SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule: Formula and Who It Suits
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule decoded: 7-ingredient INCI with 3% centella extract, what studies show, 10 Korean reviews and price per mL.
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is one of the simplest formulas in K-beauty: seven ingredients, no oils, no fragrance, and centella asiatica extract at a disclosed 3% in the Korean label. It is essentially a water-light hydrating layer, with glycerin and butylene glycol doing the moisturizing and centella supplying the soothing story. It suits oily, combination and dehydrated skin as a standalone hydration step, and dry skin as the layer under a cream.
The formula decoded
SKIN1004’s US product page lists seven ingredients, and Olive Young Global’s Korean label information gives the same seven in the same order (both checked October 6, 2026).
Full INCI, in label order: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cellulose Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin.
| Ingredient | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Base | Carries everything else; explains the toner-like slip |
| Glycerin | Humectant | One of the most effective and best-tolerated moisturizing ingredients |
| Butylene Glycol | Humectant and solvent | Adds hydration and helps keep the plant extract dissolved |
| Centella Asiatica Extract | Skin-soothing botanical | 30,000 ppm (3%) on the Korean label; contains triterpenes such as asiaticoside and madecassoside |
| 1,2-Hexanediol | Preservative booster and humectant | A common paraben-free preservation choice |
| Cellulose Gum | Thickener | Gives the liquid just enough body to stay on the skin |
| Ethylhexylglycerin | Preservative booster | Works with 1,2-hexanediol to keep the formula stable |
Three things stand out. First, the 3% centella figure is a real disclosure: few centella products state how much extract they contain. It describes the amount of extract, and suppliers standardize extracts to different triterpene levels, so the figure is most useful for comparing products within SKIN1004’s own range. Second, there is no fragrance, essential oil, alcohol denat., oil or silicone. Third, nothing in the list seals water in, so the ampoule hydrates and a moisturizer on top holds that hydration. Olive Young’s listing shows it is not registered as a functional cosmetic in Korea, which fits a formula positioned for hydration and comfort.
SKIN1004 sells the ampoule in 100mL, 55mL and 30mL bottles. The product carries a 36-month shelf life from manufacture.
What the research says about centella asiatica
Our centella guide for sensitive skin separates extract percentages, madecassoside combinations, and the human evidence behind cica claims.
Centella asiatica, also called gotu kola, owes most of its skin activity to four pentacyclic triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. A review from Poznan University of Medical Sciences summarizes lab and clinical work showing these compounds encourage fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis and calm the inflammatory phase of skin repair (Bylka et al., Postepy Dermatol Alergol, 2013).
The most relevant human data for a centella hydrator comes from a Warsaw study of 25 volunteers who applied an oil-in-water cream and a hydrogel containing 2.5% or 5% centella extract to their forearms twice a day for four weeks. Skin hydration rose and transepidermal water loss fell, and after four weeks the formulas reduced redness induced with methyl nicotinate, a standard skin-irritation model. The 5% formulas performed best (Ratz-Łyko et al., Indian J Pharm Sci, 2016). SKIN1004’s 3% sits between the two tested levels.
On safety, the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel assessed nine centella-derived ingredients and concluded in 2015 that centella asiatica extract is safe in present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-sensitizing (CIR final report).
| Claim | Best evidence | Study type, size, duration | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centella extract formulas raise skin hydration and lower water loss | Ratz-Łyko et al. 2016 | Human forearm study, 25 volunteers, 4 weeks, 2.5% and 5% extract | Limited |
| Centella formulas reduce induced skin redness | Ratz-Łyko et al. 2016 | Methyl nicotinate redness model in the same 25 volunteers | Limited |
| Centella triterpenes support collagen and calm inflammation | Bylka et al. 2013 review | Narrative review of cell, animal and clinical studies | Lab-only |
| Centella asiatica extract is safe in cosmetics | CIR Expert Panel 2015 | Safety assessment of 9 centella-derived ingredients | Strong |
| Glycerin-based moisturizers improve dry skin | Cochrane review, van Zuuren 2017 | Systematic review; glycerol cream vs vehicle trials included | Moderate |
The glycerin row matters more than it looks: in the Cochrane review of moisturizers for eczema, glycerol-containing creams improved investigator-rated severity over vehicle in a 249-person trial, though the difference was smaller than the review’s threshold for a clinically important change (van Zuuren et al., 2017). In this ampoule, glycerin is the second ingredient and does much of the hydrating.
SKIN1004’s product claims
SKIN1004 positions the ampoule as soothing and hydrating for all skin types, “especially dry and delicate skin,” and describes it as a “watery and slippery ampoule” that “smoothly spreads and quickly penetrates the skin to keep it hydrated without stickiness.” The US product page lists ingredients, sizes and directions and does not publish clinical test figures for this ampoule. Olive Young’s product images carry a non-comedogenic test mark. The 3% centella disclosure on the Korean label is the brand’s most concrete formula figure.
What 10 Korean reviews report
We coded 10 Korean reviews from the review platforms Unpa and Glowpick, published from 2018 to March 2026, counting only reviews with no disclosed sponsorship. Five cover the 100mL bottle and four the 55mL size of the same formula.
- 8 of 10 describe a light, watery, quick-setting or low-stickiness feel. One calls it almost toner-like; another says it was less sticky than expected under morning makeup.
- 7 of 10 discuss layering, repeated daily use or makeup prep, typically after toner and before cream.
- Several describe a gentle, no-sting feel and little or no scent.
- 2 of 10 note a slight film after it settles, or some oiliness and small bumps (the latter from a reviewer with seborrheic dermatitis).
