Most moisturizers hydrate. This one hydrates, firms, calms, and refines pores.
Breathable, peptide-powered hydration that never feels greasy — for a calmer, more balanced, smoother-looking complexion.*
Most moisturizers are built for hydration and barrier support — and they stop there. Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream adds Matrixyl® Synthe'6® to the formula: a peptide studied for visibly smoother-looking fine lines and firmer-looking skin. That means your moisturizer step is now also an anti-aging step — without adding another product to your routine. Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane handle the hydration and moisture barrier. Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica help with the look of shine and redness. One step. Multiple outcomes. Lightweight gel texture that absorbs fast. That's the efficiency your skincare routine should have.*
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee — try it risk-free.
The oily-skin trap
Your moisturizer should be doing more than keeping your skin from feeling dry.
If your skincare routine is getting long, your moisturizer should be earning its place. Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream brings four key actives — Matrixyl® Synthe'6® peptide, Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica and Ceramide NP — into one lightweight gel-cream step. Firmer-looking, more balanced, calmer-looking skin with a well-supported moisture barrier, all from the same application. Add Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid and the hydration foundation is solid. This isn't a replacement for your serum — it's a moisturizer that does more, so your routine needs fewer steps. Apply after serum, morning and night.*
What changes, and when
This is what happens when a moisturizer takes its job seriously.
Here's the Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream timeline: Immediately — hydrated, refreshed skin with a lightweight, non-greasy finish. Weeks 1 to 2 — skin looks more balanced and less shiny, pores look more refined, and skin feels more comfortable. Weeks 4 to 6 — visibly smoother texture, softer-looking fine lines and more supple-looking skin with consistent use of Matrixyl® Synthe'6® peptide. Niacinamide helps with the look of shine and tone. Centella Asiatica calms the look of redness. Ceramide NP helps lock in moisture. Every ingredient has a reason to be there — and results build with daily use.*
Hydrated and refreshed — never greasy
The gel-cream absorbs in seconds with a lightweight, non-greasy finish. Skin feels hydrated and refreshed from the first application.*
Less shine, more refined-looking pores
With morning-and-night use, skin looks more balanced and less shiny, and pores look more refined.*
Smoother texture, softer-looking fine lines
With continued daily use, texture looks visibly smoother, skin looks more supple, and the look of fine lines softens.*
Individual results may vary. Use it morning and night — consistency is what makes peptide skincare pay off.
What it actually feels like
The payoff isn't on the label. It's in the mirror.
The midday check
Catching your reflection mid-afternoon and seeing skin that looks balanced, not slick.
Your morning routine
A lightweight gel-cream that sinks in fast, so you can move on to the next step without waiting.
Up close
Skin that looks calmer, smoother and more even — no heavy film, no greasy finish.
Four actives in one gel cream — and none of them feel heavy on skin.
Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream is built on four actives that each do a distinct job. Matrixyl® Synthe'6® (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38) — a well-studied peptide for visibly smoother-looking fine lines and firmer-looking skin over time. Niacinamide — helps skin look more balanced, refines the look of pores, and brightens the look of uneven tone. Centella Asiatica Leaf Vesicles — calm the look of redness. Ceramide NP — helps lock in moisture so skin feels hydrated and comfortable. Squalane and Hyaluronic Acid round out the hydration. Gel-cream texture. Fragrance-free. This is what a moisturizer looks like when it's actually formulated to do something.*
Signal peptides
A peptide complex that visibly smooths the look of fine lines and helps skin look firmer and more supple.*
Centella Asiatica (Cica)
Plant-derived centella leaf vesicles calm the look of redness and help stressed-looking skin look more even and comfortable.*
Niacinamide
Helps skin look more balanced and less shiny, refines the look of pores, and supports a brighter, more even-looking tone.*
Ceramide NP
A skin-identical lipid that helps lock in moisture, keeping skin feeling smooth, comfortable and resilient.*
Hyaluronic Acid + Squalane
The brand's hydration foundation: hyaluronic acid draws in and holds moisture, and lightweight squalane softens without heaviness — for plumper, smoother-looking skin.*
An honest comparison
Cica Peptide vs. a typical rich face cream
Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream
- Signal peptides for visibly smoother-looking skin
- Cica + niacinamide to calm the look of redness and shine
- Ceramide NP + hyaluronic acid for lightweight, lasting hydration
- Fragrance-free & clean — no parabens or sulfates
- Third-party tested, MoCRA registered, made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients
Typical rich face cream
- Hydration only — no peptides
- Heavy textures that can feel greasy on oily skin
- Little to calm the look of redness or shine
- Often includes added fragrance
- Sourcing and testing often not disclosed
The hero active
Matrixyl® Synthe'6® in a moisturizer — here's what that means for your skin.
