Frequently Asked Questions
Which skin types benefit most from cica?
Most skin types can benefit from cica—it’s less about your “type” and more about what your skin is dealing with at the moment. “It’s especially helpful for sensitive or reactive skin (stinging, redness, easily irritated), as well as rosacea-prone skin as a supportive step,” says Dr. Yoo. It’s also a great fallback for “dry or barrier-compromised skin” and for “people using retinoids or acids who need a recovery step,” she says. It plays well with those actives, helping take the edge off irritation—think applying a cica serum or cream after retinol, or using it on recovery nights between exfoliation days. If your skin is especially sensitive, she recommends introducing one product at a time and patch testing first.
Can cica treat acne?
Cica isn’t an acne treatment in the same way benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids are—but “it can help indirectly by calming irritation and supporting the barrier,” says Dr. Kanwal. When skin is inflamed or overly dry (which can easily happen when you’re using strong acne treatments), it’s actually more prone to breakouts—and less able to tolerate the products that are supposed to help. Cica can act as the buffer that keeps everything in balance. For acne-prone skin, Dr. Kanwal recommends using cica alongside proven actives—not instead of them—so you’re treating breakouts while also keeping your skin calm enough to handle it.
Meet the experts
- Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, based in Miami
- Shamsa Kanwal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Portland
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology based in Newport Beach, California
- Jane Yoo, MD, a dual board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best cica skin-care products, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Now, watch the Forbidden Fruits cast spill secrets after sipping the truth serum:
