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Are you confused about which of the hundreds of products out there will give you the most gorgeous, healthy glow? With SELF's guide, it's easy to achieve a naturally flawless face. Find out which ingredients experts say really work, then determine the regimen that's right for you.

your goal: softer skin

Moisturizer keeps skin supple, but use these label-reading tips to pick one that will make your skin irresistibly silky.

Moisturizing ingredients, explained

Water magnets Technically, water is the only thing that hydrates skin, so you need ingredients that will attract and hold it. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid (aka sodium hyaluronate), known as humectants, grab H2O molecules from the air and hold them to skin's surface. Glycerin is common and works well, but the newer hyaluronic acid can bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water, says Leslie Baumann, M.D., author of The Skin Type Solution (Bantam).

Water sealants Plant oils (such as jojoba and olive), dimethicone and petrolatum sit on top of skin and trap water. That's why they work best applied to damp skin, says Laurie Polis, M.D., faculty teacher of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Petrolatum and oil feel slick and so fight the tight feeling of very dry skin.

Water savers Ceramides and niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 also called nicotinamide) work from within to strengthen skin's barrier so more water is kept in and irritants stay out. Ceramides form a Saran Wrap-like coating around individual cells. Niacinamide encourages skin to build up natural ceramide levels. The latter also helps skin retain water better than petrolatum, reports a study in the International Journal of Dermatology. It may lighten brown spots as well.

Choose the best daily face cream for you

In general, the more of the ingredients at left a product has, the more moisturizing it is. (Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Vitamin Complex hits all categories.) Caveats to keep in mind:

If you live in a dry climate, avoid hyaluronic acid. It could take water from skin when there's none in the air.

If your skin is oily or acne-prone, use glycerin or dimethicone; petrolatum and oil can feel heavy. Try Biotherm Healthy Difference Moisture Lotion.

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