Review: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Line

SKIN1004’s Madagascar Centella collection is the gold standard for gentle skincare, which makes a lot of sense given that the brand, SKIN1004, is fundamentally built around one key soothing ingredient: Centella Asiatica.

Centella Asiatica, aka Cica, is a herbaceous plant which has long been used in Asian medicine, beauty and food, but has only recently started gaining traction in the west. It’s known for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to improve skin hydration.

I already love SKIN1004’s cornerstone collection, so naturally I wanted to explore more of what the brand had to offer. As a dry/combo skin girl, the Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica line immediately stood out to me. This is meant to be their ‘Repairing & Strengthening’ collection: a seriously impressive line-up of skin barrier restoring goodies.

I’m always looking for a way to make my skin look and feel healthier, and these products seemed like just the ticket. But just how different are they from the original Centella offering? And from the brand’s other collections?

Keep reading my SKIN1004 Madagscar Centella Probio-Cica line review to find out!

What is the SKIN1004 Probio-Cica line?

We know that this collection has to contain Centella Asiatica, it’s a given with SKIN1004. So how has the brand dialled up the calming factor and made it more skin-loving than the original?

Well, we’ve got a winning combination of Ceramide NP and fermented Centella Asiatica (this is where the Probio element comes in!) which work together to make the Probio-Cica line SKIN1004’s most soothing collection to date.

We’ve also got a handful of Cica compounds (like Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid and Asiatic Acid) which all help to boost, moisturise and heal the skin.

The Probio-Cica line, at this moment in time, consists of five products – almost enough to make a full skincare routine. There’s the Essence Toner, the Intensive Ampoule, the Bakuchiol Eye Cream, the Enrich Cream and the Glow Sun Ampoule.

Let’s jump into my experience with each of them!

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Line Products Review:

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Essence Toner

With its light, watery consistency, this isn’t too dissimilar from the original Madagascar Centella Toning Toner. It’s perhaps a tad thicker (but that’s if I’m splitting hairs). In reality, I’d be hard pressed to tell them apart if they were unlabelled side by side.

That’s not a bad thing though! I absolutely love the original Madagascar Centella Toning Toner and the Probio-Cica one shares so many of its brilliant qualities. It’s gentle, hydrating, and layers well with other skincare products. Because it’s so water-like, this also sinks into the skin really quickly, and relieves dryness almost immediately.

You know when you’ve just washed your face and it feels a little tight, applying a splash of this sorts that in an instant.

If you’re looking for a toner that’s lightweight, nourishing and non-sticky, I really recommend this one. But you may not need both the Probio-Cica toner and the original Toning Toner. I think I’d probably buy them in rotation, when one runs out I’d restock with the other (or whichever one is easiest to find!).

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule

The Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule is a definite step up from the original Madagascar Centella Ampoule. The original ampoule is very runny and actually quite similar in texture to the toner. This Probio-Cica one is richer, milkier and much more viscous. You can definitely tell the Probio toner and ampoule apart (scroll down to the last photo to see what I mean ⬇️).

While I like both ampoules, it’s safe to say that the Probio-Cica one is quite a bit more moisturising than the original Centella one. I guess it’s called ‘Intensive Ampoule’ for a reason! If your skin is on the oily side, you may even be able to skip moisturiser with this one.

For those with redness, this ampoule is VERY calming and manages to bring down inflammation within a matter of hours (even better if you can let it get to work overnight). I love applying this before bed and seeing just how fresh and rejuvenated my skin looks when I wake up.

I should also mention that, although this is a thick ampoule, it doesn’t feel heavy or leave a tacky finish on the skin. It absorbs just as well as the more watery Centella ampoule, and looks just as good under makeup.

All-in-all, it’s a fantastic option for both day and night use.

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Enrich Cream

Most of the SKIN1004 moisturisers I’ve tried have had a gel-type texture. The Probio-Cica Enrich Cream is miles apart from that; it’s a true buttery cream.

I was actually quite surprised at just how thick it was when I first tried it, it’s not the kind of consistency I was expecting at all. This is super rich and stringy, almost like it contains snail mucin (though I can’t see it listed in the ingredients).

I love how easily this cream rubs into the skin and how silky it feels. This gives such a pretty glass skin finish which makes my face look really hydrated and healthy. It’s very dewy and, though it does become a little more natural as the day wears on, I wouldn’t go as far as saying it mattifies. This is suited to those who want a very luminous look.

I don’t tend to use this in the morning, for me this works best as a restorative night cream, so I can’t say whether it sits well under makeup. I think if you did want to use it as a makeup base you’d have to use a small amount and wait for it to dry a little before application, just to avoid any separation!

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule

If you’re already a fan of SKIN1004’s chemical sunscreens, like the Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum, I think you’ll like this Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule too.

It’s another lotion-type SPF which is lightweight but still pretty hydrating. It’s got a yellow hue to it, which avoids the greyish finish that some stark white sunscreens can give. And it’s completely unscented.

This sun ampoule sinks in like a dream, absorbing into the skin in a matter of seconds. It’s glowy but not overly so, though it’s definitely a little more shiny than the Hyalu-Cica sun cream (which dries down to a satin finish).

I can see why SKIN1004 have called it a ‘sun ampoule’ (as opposed to simply a ‘sun cream’). This really does feel almost like a skin barrier serum or a super thick essence. It hardly feels like a sunscreen at all.

I can see lots of people liking this Probio-Cica Glow Sun Ampoule, especially those who hate the feel of a traditional sunscreen.

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream

SKIN1004 uses bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, to enhance the anti-ageing power of this eye cream. It’s meant to tighten the skin under the eyes, stimulate collagen production and minimise fine lines.

I like how rich and creamy this is. It glides over the skin beautifully and doesn’t move about too much. No need to worry about it seeping into your eyes throughout the day!

I also love the applicator. This has a plastic head which means you can sweep the product onto your under eyes without even having to get your hands dirty, though I do think it works best if you pat the product in with your fingers afterwards.

Bakuchiol works well here in the place of retinol, especially for those with sensitive skin (bakuchiol is a lot gentler). However, I don’t feel that this has had quite as much impact on my dark circles and fine lines as some of the retinol eye creams I’ve tried.

I’d reach for this eye cream if I wanted something calming and non-irritating, but would probably go for a formula that includes retinol/retinal if I was looking for quicker results.

Overall thoughts

The Probio-Cica collection seriously rivals the original Centella line. Both have some amazing products, but it’s clear they have different purposes. The Centella line is more suited to sensitive, normal/combination skin, while the Probio-Cica line is geared towards very dry skin types.

That being said, the Probio-Cica line still works well for me (as someone with combo skin) – just in my PM skincare routine. The Enrich Cream, for example, is a little too rich for daytime wear, but it does a fantastic job of calming and hydrating my skin when applied before bed.

I’d recommend all five of the products in this line, there’s not one I disliked! The Probio-Cica Intensive Ampoule is the standout for me though. If you’re going to buy any Probio product, make it this one!

I’d love it if SKIN1004 were to come out with a Probio-Cica cleanser to really round out the collection. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what’s to come!

Where can I buy these products?

You can order the Probio-Cica collection from the SKIN1004 website. They offer all the products individually or you can buy them altogether as a discounted set.

You can also grab these products from UK-based Korean beauty retailers like Skinsider and Pureseoul, or global marketplaces like YesStyle, Stylevana and StyleKorean.

Are you interested in trying any of the products in this SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Probio-Cica Line review? If so, let me know which ones in the comments!