Wrapping your skin in moisturizer is as vital as wrapping your body in clothes. True, no one looks their best naked and ashy. We've seen them all, from vintage tubs to newfangled tubes, drugstore bargains to high-end couture creams. Each vies for their corner of the beauty world, but which ones really work their magic on your epidermis - the beloved Nivea Creme that has been saving your granny's skin since 1911 or the ultra-luxe Crème de la Mer?

Nivea Creme, with its thick creamy goodness, has kept us hydrated and less reptilian for over a century. One look at the signature blue tin makes us trust its hydrating prowess - and for around six bucks a pop, your bank balance can breathe easy too.

Need something a bit more luxurious? Try Clinique's Pale Yellow Lotion. Launched in 1968 with a lightweight texture that soothes hydration-craving skin, this darling clocks in at around $32 for 4.2 ounces. Not exactly a steal, but also not a budget-breaker.

For skin so parched it's one step from a Sahara doppelgänger, there's Eucerin Original Healing Cream. Trusted for decades by folks who face off with eczema and psoriasis, this cream zaps persistently dry skin with powerful potency. It costs around $14 for a 16-ounce tub, a pretty good bang for your buck, wouldn't you say?

History buffs might want to don their skin with Pond’s Cold Cream, a classic hydrator dating back to the 1800s. A multitasker in its own right, Pond's double duties as a makeup melter. An iconic staple that pushes nostalgia for about $5 a jar.

Korean skincare lovers will appreciate Belif’s Moisturizing Bomb, a lush cream loaded with natural goodies that give your skin a full hydration assault. It costs around $38 for about 1.68 ounces of skin-loving potion but considering the results, you'd wish they'd throw in a Christmas ham while they were at it.

In the luxe segment, we have Crème de la Mer at a whopping $380 for a 2-ounce jar. Formulated by a rocket scientist, no less, and chock full of some fermented formula they call Miracle Broth, due to its rumored skin-loving properties. At that price, we're hoping it includes a personal orchestra and golden rain.

So are these moisturizers truly transformative, or are they just creamy illusions? Well, regardless of where you splash your cash, remember not to break the bank chasing eternal youth. After all, it’s only skin-deep.