Picture shows Sharon trying the latest in moisturisers

AGOOD moisturiser is an essential part of any skincare routine, designed to fight the ageing process and achieve a perfect flaw-free complexion.

Whether you have dry, sensitive, oily, or normal skin - there is a cream on the market which promises to make a difference.

But which products produce results? We asked our team of testers to face up to the challenge of finding the best brands.

Product: Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream for all skin types

Price: £29 for 50ml

Our verdict: This cream is the perfect day-cover. The smell is pleasant and fresh and the texture of the lotion itself is light, but rich enough to make dry, tired skin feel supple.

It is easily absorbed and acts as a brilliant base for foundation. A definite must for all skins.

Mark out of ten: 8

Product: Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream for all skin types

Price: £3.95 for 50ml

Our verdict: The cream has a pleasant, light fragrance, but it feels rather greasy and a bit runny. After a few applications it makes the skin feel softer and dry patches disappeared - but it did little to remove some deep laughter lines.

Mark out of ten: 6

Product: Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Perpetual Moisture for dry skin

Price: £32 for 50ml

Our verdict: It is lightly fragranced and easily absorbed. It is not greasy or oily and leaves the skin feeling soft. It works brilliantly at clearing up dry patches on the skin without affecting the more oily areas.

Mark out of ten: 8

Product: Tesco Skin Essentials Mild Moisturising Lotion for sensitive skin

Price: 99p for 150ml

Our verdict: The product is fragrance free and, for a lotion, it is quite thick - but very smooth on application.

It moisturises very well and does not feel at all greasy. The effect was a matt look and make-up can be applied almost instantly after using the cream. It makes the skin much smoother without being greasy.

Mark out of ten: 8

Product: Decleor Son Climatique for dry skin

Price: £31 for 50ml

Our verdict: The texture of the cream is thick and waxy and it smells of wallflowers. It makes the skin feel slightly sticky until it is absorbed, but then it turns soft and smooth. Probably best used at night and not if you are applying make-up on top.

It makes the skin feel much softer and the fab smell is very therapeutic too.

Mark out of ten: 9

Product: Clinique Weather Everything Environmental Cream with SPF15 for all skin types

Price: £27.50 for 50ml

Our verdict: This moisturiser only has a very light smell, but it is quite fresh. The texture is smooth and very thick. It was not easy to rub into the skin, but once applied the skin feels smoother.

It helps with areas of dryness and acts as a good sun block, but had no affect on fine lines on the skin.

Mark out of ten: 5

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.