Be honest, can you really tell the difference between budget and luxury brands?

If you can, what are the noticeable features?

Mels wrote In most cases you can't tell the difference, such as eye and face creams. Things like expensive fake tans however are worth paying the extra money. Items such as muslin cleansing cloths, there is no difference and the price difference is huge. Example:  Liz Earle & Eve Lom - £13 versus: Safai Skin - £3.99...

It is interesting that you mentioned cleansing cloths Mels as Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser has just been announced as the number 1 best-selling product - across all categories from feather pillows to iPods - in John Lewis.  Apparently Cleanse & Polish is flying off their shelves.  Internationally, it sells at a rate of 1 per minute to over 80 countries around the world.  I haven't come across the Safai Skin version but I must look it up.  Thanks for the tip!