I would recommend you use shea butter, aloe vera or coconut oil. I wash my face in coconut oil but some people use it as a moisturizer, I have used it as "lotion" on my chest or legs.
These natural moisturizers are very effective and cheap. When I was growing up my African American friends always used cocoa butter. You can buy this lotion very cheaply and it has a pleasant scent and deep moisturizing effect, if you need an actual lotion.
I lived in a Mediterranean climate for a huge portion of my adult life so far, and really got by with things like coconut oil and sunscreen. My face hasn't aged that significantly but I will attribute that to actually investing money into facial moisturizers. Not anymore but in that climate my one vanity besides essential oils was facial moisturizer. I recommend this to anyone in a dry climate, go for the Alba/Mad Hippie/Youth to the People/Burt's Bees. If you are going to save anything, save your face.
I live in a temperate rain forest now and barely even wash my face anymore with anything except plain water but I know the reality of the Mediterranean or desert climate. If your only options are things like Walgreens or CVS go for JASON or Pacifica or Avalon Organics Vitamin C lotion I used that for a while. You can also use straight vitamin E.
