Private Label Centella (Cica) Serum
Cica serums from calming water to standardized madecassoside — the K-beauty heritage active.
Centella asiatica remains the most searched soothing botanical in beauty retail. The category runs on two tiers: cica water extracts for accessible pricing, and standardized madecassoside / madecassic acid builds where the dose is quantified on the label.
We build both, from 70% cica-water essences to 0.5% madecassoside recovery serums, with green-tinted botanical bases that photograph well and calm visibly reactive skin. Pairing with zinc or panthenol extends the claim set to blemish-prone audiences.
The active system and its working levels
INCI names and typical levels reflect publicly documented formulation practice. All values are adjustable in your build.
| Ingredient (INCI) | Typical Level | Function & Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Centella Asiatica Extract | 10–70% | Botanical soothing base |
| Madecassoside | 0.1–0.5% | Standardized calming fraction |
| Panthenol | 1–2% | Comfort pairing |
| Zinc PCA | 0.5–1% | Blemish-prone support |
In water, everything dissolves — including the problems
A water-based product is the simplest thing to make and the hardest thing to keep stable. Oxygen, light and trace metals all reach the actives directly, and there is no oil phase standing in the way to slow them down.
That is why protection here is built from three parts at once: the headspace, the pack and the chelation strategy. Remove any one and the shelf life falls to the weakest link in the chain.
Which fluid route fits which active
In a fluid, protection and texture are set by different parts of the system — the route decides which one leads.
| Route | Barrier it needs | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Structured gel | Chelator with no oil phase to protect | Treatment and gel-adjacent formats |
| Glycol-rich fluid | Modest barrier, higher water activity | Actives that need solubility more than protection |
| Simple aqueous | Chelator plus an opaque or UV-filtered pack | Stable actives in high-volume lines |
| Micellar system | Surfactant-stabilised, clear pack | Cleansing waters and no-rinse formats |
Where a fluid build succeeds or fails
The pH window is narrower than solubility
The range where an active is stable is often tighter than the range where it dissolves. Both ends are verified at fill rather than assumed.
Viscosity without heaviness
Fluids are thickened with polymers that leave no residue, because the texture is meant to disappear on application.
Viscosity keeps building after fill
Polymer-thickened fluids can continue to develop structure for days after filling. Specification limits are written for the settled product, not for the freshly made one.
Both ends of the pack's life
An airless pack keeps the product away from air, but it also changes how the last few grams are dispensed. The end of the pack's life belongs in the design as much as the first.
Formats, pack sizes and MOQ
Mixed-variant orders can split the stated MOQ across formats under one brand.
| Format / Specification | MOQ | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| 70% cica water essence, 100 ml pump | 1,000 pcs | 10–15 days |
| Madecassoside 0.2% serum, 30 ml dropper | 1,000 pcs | 10–15 days |
| Cica + zinc blemish serum, 30 ml pump | 1,000 pcs | 10–15 days |
| Cica sleeping mask, 80 ml jar | 1,000 pcs | 10–15 days |
MOQ and lead time above are the standard liquid, cream and gel route. The real minimum is set by the manufacturing system rather than the category: surfactant systems (shampoo, body wash) start at 2,000 pcs, stick formats at 3,000, and powders and sheet masks at 5,000 — with longer production runs to match.
Pack, claim and level options
- Water-essence vs standardized-dose builds
- Green botanical tint intensity control
- Cica routine sets: toner + serum + cream
- Sensitive-skin and redness claim documentation
Why a fluid is checked against a sample, not a number
Assay and pH tell you whether the chemistry is right; they do not tell you whether the product looks the way the buyer approved. Colour and clarity are read against the retained Golden Sample.
Production runs on GMPC and ISO 22716 certified lines under manufacturing licence 粤妆20250206, traceable from raw material to carton on every batch.
From brief to released fluid, step by step
- 1
Verify dosage across the pack
Where the pack meters a dose, the delivered volume is checked across the life of the pack rather than only when it is full.
- 2
Verify against the retained sample
Assay, pH and appearance are checked at release against the sample your buyer approved.
- 3
Dissolve in order of solubility
Ingredients go in by solubility rather than convenience, since the order affects both dissolution and how the system behaves afterwards.
- 4
Set the pH window
The range is defined by the most sensitive active in the system, with a tolerance production can actually hold.
Build the routine around it
Private Label Beta-Glucan Serum
The soother dermatology shelves reach for — yeast beta-glucan for sensitive-skin and post-procedure care.
Private Label Spot Treatment
The overnightblemish fixer — drying lotions and clear gels for the emergency-shelf slot.
Private Label Sleeping Mask
The last-step ritual — overnight textures that turn sleep into a glow claim.
Buyer guides for this build
Before you brief a supplier on this category, these are the guides that answer the questions buyers ask next — timelines, order quantities, cost structure and compliance.
Stability and shelf-life questions
What is the difference between cica water and madecassoside?
Cica water is a broad extract at accessible cost; madecassoside is a purified, quantified fraction for premium claims. We build both tiers under one packaging design.
Does the green tint stain?
No — the botanical tint is formulation-level and wipes clean; we verify no-transfer on fabric during stability testing.
Can cica be positioned for acne-prone skin?
Yes, paired with zinc PCA and a light gel texture; claims stay cosmetic unless your market requires otherwise.
Tell us how long it has to last
Shelf life sets the overage, and the overage sets the cost. Send the target and we quote a base that reaches it.