Multifunctionality and texture reshape simple summer beauty routines

Summer brings more opportunities for outdoor activities, but with the added outside time comes increased skin exposure to the elements. For summer beauty routines, industry experts point out that the season doesn’t test whether a skin care product works, rather if consumers keep using it once the heat sets in.

Personal Care Insights sits down with Olay, Lubrizol, Beijing Gingko Group (BGG), and expert dermatologists, to discuss the latest innovations and summer cosmetic essentials, and how keeping skin care routines easy can aid consumers in their seasonal beauty journey. 

We also look at some of the hindrances to using summer-specific beauty products and how brands can overcome those challenges. For example, routine step count, product feel, the amount of layers required, and absorption rates..

“Summer routines are often simpler by necessity, so consumers are especially drawn to products that can hydrate, protect, and improve skin appearance without requiring multiple heavy layers,” says Dr. Dara Spearman, a board certified dermatologist and brand representative at Olay.

“Multifunctional products can make it easier for consumers to stay consistent, and that consistency is often what supports better skin outcomes over time.”

All of the experts we spoke with agree, lightweight multifunctionality is a key feature for any summer beauty ingredient.

The multifunctional push 

Multifunctionality is a key driver behind consumer purchases. Making a product multifunctional reduces the number of products that must be applied or ingested, while speaking to affordability.Olay says summer buyers are reaching for multifunctional and lightweight SPFs.

“The rising cost of living means consumers need multifunctional products that give them more bang for their buck,” says Lixin Ding, chief scientific officer at BGG Americas. “They’re also increasingly keen on simplicity in skin care routines, seeking to save time by addressing multiple concerns with one hero product.” 

“Apple polyphenols and astaxanthin are natural, clean ingredients that deliver on multifunctionality, helping brands simplify their ingredient lists and meet consumer demand for timeless aging support. They offer clinically supported benefits for helping even out skin tone, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing redness and inflammation, and protecting against UV-mediated skin damage.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist and instructor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, says that consumers increasingly want products that are rich in antioxidants, protect from UV, hydrate, reduce the visible signs of aging, support the skin barrier, and minimize routine complexity.

“This reflects the broader trend toward ‘skinification,’ where every product is expected to provide skin care benefits beyond its primary function,” King explains. “Hybrid skin care and makeup continue to gain momentum.”

Teresa Negra, technical business development manager-nutra at Lubrizol, adds that ingredients that can support the skin and general health are even more attractive. She reveals that consumers are looking for ingredients that offer support in areas like relaxation, protect from environmental stressors, and offer nutrition.

“Essential minerals also play an important role, particularly during the summer months when heat, perspiration, and increased activity can affect nutritional status,” says Negra. “Minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and iron contribute to energy metabolism, antioxidant defenses, skin health, and overall well-being.”

“Lubrizol’s portfolio of microencapsulated minerals helps formulators incorporate these nutrients into multifunctional supplements, offering improved stability, sensory properties, and mineral bioavailability. This enables the development of comprehensive beauty and wellness solutions that support both inner health and outward appearance.”King argues that texture now matters as much as efficacy in the heat.

At the same time, Spearman highlights Olay’s Super Cream with Sunscreen SPF 30 as a “5-in-1 product” that helps reduce dark spots and fine lines, while offering lasting hydration and smooth feeling skin.

“It also protects against UVA/UVB sun damage, leaves skin looking radiant and dewy, and works as a makeup primer for an added layer of functionality,” she adds. 

Texture and topical efficacy 

Spearman and King, both board-certified dermatologists, argue that increasing the feel experience of topical skin care applications during the summer is a must. King says that summer consumers prioritize products that are lightweight, effective, and multitasking.

“Heat itself can increase inflammation, oil production, and barrier disruption, so brands are emphasizing ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, beta-glucan, panthenol, ectoin, and algae extracts,” she spotlights. “Meanwhile, sunscreen innovation continues to improve with newer, more photostable UV filters becoming available in additional markets.”

King further notes that texture has become as important as efficacy when it comes to consumer selection.

“Consumers increasingly avoid heavy creams during warmer months, instead favoring products that absorb rapidly while maintaining hydration,” she reveals. “Smarter delivery technologies also improve stability of actives like vitamin C and peptides while minimizing irritation.”

BGG says astaxanthin and apple polyphenols as ingestible summer UV defense solutions.Spearman states that summer demand centers on daily SPF, lightweight hydration, and skin-tone-evening products. She adds that consumers reach for these to address dullness, discoloration, and other visible signs of stress. According to Olay, brands are responding with streamlined product lines built for warm-weather consistency, combining protection and skin benefits with lightweight textures, quick absorption, and a comfortable finish.

Olay reports more brands are pairing broad-spectrum UV protection with functional ingredients. 

“Beyond daily protection, patients are often looking for ingredients that can help improve the visible signs of sun damage, which is where retinol becomes especially relevant,” Spearman reveals. “It can help address concerns such as uneven texture, discoloration, and fine lines.”

“Olay’s Retinol24 Night Cream is a gentle and affordable option I recommend, as it visibly repairs wrinkles, texture, and dark spots while supporting smoother-looking skin over time. It’s formulated with Pro-Retinol, Triple Collagen Peptide, and Carnosine. These ingredients work together to support skin radiance, protect against surface free radicals, and support the skin’s natural collagen production.”

Protection from within 

Ding at BGG agrees that lightweight and simple is the key to summer skin care. He states that consumers are increasingly seeking topical ingredients that integrate easily without compromising texture and notes that the company’s ApplePhenon and AstaZine natural astaxanthin ingredients meet those demands. He adds that consumers are also seeking ingestible skin care solutions.

“Ingestible skin care is becoming more popular, and Astaxanthin is ideal for ingestible applications due to its incredibly potent antioxidant properties,” Ding says. “Clinical research shows its benefits for helping the skin protect itself against environmental stressors typical of the summer months, such as more intense UV radiation.”

Negra at Lubrizol says the strongest summer demand centers on products protecting the skin from photoaging, oxidative stress, dehydration, and pigmentation. She adds that topical sunscreens, after-sun products, and antioxidant skin care remain essential, but consumers are increasingly taking a holistic approach.

Lubrizol points to ingestible minerals and supplements that can aid in summer beauty routines beyond topical applications.Moreover, Negra says the beauty-from-within category is continuing to grow, with nutraceuticals and dietary supplements becoming central to summer routines.

“Demand is particularly strong for ingredients that help protect the skin from oxidative stress while improving its appearance,” she explains. “At the same time, consumers are becoming more educated and increasingly favor clinically validated beauty solutions with measurable benefits.”

“In response, brands are investing in science-backed formulations and leveraging clinical data to differentiate their products in the growing beauty-from-within market. Brands are also responding to these trends by developing multifunctional products that combine beauty, wellness, and healthy-aging benefits.”

Furthermore, Negra says that many companies are positioning their supplements not just as skin-health products but as part of a broader lifestyle approach aimed at enhancing resilience against environmental stressors like UV exposure, pollution, and heat.

“Overall, the summer beauty market is evolving from a purely cosmetic and topical focus toward an integrated strategy that combines sun protection, nutrition, and supplementation to support skin health year-round,” Negra concludes.