Natural hair products vs. Cheaper drugstore brand

I was just at the drug store recently looking for some leave in conditioner for my hair. They had one on sale for $3.99 but it was not paraban free and had a long list of chemicals in the ingredients. So instead I opened in for the 10.99 natural leave in conditioner paraban and sulfate free.

I want to try buying more natural beauty products from now on but that means spending more money. What is your take on beauty products? Is natural really better. Is it still going to work just as well as the chemically filled beauty products sold at the drug store?