This article was originally published in the Sun Care Trend Report. Receive your copy here
Cooling SPF is emerging as a popular sub-category within sun care, commanding growing attention from consumers, and the entry of some of the category’s biggest brands, including Garnier and Nivea.
Searches for ‘cooling sunscreen’ surged by 30% in the UK in May 2026, according to Google Trends. And Pureseoul’s co-founder, Gracie Tullio, has reported “over 60%” increase in searches for “cooling K-beauty SPF” following the launch of Cell Fusion C’s Aquatica sunscreen collection in 2025.
While some products offer a refreshing sensation, others ambitiously claim to lower the body temperature. Last year, Garnier launched Super Cooling Watergel, a lightweight SPF 50 gel sunscreen with a formulation that features cooling actives to offer eight hours of freshness, while also claiming to cool the skin down by 2°C.
In January 2026, Dot & Key, an India-based skin care brand, introduced Watermelon Cooling SPF 50+ PA++++ Sunscreen with a refreshing aqua-gel texture that delivers a cooling sensation on application.
Meanwhile, in Australia and New Zealand, Nivea offers Ultra Sport Cooling Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ which contains a cooling menthol formula to refresh the skin on application.
But what is driving this trend, and can the products that claim to lower the body temperature genuinely do it, or are brands capitalising on bold marketing claims?
Not yet a Subscriber?
This is a small extract of the full article which is available ONLY to premium content subscribers. Click below to get premium content on Cosmetics Business.
Subscribe now Already a subscriber? Sign in here.
