Built for
−30°C.
Cold breaks down your skin's defenses.
Engineered to reinforce them.
Not adapted to winter.
Engineered for it.
Barrier disruption — −20°C
Conventional skincare is not
designed for sub-zero exposure.
at −20°C outdoors
stress each winter
freezing in Winnipeg
At −30°C, ceramide synthesis slows and TEWL accelerates. The lipid matrix begins to break down — day after day, for five months straight. Northern winters degrade your skin barrier faster than it can repair itself. This is engineered to interrupt that.
Engineered to defend
against cold-induced
barrier disruption.
Five months of barrier stress. One system built to counter it. Every formulation decision is evaluated against one question: does this reduce cold-induced barrier disruption in sub-zero conditions? If the answer is no, it is not in the formula.
Barrier Integrity
The stratum corneum lipid matrix — ceramides, cholesterol, free fatty acids — is the primary target. We replenish it at the 3:1:1 ceramide-dominant ratio associated with accelerated barrier recovery.
3:1:1 RatioTEWL Reduction
Transepidermal water loss accelerates dramatically in cold, dry air. Our occlusive layer is cold-stable — validated for film integrity at sub-zero temperatures, not just room-temperature lab conditions.
Cold-StableEnvironmental Stress
Wind chill, low humidity, and the indoor-outdoor temperature cycle compound barrier disruption. Formulas are stress-tested against all three simultaneously — not individual factors in isolation.
Field-ValidatedPrevention First
The industry treats winter damage reactively. We apply the same logic as SPF — daily preventive protection before cumulative damage accumulates, not crisis response after it appears.
Daily DefenceWinter Defense Protocol
— The Products
Winter-Defense
Face Cream
Daily barrier protection for sub-zero temperatures. Ceramides, cold-weather humectants, and a wind-resistant occlusive layer formulated for the full Winnipeg winter cycle.
Notify Me at Launch →
Winter-Defense
Sport Stick
Targeted protection for exposed skin. Cold-stable to −30°C. One-hand application. Built for athletes, outdoor workers, and anyone who doesn't stop for weather.
Notify Me at Launch →The Winter
Defense Protocol.
Six measurable performance standards. Every formula is evaluated against each before it carries the Boreal Shield™ name. No exceptions.
Read The Protocol →Northern Winter Design Brief
Every formula begins at −30°C, near-zero humidity, sustained wind — not a temperate baseline.
3:1:1 Ceramide-Dominant Ratio
Ceramides at the clinically established ratio for accelerated barrier recovery. Not trace concentrations.
Low-Humidity Humectant Efficacy
Humectants selected for performance at near-zero ambient humidity, not temperate conditions.
Cold-Stable Occlusive Performance
Film integrity validated at sub-zero temperatures. Performs in the field, not only in the lab.
No Unnecessary Irritation Risk
No fragrance. No ingredient whose only function is cosmetic appeal on an already-stressed barrier.
Prevention-First Purpose
Built for daily use before damage accumulates. A defence, not a repair.
Where clinical science
meets northern winters.
Sarah Schott grew up in Winnipeg. One of Canada's coldest cities, where winter dominates much of the year, bringing prolonged sub-zero temperatures and extreme dryness.
After spending nearly a decade in milder climates, she returned home and experienced firsthand how dramatically skin behaves in extreme cold. What she once believed were typical skin concerns revealed themselves to be the result of a compromised skin barrier under sustained environmental stress.
With a background in both advanced clinical skincare and business, Sarah brings a rare combination of technical insight and strategic vision. This intersection became the foundation for Boreal Shield™.
Built on clinical insight and real-world environmental conditions, the brand focuses on reinforceing the skin barrier, minimising transepidermal water loss, and supporting long-term skin resilience in temperatures as low as −30°C.
Launching October 2026.
Foundation 2025
Development Winter 2025–26
Validation Spring 2026
Launch October 2026
Who Boreal Shield™
is built for.
Daily Cold Exposure
Repeated outdoor exposure across a five-month winter produces cumulative barrier deficit. No single day is severe — the season is.
Athletic Use Conditions
At speed, effective wind chill at −15°C exceeds −28°C. Sustained exertion combined with cold exposure creates barrier stress that standard barrier formulas were not engineered to handle.
Occupational Exposure
For those without the option to limit outdoor time, sustained barrier exposure across a full winter season without preventive protection produces measurable long-term damage.
Northern Urban Living
Winnipeg. Edmonton. Calgary. Ottawa. A northern winter imposes the same cold-climate barrier conditions regardless of activity level.
Be first when
we launch.
Be among the first to access the Winter Defense Protocol. Waitlist members receive priority notification and early access at launch.
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