Taking care of your skin is important, but it becomes even more crucial as you get older. This is because our skin loses elasticity as we age. It becomes drier, thinner, and less plump. Your skin is more susceptible to wrinkles and other signs of ageing, and it takes longer to heal if damaged.

We know that developing a skincare routine can be overwhelming. There are so many products on the market and it's tough to know which ones are worth your money. That's why we've put together this guide on how to curate your skincare routine using 5 ingredients or less.



Despite the overload of advice and ‘how-to’s’ on the internet, you only need to look for these 5 ingredients in your products to make your skin look its best.

Moisturisers are your first line of defence against dry and dull-looking skin. This rule also applies when taking care of our lips. When hunting for the perfect moisturiser or lip balm, look for a product that has Glycerine in it. It is a humectant, meaning it preserves moisture and reduces the loss of water in our skin.


Glycerine locks the moisture in and protects your skin from these five elements: wind, cold, heat, sun, and dryness. When checking out products, make sure to look for labels with Glycerin, Glycerol, or Glycerine in them.



To preserve your skin’s elasticity, nothing is better than slathering on snail mucin. Now, we know how it sounds. It’s slimy, it’s sticky, and it’s made out of snail excretion which can be gross for some people. But we promise the slime is worth the trouble when you think about how this can benefit your skin.

Snail mucin is an ingredient found in many Korean beauty products. It boosts hydration, improves your skin’s elasticity, and helps repair it to give your skin a healthy glow. If, for example, your skincare routine involves using products with active ingredients – such as Retinol or Vitamin C – then the snail mucin will act as a barrier to make sure your skin won’t get dry or irritated. When choosing products, try to look for labels with SSF or Snail secretion filtrate on them.


Another great ingredient to watch out for is Calendula oil. This special type of oil comes from calendula flowers, which are recognisable by their pretty marigold-coloured leaves. This oil helps calm down irritated skin, inflammation, or redness in the skin. Watch out for these ingredients on product labels: Calendula officinalis flower extract, Calendula extract, Marigold extract, or Tocopherol.

Do you still need a bit of convincing before incorporating this into your skin routine? Watch this video.



To give your skin that extra hydration boost, make sure to stock up on Hyaluronic acid. This ingredient is something that our skin naturally produces, so don’t get scared by the ‘acid’ in the name. Hyaluronic acid is quite similar to glycerine because it’s a humectant, too. For those with oily or combination types of skin, using hyaluronic acid helps balance and reduce your skin’s excess oil production.


For those who have dry skin, it helps trap moisture and hydrates your skin all day. Hyaluronic acid seems like a miracle worker, so make sure to check the following names on labels so you don’t miss out: Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronan, or Glycosaminoglycan.



Lastly, try to invest in skin products with Retinol in them. Retinol is a type of retinoid derived from Vitamin A. It’s always been a fan-favourite among the skincare community because of its antioxidant properties. It also helps reduce the signs of ageing, treats acne scars, improves skin texture, and can even out skin tone.

Make sure to ease your skin into using Retinol though, to avoid peeling or irritation. Look for skin products with these names if you want to incorporate Retinol in your routine: Retinol, Retinoid, Tretinoin, and Retinoic Acid.

There you have it, dear members! Before you put on any product on your skin, always read the label and follow the instructions! Are you keen on trying out these products for yourself? Let us know what you think in the comments!