Key Takeaways:

• Global temperatures and heatwaves are driving consumer interest in heat, humidity, and sweat relief.
• Beauty has a unique opportunity to offer cooling formulations and tools.
• Science and innovation around cooling remain complex and require ongoing research.

This year, global temperatures soared, with heatwaves and drought conditions impacting a significantly higher number of countries than ever before.

Globally, July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest month on record, according to the United States National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Global Climate Report for July 2026. The report shows that global surface temperatures during the month were 2.12°F (1.18°C) above the 20th-century average, with North America, Africa, and Asia each experiencing the warmest July ever recorded. Meanwhile, Western Europe remains stuck in a severe heatwave, with scorching temperatures for the past three months.

As a result, consumers across the globe are being forced to adapt to a new normal. Air conditioning sales have risen sharply in Western Europe, online shopping has surged in the UK as shoppers avoid the heat, and consumers in France are favoring air-conditioned malls instead of city center stores for cooler shopping conditions.

As global consumers brace for more heat ahead, the World Meteorological Organization has said a strong El Niño is developing and expected to strengthen between August and October 2026. The question of how these weather predictions will impact beauty consumption and whether any movements in response are emerging remains.

Enter “cooling beauty.” A raft of brands across the globe are innovating with smart ingredients, carriers,...