Mostly a label — with a real idea underneath it. The real idea: your barrier's "mortar" is a lipid mixture of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids, and there's decent evidence that supplying those lipids together, in roughly physiologic proportions, speeds barrier recovery better than incomplete mixes (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9308554/). That's why "ceramide + cholesterol + fatty acid" formulas are a sensible design rather than pixie dust, and a ceramide-dominant regimen has randomized-trial support for improving water loss and hydration in impaired skin (https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.14970).
But here's the thing: plenty of unglamorous, inexpensive moisturizers already contain those ingredients, plus the two workhorses every good moisturizer is built on — humectants that pull water into the skin and occlusives/emollients that keep it there (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545171/). "Barrier repair" on the front of the jar mostly describes what any well-formulated moisturizer does; it isn't a regulated claim.
So the practical answer: if your plain fragrance-free moisturizer keeps your skin comfortable, doesn't sting, and you're not dealing with eczema-grade dryness or an over-exfoliation incident, you are not missing anything — consistency with a product you tolerate beats novelty. If your skin IS in a rough patch, check the ingredient list before the marketing: ceramides, glycerin, cholesterol, fatty acids, no fragrance. If those are present, the $15 tub and the $60 tub are playing the same game.