Heat Wave Essentials: The 12 beauty must-haves to cool you down this summer

Is it just me or does each summer seem stickier than the last? Even though the temptation to hide in a cool, dark room all day may be overwhelmingly strong at times, we still have to soldier on and face the world because #Adulting. Next best thing? Stocking up on cooling products to get you through the most infernal of days! From minty washes to chilly salves, we’ve got 12 sanity-saving solutions to help your survive the heat.

Oryspa Rice Bran Shampoo AM Blend (P520 for 500ml from Oryspa)

The kulob feeling is real, especially if you have thick hair in this humidity. When a refreshing shower is what it takes to bring about some sweet relief, a cooling shampoo can make a huge difference on an icky scalp. Oryspa has a low-foam, paraben-free formula that will appeal to those who want to preserve their strands’ health while being able to cleanse their scalp regularly. The scent reminds me of sweet citrus and tea, and the pleasant effect lasts the duration of the shower. Certainly enough time for a cooler head to prevail.

Priva by pH Care Skin Firming and Cooling Intimate Wash (P139 for 150ml at the beauty section)

pH Care was one of the first to introduce Pinays to the sensationally presko feminine wash known as Cool Wind. Following that, they came up with Priva, a premium line of intimate washes that have skincare benefits in addition to the minty-cool qualities. The skin-firming claim is attributed to collagen and elasticity-enhancing Kwao Krua in the formula. Personally, I think the cooling sensation is not all that different from Cool Wind in terms of intensity and lasting power but it's comforting to know that the special ingredients could give the privates a little pampering.

Cathy Doll Milky Splash Essence with Heot Gae Na Mu (P649 at the beauty section)

While this doesn’t have that minty cool sensation, the Milky Splash Essence offers its own way of freshening up the face. The gel-cream texture looks fairly average at first but the formula turns waxy and then wet as you massage it onto the skin. The essence seems to separate into a smooth balm/wax layer that locks in moisture, forming milky white water droplets that are then smoothed on and absorbed by the skin. It’s both novel and fascinating, plus the Heot Gae Na Mu plant extract supposedly helps brighten skin.

Cathy Doll Milky Splash Essence with Heot Gae Na Mu

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (P1,400 at Laneige)

It’s rave-worthy for a reason! With its light, pudding-like texture, you get a deeply moisturizing treatment without the discomfort of a thick face cream. Skin feels plump and bouncy when you wake up the next morning, and it’ll be difficult to stop touching your face marveling at the difference (I know I did!) This is also a great alternative to sheet masks as you get to control the size of each portion, so while it may seem like a huge splurge, a jar does end up lasting a long time.

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Sweet Mint (about P200-250 each from online sellers or find bundles in S&R)

There was a time when it looked like all the Hollywood celebs were swiping their pouts with these little egg-shaped lip balms, and beauty addicts couldn’t get enough. The minty variant offers up a fairly intense cooling effect on the lips minus any stinging. Sweet Mint is my second EOS balm, and my main observation is how these flavorless balms are delectably scented without going the way of artificial candy fragrance. Just keep them out of direct sunlight and heat as they are known to melt easily.

From left: V&M Body Sorbet, Cathy Doll Essence, and Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Human Nature Cooling Leg & Body Cream (P395 at Human Nature)

This isn’t your lola’s liniment! If you want to feel a full-blast of cold that lasts a long time, Human Nature’s eucalyptus-peppermint blend is all about intensity, in scent and in feeling. After applying it on my sore areas, it felt like the shockingly cold sensation could go on and on and on! The cream base itself has the texture of a light lotion and absorbs into skin immediately.

V&M Bare It All Cream Minty Body Sorbet (P285 for 100g at BeautyMNL)

The name seems fitting, especially after you’ve seen the “melted ube ice cream” appearance of the product inside. It features a minty berry scent, and the purple coloring disappears as it is massaged on the body. Do make sure that the product is fully absorbed by the skin before putting on light-colored clothes though, as it does tend to stain.

Belo SunExpert After Sun Gel (P259.75 at the beauty section)

You don’t have to get to a level of intense sunburn to start feeling the discomfort of sun damage. Even just a short stint outdoors at noon can already make skin feel tingly and irritable. This runny, hypoallergenic gel-lotion is soaked up by the skin instantaneously and has a mild cooling sensation for relief.

V&M Underarmour Aloe Tea + Licorice Mint Deodorant (P555 in BeautyMNL)

It’s not exactly a spray-and-go formula as you have to shake the bottle well before usage to disperse the ingredients that settle at the bottom. The sweet green tea scent has the lightest hint of woodsy notes - it’s both refreshing and sophisticated that you may consider using this as a fragrance spray instead. Take note that it doesn’t have antiperspirant properties so you may still feel some wetness but the potassium alum helps fend off odor-causing bacteria for longer. 

Flawless Skin Protect Mist (P450 at Flawless Face & Body Clinics)

The portable aerosol easily fits even into your everyday tote, so there’s no excuse to skip sunscreen! Just make sure to apply at least 15 minutes prior to sun exposure. The formula has a strong sunblock lotion scent but that’s not a bad trade off for the convenience it affords.

Belo SunExpert Hair and Scalp Shield (P349.75 at the beauty section)

Groom those locks while protecting them from the sun. Belo’s Hair and Scalp Shield acts like a spray-on hair oil to address frizziness and dryness while protecting your head and hair from UV damage. This is a must if you stay outdoors without the protection of a hat but remember to use sparingly as hair might look greasy from excessive amounts.

Snake Brand Prickly Heat Cooling Powder (P70 at the beauty section)

The threat of bungang araw is real, and the best way to prevent and combat it is through frequent baths and a dusting of medicated powder. I have dealt with bouts of prickly heat rash in the past couple of summers, and Snake Brand has been instrumental in healing the area faster and preventing any more rashes from developing. Chalk it up to the camphor, menthol, and tea tree oil that this powder contains.

Have you experienced the minty coolness of any of these products? What do you use to stay chill in this insane heat? Let us know in the comments below!