“A $20 cream can hydrate beautifully if it’s well formulated with benefit-driven ingredients like hyaluronic acid,” explains Angela Jia Kim, founder of Savor Beauty. “Higher-end creams tend to shine in targeting deeper concerns such as firmness, boosting collagen, and diminishing fine lines.” Hydrating and moisturizing ingredients are generally quite affordable, so you can find them in abundance even in the drugstore aisle. While other concerns, like reducing wrinkles or brightening the skin, require more finicky ingredients like vitamin C or retinol, which are more expensive to formulate. In short: You probably want to invest if you’re looking to incorporate vitamin C or retinol, while you can save your money if you’re only buying a hydrating or moisturizing cream.