The consensus is a fast-absorbing hydrating layer that plays well with the rest of a routine. Reviewers who wanted more richness solved it the same way: with a cream on top.
| Skin type or situation | What the reviews report | Best way to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Normal or combination | Light spread and low residue | Daily hydration step morning and night |
| Oily or dehydrated-oily | Watery feel that settles quickly | Alone under sunscreen, or with a gel moisturizer |
| Dry | Softness and easy layering | Under a ceramide cream |
| Sensitive-feeling | Gentle, no-sting use reported | Patch test, then a thin layer |
| Makeup routine | Good morning prep and base layering | One thin layer, fully set before sunscreen |
Price per mL
Checked October 6, 2026:
- SKIN1004 US store (skin1004.com): 100mL at US$17.60 on sale, US$22 regular. That is US$0.18 per mL on sale and US$0.22 regular. The 55mL is US$13.50 (US$0.25 per mL) and the 30mL US$9.50 (US$0.32 per mL).
- Amazon US, SKIN1004 store listing for the 100mL: US$24.90, or US$0.25 per mL.
The 100mL is the best value per mL. At three to four drops per use, about 0.2mL, twice a day, a 100mL bottle lasts most people several months, so the smaller sizes make more sense only as a trial.
Who it suits, and who should pick something else
Choose it if you want a fragrance-free, oil-free hydration step with a short ingredient list. It suits oily and combination skin that dislikes heavy layers, dehydrated skin that feels tight but gets shiny with creams, and sensitive-feeling skin that does best with fewer ingredients. It also works as a calm base in routines that use exfoliating acids or retinoids at night.
Pick something else if you want one product to do everything, because dry skin will still need a moisturizer on top. If your goal is fading marks or treating texture, look at serums with niacinamide, azelaic acid or exfoliating acids; our explainer on red vs brown acne marks covers which ingredients target which. If centella products have irritated your skin before, skip it. For persistent redness, rosacea or acne, a board-certified dermatologist is the right next step.
For pairing, the ampoule sits naturally under a ceramide cream such as AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream for dry skin, or a gel-cream such as COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream for combination skin. For the full routine, see what Koreans actually do in their skincare routine.
How to use it
SKIN1004 directs dropping an appropriate amount, spreading it evenly and patting to help absorption.
- After cleansing and toner. Skin can be slightly damp; the humectants work best with some water to hold.
- Three to four drops. Dispense into your palm or directly onto cheeks, forehead and chin; the liquid is thin, so work in zones.
- Spread and pat. Pat until the surface feels settled, about 30 seconds. A second thin layer on dry areas works better than one heavy layer, which is when the slight film some reviewers mention appears.
- Seal with moisturizer. A cream or gel-cream locks in the water the ampoule brings in.
- Sunscreen last in the morning. Let each layer set for a minute so sunscreen does not roll; our explainer on why sunscreen pills explains how layer timing affects that.
The bottom line
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is a deliberately minimal formula: glycerin and butylene glycol for hydration, 3% centella extract for comfort, and nothing that adds scent, oil or weight. A small human study supports centella extracts for hydration and calming induced redness at 2.5% to 5%, the CIR panel rates centella extract safe in cosmetics, and 10 Korean reviews over eight years consistently describe a light, non-sticky layer that sits well under the rest of a routine. Use a few drops, pat them in, and follow with moisturizer.
Sources and research notes
SKIN1004 US product page with ingredients, sizes and prices, Olive Young Global Korean label information disclosing 30,000 ppm centella extract, Amazon US price, peer-reviewed centella and moisturizer studies, the CIR Expert Panel centella safety assessment and 10 Korean reviews published 2018 to March 2026, checked on the date shown.
Source record date: 2026-10-06. Prices and availability are as of that date.
- SKIN1004 US: Madagascar Centella Ampoule (INCI, sizes, US$17.60 sale / US$22 for 100mL on 2026-10-06)
- Olive Young Global: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule 100mL (Korean label information, 30,000 ppm centella extract)
- Amazon US: SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule 100mL listing (US$24.90 on 2026-10-06)
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review: Safety assessment of Centella asiatica-derived ingredients (final report, 2015)
- Ratz-Łyko et al. Moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties of formulations with Centella asiatica extract. Indian J Pharm Sci 2016
- Bylka et al. Centella asiatica in cosmetology. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2013
- van Zuuren et al. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017
- Korean user review: unpa.me/review/detail/70f999eb-9d61-4c16-8171-b845b842e211
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/357918
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/391326
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/311286
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/384470
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/393175
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/369590
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/412456
- Korean user review: unpa.me/reviews/391598
- Korean user review: www.glowpick.com/reviews/7525172
Frequently asked questions
How much centella is in the SKIN1004 ampoule?
The Korean label information on Olive Young Global lists the centella asiatica extract at 30,000 ppm, which is 3%. It is the fourth of seven ingredients, after water, glycerin and butylene glycol, checked October 6, 2026.
Is SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule sticky?
Rarely, in a thin layer. Of 10 Korean reviews from 2018 to March 2026, 8 described a light, watery, quick-setting or low-stickiness feel. Two noted a slight film or some oiliness, mostly when more product was used.
Can it replace a moisturizer?
It works best as a hydrating layer before moisturizer. The formula is humectants and centella in water, with no oils or occlusives, so dry skin needs a cream on top to hold that water in.
Is it good for acne-prone or oily skin?
Its oil-free, seven-ingredient formula and light finish suit oily and combination skin as a hydration step. Centella extracts reduced redness in a small human study, but the ampoule itself is a cosmetic; for persistent acne, see a board-certified dermatologist.
How much does the 100mL bottle cost per mL?
On October 6, 2026 SKIN1004's US store listed the 100mL at US$17.60 on sale (US$22 regular), or US$0.18 per mL. The Amazon US listing showed US$24.90, or US$0.25 per mL.