Cooling Skincare Is Trending: How Brands Can Team Up with OEMs to Design Mint, Glacial, and Cool-Down Formulas
As summer heat soars, skincare becomes more than just care—it becomes a refreshing escape from the heat. From minty freshness and glacier hydration to instant cooling sensations, cooling skincare is emerging as a must-have seasonal shift. It’s not about utility but about aligning skincare with weather, mood, and skin state.
For brands, the key is partnering with OEM manufacturers who understand texture dynamics, sensory temperature, and climate-responsive design—from ingredient choices to formulation, feel, and packaging—to deliver that “ahhh, that’s refreshing” moment.
Where to Begin Developing Cooling Formulas with OEMs?
Start with Clear Definitions of Cooling Sensations
Not all cooling experiences are created equal. Begin with clarifying:
- Intensity: Sudden frost burst or gradual relief?
- Texture aim: Watery gel, slush-like, or cooling cream?
- Application moment: Morning pick-me-up or after-sun calm?
- Target skin types: Oily, sensitive, combination?
These criteria guide OEMs to select materials and tailor formulations to your sensory vision.
Collaborate on Ingredient Selection—Mint Isn’t the Only Cool Agent
Beyond classic menthol, brands should work with OEMs to explore innovative cooling ingredients:
- Menthol derivatives (e.g. menthyl PCA, menthone glycerin acetal): gentler cooling without sting
- Glacial water or polar plant extracts: evoke a crisp sensation and sight—plus hydrating benefits
- Thermo-responsive polymers: create cooling sensations through micro-evaporation
- Botanical coolants: eucalyptus, tea tree, rose geranium oils in light carriers for fresh comfort
An OEM’s experience with these functional ingredients will determine if the formula truly feels cool.
What Cooling Products Can Brands Create? Three Strategic Product Lines
A. Cool Cleansing & Makeup Removal
- Formulation: Amino acid or APG surfactants with cooling extracts—gentle freshness on foam wash
- Formats: Cooling gel cleanser and oil-free cleansing water for oily skin types
B. Glacial-Refresh Serums or Gels
- Texture: Featherweight gel with volatile humectants (like butylene glycol) and marine hydrators
- Use Cases: Mint serums for shine control + cooling hydrating gels pre-sunscreen
C. Post-Sun Soothing Care
- Design: Cooling base (glacial water or aloe gel) with licorice root, centella asiatica agents
- Formats: Cooling gel mask or mist for instant relief, free of alcohol and fragrance
Understand Mechanisms & Skin Type Nuances for Laser-Focused OEM Collaboration
Effective cooling skincare isn’t just about adding mint—it’s about tailoring sensation to skin type and product use. Use these criteria when working with your OEM:
- Type of cooling mechanism by product
- Cleansers: Use higher menthol levels for impactful wake-up freshness
- Serums/mists: Gentle cooling agents to avoid irritation
- Masks: Fast-evaporative feel with a light hydrating base
- Variation by skin type
- Oily Skin: Accept strong cooling for shine control
- Dry/Sensitive Skin: Prefer mild or psychologically cooling scripts
- Combination Skin: Offer zone-specific routines (e.g. T-zone cooling, U-zone soothing)
- OEM capabilities to watch for
- Can they produce texture variants for testing? (e.g. gel vs. water-cream)
- Can they deliver both immediate and long-lasting cooling profiles?
- Do they have experience crafting multi-step cooling routines (e.g. cleanser → toner → mask)?
By exploring these questions, brands can ensure their products don’t just promise a “cool feel,” but deliver it—sensation after sensation.
Conclusion｜Cooling Skincare Is the Rhythm Your Summer Routine Needs
Direction isn’t simply a change of temperature; it’s a gentle emotional refuge. When consumers reach for a cooling lotion during a 35°C afternoon, it’s more than skincare—it’s a moment of pure sensory escape.
Brands that partner with OEMs skilled in sensory texture design, cooling agents, and user rhythm can not only catch up with seasonal trends—but define how summer feels for their audiences.
Because great skincare shouldn’t just feel good—it should make you want to feel it again. Cooling textures are just the beginning of loyalty built on emotion and sensation.