Skincare Gap: 81% Know Skin Barrier Matters, Only 22% Act on It
VIENNA – October 02, 2026 -- New research from CeraVe, surveying 6,000 adults across the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, finds a wide gap between what people know about skin health and what they actually do about it.
Nine in ten adults worry about their skin, but few take protective action
The study found 90% of respondents are concerned about at least one environmental factor affecting their skin, and 81% recognise that protection beyond sun exposure matters. Despite this, only 22% use products specifically designed to support the skin barrier.
Nearly half report their skin has become more sensitive in five years
Forty-seven percent of those surveyed say their skin is more sensitive than it was five years ago, and 50% report dryness they link to environmental or weather changes. Even so, just 10% adjust their skincare routine when pollution levels rise, and 55% say they will abandon a routine altogether if it isn't simple.