Matrixyl® Synthe'6® is the peptide in this formula — Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, to be precise — and it's one of the more targeted actives in the peptide category, studied for visibly smoothing the look of fine lines. Pairing it with Ceramide NP (a skin-identical lipid that helps lock in moisture) and Centella Asiatica Leaf Vesicles (plant-derived, to calm the look of redness) makes Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream something most moisturizers aren't: a multi-functional formula that hydrates, visibly firms, calms the look of skin and supports the moisture barrier in one lightweight step. Fragrance-free. Designed for oily to combination skin.*
How to use it
Smooth on. Massage in. That's it.
Cleanse, then serum
Start with clean skin and apply your serum first. The gel-cream is the final step that seals it all in.
Massage in
Smooth a desired amount over dry skin on the face, neck and décolletage. It absorbs fast with a lightweight, non-greasy finish.
Use morning & night
Use it day or night. Give it 4–6 weeks of consistent use for the smoothest-, most balanced-looking results.*
Build your routine
Complete the routine
Barrier Boost Gel Cleanser
A gentle gel cleanser with ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that lifts away oil and impurities without stripping — skin feels soft and balanced, never tight.
Hyaluronic Acid
Pure, high-performance hyaluronic acid — the brand's foundation ingredient. Layer it under the gel-cream so every active works on well-hydrated skin.*
Don't just take our word
What customers are saying
Great
Feels great on my face and don't feel heavy just what I was looking for
I love all of Asterwood products so far! Great products great price fast shipping!
Common questions
Everything to know before your first jar
Skin feels hydrated and refreshed from the first use, with a lightweight, non-greasy finish. With morning and night use, expect more balanced-, less shiny-looking skin and more refined-looking pores in 1–2 weeks, and smoother-looking texture and fine lines in 4–6 weeks. Individual results may vary.*
It's designed for oily, combination and blemish-prone skin — and for anyone who wants lightweight hydration that also targets the early look of fine lines. If you're under a dermatologist's care, check with them before adding any new skincare product.
The key actives are signal peptides, centella asiatica (cica) leaf vesicles, niacinamide, ceramide NP, squalane and hyaluronic acid, in a fragrance-free gel-cream base. You'll find the full ingredient list on the product page.
It's fragrance-free, with no parabens or sulfates, and it's developed by chemists and third-party tested. Patch test before first use, especially if you have sensitive skin. For external use only; avoid direct contact with eyes; discontinue use if irritation occurs. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a healthcare provider before starting new actives.
Absolutely — Asterwood is built to mix and match. Use it as the final step after cleanser and serum; it pairs well with Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Copper Peptides Serum or Vegan PDRN Serum. Everything works better on hydrated skin.
Choose Subscribe & Save to get a fresh jar every 30 days and save 10% on every order. You can pause, skip or cancel anytime — no commitment.
If you're not happy, contact our team and we'll help you with a return or refund under our refund policy. We'd rather you love it than keep something that isn't right for your skin.
Simple. Clean. Effective.
Lightweight hydration. Nothing heavy.
Signal peptides, cica, niacinamide, ceramide NP and hyaluronic acid — in one clean, fragrance-free gel-cream for calmer-, smoother-, more balanced-looking skin. Hydrate, balance and refine in one lightweight step.*
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Free of parabens, sulfates and fragrances. Never tested on animals.
*These statements describe the appearance and feel of skin. Cica Peptide Barrier Gel Cream is a cosmetic; it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body. Cosmetic results vary from person to person. For external use only; avoid direct contact with eyes; discontinue use if irritation occurs; keep out of reach of children. MoCRA registration is a cosmetic safety and listing framework and does not imply FDA approval. Patch test before first use.
