, combination, sensitive, and acne-prone skin thanks to its lightweight, oil-free, fungal-acne-safe formula. Dry skin types can use it too, but may want to layer a richer cream or oil on top, especially at night.
Hydration and a soothed, calmer feel are usually immediate. Reduced redness and reactivity tend to show within 1โ2 weeks, while barrier strength and overall resilience build up over roughly 4โ8 weeks of consistent twice-daily use.
Use it as your moisturizer step โ after cleansing, toning, and any serums or treatments, and before sunscreen in the morning. At night it's your final hydrating step, though very dry skin can seal it with a heavier cream or facial oil.
No. With an estimated comedogenic rating of around 1/5, an oil-free gel base, and no pore-clogging ingredients, it's considered non-comedogenic and breakout-friendly. Multiple users specifically note that it doesn't cause clogged pores.
It has a Period After Opening (PAO) of about 12 months. For best results, use it within a year of opening and store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Verdict: The Skin Hero Cica & Ceramide Deep Hydration Gel Moisturizer is a standout budget-friendly, fungal-acne-safe option for sensitive, oily, and breakout-prone skin. Its short, clean 10-ingredient formula delivers genuine soothing from a high level of cica plus barrier support from ceramides and hyaluronic acid โ all in a featherlight, fragrance-free gel. The main trade-offs are its very watery texture and non-pump packaging, and the fact that very dry skin will likely want something richer on top. For anyone who struggles to find a calming moisturizer that doesn't trigger breakouts, it's an easy, affordable recommendation.
Product Overview
Quick product notes are a great way to check if a product is free from commonly avoided ingredients by skincare enthusiasts. These preferences come about for different reasons depending on the ingredient such as personal experiences, sensitivities, health preferences & etc.
Just because a product is not free from a common preference does not mean it's a bad product! You can make a personal decision whether or not you want to use a product that contains these ingredients or not - click the labels of the preference to read more about them.
Quick Product Notes
Ever used a product that promised a certain effect but provided no results? It might not have contained any notable ingredients that could have been responsible for that promised effect. It doesn't matter what the marketing or packaging ยซpromisesยป it can do, if it doesn't contain anything that can help - then the likelihood of it helping is low.
We help you identify key notable ingredients that have been shown to help with effects such as acne-fighting, brightening, UV-protection, wound healing & anti-aging to help you achieve your skincare goals smarter. Please note that different notable ingredients have varying levels of research behind them, some are extremely well proven yet some have mixed research in their efficacy.
Just because a product doesn't contain any notable ingredients doesn't mean it's bad. And a product with notable ingredients (or even many) doesn't necessarily guarantee the efficacy of the product performing these effects either. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine this.
Be smart and use this as just a starting point for you to make more informed and smarter choices and compare it with reviews to see if the product is right for you
Notable Effects & Ingredients
Why are some products great for some people and horrible for others? Well everyone has different skin types and different reactions to the same ingredients.
We've identified a range of ingredients that are commonly regarded as potentially good or bad for those with Dry, Oily/Acne-Prone or Sensitive skin.
A product that contains good or bad ingredients for your skin type doesn't always flat out make the entire product good or bad for your skin. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine your skins reaction.
One of the best ways to use this section is to troubleshoot products you've had bad experiences with in the past. Check if it contains any of the marked ingredients to point out suspect ingredients to avoid in the future!
Ingredients Related to Skin Types
Ingredient Safety Breakdown refers to the percentage % of ingredients in different risk categories as classified by EWG (Environment Working Group) if they are available. There are almost endless cosmetic ingredients and they are one of the few organisations globally that have assigned ratings to a lot of the more commonly used ingredients which is why we reference them.
EWG is seen by many to be more on the alarmist side in their assignment of health ratings resulting in rating ingredients as riskier than they actually are. We recommend using this a reference point rather than a strict guide of ingredient safety and to always do further research if into ingredients that you may find suspect.
Ingredient Safety Breakdown
Product ingredient list
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Water
Solvent, Skin Conditioning
|
|
|
| 1 |
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing, Soothing, Tonic
|
Promotes Wound Healing
Redness
Irritation
|
|
| 0 |
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
|
Hydrating
Irritation
|
|
| 0 |
Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning
|
Promotes Wound Healing
Hydrating
|
|
| 0 |
Pantothenic Acid
Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning
|
|

