Elevate your seasonal formulations
Biological Shielding: The Key Actives Strengthening the Skin Barrier in Extreme Winter Conditions
Winter remains a critical stress period for the skin barrier. Low humidity, cold wind and heated indoor environments accelerate transepidermal water loss and disrupt lipid structure, driving strong consumer interest in “barrier-first” skincare.
Several ingredients from our portfolio align directly with winter-focused barrier strategies.
Allantoin brings well-established soothing, moisturizing and skin-protective benefits. Its ability to reduce irritation makes it particularly suitable for winter formulations aimed at sensitive or reactive skin.
For lipid replenishment, Argan Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters provides a water-soluble argan-derived emollient/emulsifier ideal for barrier creams, lamellar systems and winter skin-comfort formulas. Its dual role as an emollient and emulsifier supports both sensorial richness and functional lipid reinforcement.
To address microbiome resilience - a growing claim in cold-season skincare — Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment and Lysate offers a combination of Artemisia Capillaris extract and fermented actives. This aligns well with the demand for postbiotic-inspired winter care, helping to support skin recovery after environmental stress.
Together, these ingredients allow brands to develop winter barrier solutions combining soothing action, lipid reinforcement and microbiome-friendly protection.
Winter and Hair Fragility: How Brands Are Responding to the Growing Demand for Repair-Focused Haircare
Winter conditions expose hair fibres to dryness, friction and thermal stress — all factors that weaken the cuticle and increase breakage. This fuels demand for repair-centric routines featuring proven conditioning and strengthening technologies.
From our portfolio, Bis-Amino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone offers strong conditioning performance with excellent fibre adsorption, making it highly suitable for winter-damage repair treatments, masks and leave-ins. It helps smooth rough cuticles and restore softness in cold-dry air conditions.
A complementary option is Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone, a conditioning agent designed for lightweight deposition and improved manageability — ideal for winter formulations where hair becomes more brittle and prone to static.
To enhance sensoriality and reduce friction-related breakage, C13-16 Isoalkane (formerly C13-16 Isoparaffin) (and) Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer (and) Dimethicone provides a hybrid elastomer system that improves texture, alignment and tactile smoothness. This makes it a strong choice for premium winter serums and anti-static leave-in products.
These ingredients together enable winter haircare routines focused on fibre repair, cuticle protection and sensorial improvement — all critical consumer expectations during the colder months.
Please contact us to identify the most relevant ingredients from our portfolio that align with these winter-focused skincare and haircare trends.
Dr. Stefanie Freye
Head of Product Innovation & Sourcing
Phone: +49 40 300 501 8289
E-Mail: s.freye[at]terchemicals.com