Winter Skincare: Adapting Routines for the Season
Let’s take a look at what our Beauty Buddies have to say on the subject.
As winter sets in, our skin faces a unique set of challenges. From icy winds to indoor heating, the harsh conditions can strip moisture and leave skin feeling dry, tight, and vulnerable. At Beauty Buddy, we wanted to uncover how our community navigates these seasonal changes. Through our app and our dedicated market research surveys, we delved into the heart of winter skincare routines.
Why Winter Skincare Matters
Winter isn’t just about donning cosy layers; it’s also a time to rethink and adjust skincare routines. The drop in humidity and frequent temperature changes can wreak havoc on the skin barrier, often leading to dryness, redness, or flare-ups of conditions like eczema. These challenges make it vital to adapt routines to ensure skin stays hydrated, protected, and healthy.
Furthermore, winter conditions can exacerbate existing skin concerns, such as fine lines or sensitivity, making it an ideal time to focus on preventative care. Addressing these issues during the colder months can result in healthier, more resilient skin year-round. It’s also a time when consumers tend to experiment with richer textures and new ingredients, opening opportunities for beauty brands to offer targeted solutions.
Beyond hydration and protection, winter skincare involves a more mindful approach to routine. This season encourages the incorporation of products that repair and strengthen the skin barrier, as well as lifestyle changes.
Insights for the Industry
Winter skincare trends offer a treasure trove of opportunities for the beauty industry. Brands can leverage insights about consumer preferences to develop products specifically tailored to seasonal challenges. For example, creating limited-edition winter lines featuring richer textures and protective formulas can address the heightened demand for hydration and barrier repair.
Marketing campaigns that educate consumers about the importance of winter skincare can also be incredibly impactful. Highlighting the benefits of specific ingredients, not only informs but also builds trust and engagement with the brand. Additionally, emphasizing the necessity of sunscreen during winter months helps position brands as advocates for year-round skin health.
Partnerships with influencers and beauty enthusiasts who can demonstrate the effectiveness of winter-specific products may further resonate with customers. The focus on real-life application and results ensures authenticity and relatability, two key factors in building customer loyalty.
This blog is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into our survey findings, revealing detailed insights into how the Beauty Buddy community embraces winter skincare.
At Beauty Buddy, we’re thrilled to empower beauty brands with data that matters. By understanding seasonal shifts in skincare, brands can better cater to their customers’ needs. Whether it’s formulating winter-specific products or creating campaigns that resonate, these insights pave the way for meaningful connections.
Winter Skincare Adjustments
The majority of participants, 58%, always adjust their skincare routine for winter, with 38% making adjustments occasionally.
A smaller 3% rarely tweak their routine, and just 1% never make changes for the season.
Primary Winter Skin Concerns
The most common skin concern during winter is dryness, reported by 71% of participants. Following that, 14% struggle with dullness, while 8% experience redness or irritation.
Only 3% identified oiliness and sensitivity as their main issues, suggesting that the cold weather primarily affects skin hydration and radiance for most individuals.
Essential Winter Skincare Products
When asked which products are essential in their winter skincare routine, the majority of participants 94% highlighted moisturiser as a must-have, followed by lip balm with 75% and serum with 69%. Other key essentials include cleanser 65%, SPF 56%, and face oil 37%.
This shows that moisturiser and lip balm are top priorities for most during the colder months, while serum and SPF also play important roles in skincare routines during winter.
Preferred Moisturiser Types
In winter, the majority of participants 53% prefer a rich/heavy moisturiser, while 31% opt for a lightweight formula.
Only 10% prefer gel-based moisturisers, and just 6% choose oil-based moisturisers, indicating that most people lean towards richer, more hydrating options during the colder months.
SPF Usage During Winter
A significant 71% of participants use SPF during the winter months, while 25% apply it sometimes.
Only 4% do not use SPF in winter, highlighting that the majority recognize the importance of sun protection even during the colder season.
Biggest Winter Skincare Challenges
When we asked participants about their biggest winter skincare challenges, the most common response was chapped lips at 79%, followed by dry patches at 65% and tight, uncomfortable skin at 52%.
Other concerns included breakouts or acne at 26% and redness or irritation at 28%, showing that dryness and discomfort are key issues during the colder months.
Additional Winter Skincare Products
Participants shared the additional skincare products they include in their winter routine, with face masks being the most popular at 77%, followed by overnight treatments at 67%, and facial oils at 60%.
Hydrating mists were also included by 61%, emphasizing the need for extra hydration and nourishment during winter.
Top Factor in Winter Skincare
When selecting a winter skincare product, the most important factor for participants is deep hydration, with 60% prioritising it.
Long-lasting results came next at 20%, while 15% favoured a non-greasy feel.
Only 5% considered natural or organic ingredients the most important, reflecting the emphasis on hydration during the colder months.
Preferred Lip Balm
When choosing a lip balm for winter, 34% of participants prefer flavoured or scented varieties, while 25% opt for tinted lip balms.
Lip balms with SPF are chosen by 26%, and 16% prefer plain or unscented options, indicating that scent, tint, and sun protection are important factors for winter lip care.
Winter-Specific vs Regular Skincare Preferences
When we asked participants about their choice of skincare products for winter, 81% said they use a combination of both winter-specific and regular products, while 10% prefer winter-specific options. Only 9% stick to their usual regular products, indicating that most adapt their routines for the colder months.
Top Skincare Brands for Winter
The brands participants believe perform best during winter include CeraVe, Nivea, Elemis, La Roche Posay, and Vichy.
Additionally, Korean brands were mentioned by several participants, indicating their rising popularity in winter skincare.
Are you keen to gather valuable feedback and insights directly from your target audience? Don't hesitate to reach out to us today to discuss the exciting possibilities of running targeted surveys. Let us help you achieve your goals!
We understand the importance of knowing your target audience. Do you make assumptions about your consumers, their preferences, opinions and needs? Understanding your consumers is key to ensuring your business decisions are well-informed and effective.
AT PXBB we run targeted survey campaigns, through Beauty Buddy the app, for our clients. Surveys provide answers, generate fresh data and insights, they substantiate assumptions and also help identify new trends.
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