[Product Request] Is expensive skincare really better?

I don't know if maybe it's just age, that I'm starting to notice more and more looking older, or if I just pay more attention to my appearance than I used to. I'm 34, so not huge amounts of wrinkles, but my skin seems to have aged a lot more in the past few years, looking ... weathered I guess, for lack of a better word. I kind of attribute this to riding a bike to work every day for the past year even in 20 degree snowy weather. But also, I used to use bare minerals and hourglass cosmetics, but couldn't keep up affording the prices. I've been experimenting with cheap brands, but it feels like it's aging my skin, because I mean can skin weathering really happen that fast, within less than a year? Does anyone here have any experience with bare minerals or hourglass cosmetics? Currently I am trying colourpop, and was trying skyn essentials but it just made my face red. I have dry and sensitive skin. Even most of the "hydration for dry skin" moisturizers don't make me feel fully moisturized. My options are also more limited because I won't use any brands that conduct animal testing, so I haven't tried a lot of the drugstore brands like l'oreal and such. I don't even know if it IS changing skincare or weathering or I'm just looking in the mirror obsessing over skin and makeup a lot more, but if you have any opinions or advice I'd really appreciate it.