So I fell down a rabbit hole reading about a temple in Korea where monks have been brewing cica remedies for centuries. And that’s literally where this toner’s formula got its start.
Not a marketing gimmick — the founder actually went to the temple, studied the recipe, and modernized it. That’s the kind of origin story I can get behind.
It’s Dewytree‘s Cica Relief 98% Soothing Toner — $22 for 200ml. The “98%” is the cica extract concentration, which is genuinely high for K-beauty.
Three things that made me actually press “add to cart”:
98% Cica Extract
Not diluted down with water — the base IS the cica.
Temple-Origin Formula
Adapted from a centuries-old recipe, not invented in a lab.
Vegan + Cruelty-Free
No animal testing, no animal products, no drama.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
Beyond the cica, they threw in a few supporting players that actually pull weight. It’s a short ingredients list — which I always read as confidence.
- Cica Extract: calms redness and repairs the skin barrier
- Centella Asiatica: the fancy name for cica — anti-inflammatory powerhouse
- Panthenol: locks in moisture and speeds up healing
- Hyaluronic Acid: pulls water into the skin so it stays hydrated
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
It’s watery — like, almost the consistency of a splash toner. But it absorbs in like 10 seconds and leaves zero film. My skin just… drinks it.
Two weeks in, the redness around my nose is noticeably calmer. Not cured — I’m not lying to you — but my face looks less angry in the morning. That’s a win.
Photo: Marius Muresan / Unsplash
My redness is down maybe 40%. My skin feels more hydrated throughout the day — but it didn’t fix my dry patches completely. It’s a toner, not a miracle.
Photo: Alexandra Tran / Unsplash
It’s the toner I reach for when my skin is acting up — and that’s enough to keep it on my shelf.