Is It Worth Splurging on a Moisturizer? We Checked the Scores
When we lined up the highest-rated budget moisturizer against the luxury pick, the numbers told a clear story: Aquaphor Healing Ointment scored 91%, while Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Cream landed at 89%. For a moisturizer, the gurus suggest you keep your wallet where it is.
- The budget champion, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, holds a Guru Score of 91% across 12 reviewers.
- The luxury pick, Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Cream, scores 89% across 4 reviewers. The budget champion actually outscores the luxury one, by 2 points. For a moisturizer, the experts say save your money.
- The lesson the gurus keep repeating: with moisturizers, the formula and how you use it matter far more than the price on the box.
Kelly Driscoll · 12 reviewers, 91% said yes
The Style and Beauty Doctor · 4 reviewers, 89% said yesSo is it worth splurging on a moisturizer?
The experts who reviewed both products found that the budget champion actually edges out the luxury one. That might sound surprising, but it tracks with a pattern the gurus have noticed across moisturizers: a lower price tag does not mean weaker hydration or worse results. Aquaphor Healing Ointment earned a Guru Score of 91% from 12 reviewers, while Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Cream came in at 89% from 4 reviewers. For a category where the job is fairly straightforward (seal moisture into your skin) the experts see no reason to pay more for the same outcome.
What do the experts say about the budget moisturizer?
The reviewers who rated Aquaphor Healing Ointment praised it as a no-fuss workhorse. They found it does exactly what a moisturizer should: it hydrates and protects without unnecessary complexity. That simplicity is part of its strength. A low price does not signal a weak formula; it signals that you are paying for what the product actually does, not for packaging, branding, or a more elaborate experience. The gurus who weighed in saw that trade-off as a clear win.
When is a splurge moisturizer actually worth it?
That said, a pricier moisturizer can still make sense for some people. If you are drawn to a particular texture, or if you want a specific ingredient or sensory experience at night, or if your skin has needs a simpler formula does not address, then the luxury option might suit you. The move is to check that single product's Guru Score before you buy, and if you are new to it, patch-test it first on a small area to make sure it plays well with your skin.
The takeaway the experts offer: do not assume that cost equals better results in moisturizers. But do trust your own skin and preferences. Let the Guru Score guide your pick, then see how it performs on your face.