First and foremost, your moisturizer should adequately hydrate your skin, which should feel moist but not greasy, says Shamban. If cheeks feel silky and smooth, it's a keeper. A good moisturizer will also give skin bounce about 30 seconds after applying, adds Lancer. Not "just a feel-good sensation, it's a physical bounce." (This explains the rise of bounce creams and balms.)

When looking at skin, your complexion should have a healthy, radiant glow with fewer cracks, crevices and dry patches. Verallo-Rowell states that skin should look healthier with and without makeup.

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If it's time to find a new moisturizer, Shamban says that the first thing to do is look at a product's label. Look for products that use natural oils and antioxidants and are noncomedogenic and free of fragrances, colors and preservatives. Next, scan the ingredient list. Moisturizing ingredients include ceramide, squalane, hyaluronic acid and vitamins.

According to Lancer, "A moisturizer should be water-retaining [and] water-salvaging, so it's a humectant and a moisturizer. A good moisturizer has a complex formulation to it. Along with hyaluronic acid, [a moisturizer should have] ceramide and some degree of retinol, vitamin A, E and maybe B." The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, $5.80, has hyaluronic acid, amino acids and dermal lipids, plus it's formulated without oil, alcohol, nuts, gluten or fragrance.

Be aware that having to apply a second coat of moisturizer doesn't necessarily mean you've picked the wrong product. Our skin's needs can change throughout the year so we might need more moisturizer in colder months. Sometimes, people don't apply enough the first time. If skin still feels tight or itchy after a second layer, then it's likely time to switch to a new product.

If you've been using a product for more than three days and skin is still dry, flaky itchy and/or scaly, it indicates the moisturizer is inadequate — or perhaps your entire skin care routine is lacking, says Lancer.

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It might take some trial and error to find the perfect moisturizer for your skin type, but it's worth it. Take time to look at product labels and don't settle for something that's just ok. Moisturizer is an essential step in any skin care routine and the right one can leave skin feeling silky and glowing from the inside out.

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