Dr.ag

Cica is short for centella asiatica, a plant extract that Korean skincare uses to calm redness and support the skin barrier. You'll see it spelled Sika, Syka or Cica across the Dr.AG range, but it's the same idea: a soothing active for skin that feels irritated, tight or reactive. The whole brand is organized around it, so if your main concern is sensitivity or post-treatment redness, this line is built for you.

The Sika (Syka) Repair Cream comes as a 50ml + 50ml duo, which makes it the value pick if cica creams are a daily staple for you. Alongside it sit the Sika Salve Cream (30ml) and the Intensive Sika Salve Cream (30ml). A salve cream is thicker and more occlusive, meant for very dry patches or skin that needs a protective layer, while the standard repair cream is an everyday moisturizer. Pick the intensive salve for problem areas and the repair cream for full-face use.

Dr.AG's ampoules are concentrated treatments you apply before cream. The 3 PHA ampoules (35ml) use polyhydroxy acid, a mild exfoliant that's gentler than AHA or BHA and better tolerated by sensitive skin. The Sika Hyaluronic Calming Ampoule (25ml) and the multi-packs of calming ampoules focus on hydration and soothing instead of exfoliation. If your skin is rough or congested but easily irritated, the PHA route is a careful way to smooth texture; for plain hydration, reach for the hyaluronic version.

The Sycaderma First Cell Essence comes in a 50ml bottle and a larger 200ml size, plus a Sika First Cell Essence at 200ml. A first essence is a watery hydrating step you use right after cleansing, before serums and ampoules, to prep the skin and help the next products absorb. The big 200ml bottle is meant for people who go through essence quickly or like to pat it on generously. It's the foundation layer of a Dr.AG routine.

If you can only start with one Dr.AG product, the choice depends on your skin. For dryness and barrier issues, begin with a Sika repair or salve cream. For dullness or rough texture on sensitive skin, the PHA ampoule is the most useful single step. For an all-purpose hydration boost that plays well with anything, the First Cell essence is the safest first buy. Many people end up combining an essence, an ampoule and a cream once they know how their skin responds.

A typical Dr.AG layering order goes cleanser, First Cell essence, then an ampoule (hyaluronic calming for hydration or PHA for gentle exfoliation), then a Sika repair cream to seal everything in. Use the intensive salve cream only on the driest spots. Introduce the PHA ampoule slowly, a few times a week at first, since even a mild acid can be too much on already-irritated skin. In the morning, finish with sunscreen, especially when you're using the PHA.

This range is aimed squarely at sensitive, dehydrated and barrier-compromised skin. The cica focus and the choice of PHA over stronger acids both point to gentle care. If you have very oily, acne-prone skin that needs strong exfoliation, you may want stronger actives from elsewhere and use Dr.AG as the soothing half of your routine. For redness, tightness, flaking or skin recovering from harsher treatments, the brand is an easy fit.

Dr.AG sells several products in formats worth noting. The Repair Cream's 50ml + 50ml duo and the First Cell Essence's 200ml bottle are the cost-effective options for products you use daily. The 30ml salve creams are smaller because you apply them only to targeted areas, so they last longer than the size suggests. The ampoule multi-packs (the 3 and 4 packs) suit anyone who already knows they like the format and wants to stock up.