The Elemental: Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola)
Cellular Thread is formulated with Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) — a botanical rich in triterpenoids and phenolics, known for its skin-calming, barrier-supporting and reparative properties. In AURÉME formulations, Centella functions as a serene cue: a silent gesture toward balance, repair, and the skin’s own architecture of calm.
In the AURÉME Ritual
In the AURÉME framework, Centella Asiatica becomes more than a soothing ingredient — it is a somatic attunement. It whispers to the skin: “you may settle now.”
Morning: as the skin meets the day’s exposures, Centella gently prepares a foundation of calm, supporting resilience against external stressors.
Evening: it becomes a structural lullaby — helping the skin repair, reset, and rebuild without agitation.
Applied as a serum its presence is subtle but tangible — a quiet scaffold that holds space for transformation.
The Science
Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola, Cica) is a creeping herb traditionally used in Ayurvedic and East Asian medicine for wound healing, inflammation, and nervous system support. Modern phytochemical and dermatological research highlight its potential as a skin-calming, barrier-restoring botanical.
At the core of its activity are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds — notably asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid — along with flavonoids and other phenolic derivatives.
Here’s how these constituents contribute to its “architecture of calm”:
1. Anti-inflammatory modulation
Several in vitro and in vivo studies show that Centella compounds suppress pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g. TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2) and reduce oxidative stress in skin cells.
This modulation helps attenuate redness, irritation, and barrier inflammation — making Centella a go-to in formulations for sensitive or reactive skin.
2. Wound healing & collagen support
Centella’s traditional usage in healing wounds finds resonance in modern findings: it stimulates angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis, particularly via the upregulation of types I and III collagen.
Madecassoside, for example, has been observed to activate TGF-β / Smad signaling pathways in dermal cells, promoting extracellular matrix repair.
3. Antioxidant & protective stress buffering
By quenching reactive oxygen species and enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, Centella helps shield skin from environmental insults (UV, pollution) that can provoke inflammation and oxidative damage.
This stress buffering supports a more resilient barrier over time.
4. Barrier integrity & hydration
Centella can help strengthen the skin barrier by increasing trans-epidermal water retention, supporting ceramide synthesis, and reducing moisture loss — all of which contribute to a more stable, calm complexion.
Taken together, Centella doesn’t merely mask irritation — it works within the architecture of the skin to restore equilibrium.
