Summer beauty is all about ease, performance, and products that truly hold up in real life — not just on a shelf. We asked marcomms leaders across the beauty industry to share the tried-and-tested essentials they rely on most when temperatures rise. The result is an insider edit of go-to staples, treatments, and discoveries you’ll want to reach for this summer.
Megan Vaughn, Founder & CEO, MVPR
“One summer beauty treatment I think will continue to be huge is the Hydrafacial at TIEV Med Spa. It’s the perfect reset for summer skin — deeply hydrating, brightening, and restorative after heat, travel, and sun exposure, all without downtime. The results feel immediate: fresh, healthy, glowy skin that still looks natural. It’s become my go-to during the summer months!”
Jacquie Tractenberg, President, Tractenberg
"No Makeup Makeup Foundation is one of those products that permanently earns a spot in my summer bag. It gives my skin that even, fresh, healthy look without ever feeling like foundation, which is exactly what I want, especially this time of year. I’m also obsessed with how foolproof it is to apply — the brush does all the work and somehow makes it look perfect every single time. It literally takes seconds to apply, which is ideal when I’m rushing out the door and want to look polished without doing a whole long routine. Also, I travel constantly during the summer, so I love how easy it is to throw in my bag without worrying about liquid spills or leaks everywhere. It’s genuinely one of the easiest beauty products to travel with. And I love that I can find a perfect match for whatever my tone is throughout the summer, as it changes depending on how much I’m outside (even though I wear sun block of course!)."
Bryn Kenny, SVP of Beauty, BPCM
“Summer beauty season means high-performance essentials that can keep up with travel, extreme heat, sensitivity, and active lifestyles become even more important. AKT London’s (pronounced “act”) The Deodorant Balm is a must-have year-round, but I think it will become increasingly ubiquitous for summer 2026. They just launched in Sephora, and the natural, vegan, cruelty-free formula is next-level—it delivers clinical-level performance without any of the harsh ingredients in traditional deodorants. Plus, each of the five fragrances is elevated and sophisticated, reminiscent of a niche French fragrance brand. There’s even an unscented version that can be used on the face as a mattifying primer."
Rob Loschiavo, Partner, SVP, Creative Director, Pomp & Circumstance
"Moroccanoil Treatment Mist is my go-to grooming essential because it keeps my hair looking polished, healthy, and camera-ready from the boardroom to after-hours events. In PR, you’re constantly moving between meetings, client dinners, and industry functions, and this is one product that holds up through long days, changing weather, and summer humidity without ever feeling heavy. Pro tip: I always order it through Sephora on the Blue Rewards platform so I can rack up points toward my next beauty or grooming must-have when it’s time for a refill.”
Melissa Rosenfield, Founder, IFP Communications
“I believe this summer we will see a return to simplicity in beauty. After a winter of maintaining an overly curated look, I am embracing a more natural and low-effort aesthetic for the season. To keep my hair looking healthy, I’ll be using the shampoo and conditioner from The Root Project. These products are formulated with peppermint for a natural pick-me-up and contain no harsh agents or unnecessary additives. They feature clinically backed, dermatologist-tested ingredients designed to deliver real results by nourishing the follicles with nutrient-rich actives, leaving hair stronger, softer, and visibly healthier.”
Tyler Williams, Managing Director + Partner, 1Milk2Sugars
“The intersection of beauty and wellness is on fire right now, and we'll definitely see that continue this summer. In fact, the broader beauty supplements category is expected to nearly double from $4B in 2025 to $8.6B by 2035, fueled by demand for collagen, skin-health, and longevity-focused products (source: Precedence Research). A hot (no pun intended) essential this summer will be the Timebeam Sol Mate Sun Gummies Skin Protection Supplement ($30 at Ulta), a doctor-formulated daily sun gummy powered by antioxidant-rich polypodium leucotomos and Vitamins C + E to help protect skin from sun damage when used with a daily SPF.”
Lauren Kahn, Partner, Intersection
“After a series of Ultra Laser Resurfacing treatments over the winter to address years of sun damage, I’m determined to protect my results. While SPF and hats are non-negotiables, I’ll also be incorporating Exoceuticals’ EXO SUN® After-Sun Treatment to my summer routine. Exosomes are THE most powerful ingredient in skin care today. Their proprietary aloe³ and eXo³ Exosomes® helps calm my skin after too much sun, hydrates (it soaks right in which I love) and helps repair the damage that we know the sun does within minutes - for fair skinned me! I used it last summer, and after my procedures (a secret), and I'm amazed at the results. My skin has never looked better! It's my all-time fave product for post beach or pool.”
Lindsey Smolan, Founder, VLIV Communications
"ACTIIV's Defense SPF 30 is my go-to for summer! As we're all paying more attention to our scalps, this product protects our hair and scalp from the sun's rays. Defense uses broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection (Avobenzone & Octisalate) to help shield the hair and scalp from sun exposure, lightweight conditioning agents, as well a cold-pressed micro-green red clover, that help maintain softness and manageability while the hair is exposed to the sun's rays. It is so easy to use, and a great all-over product to pop in your beach bag, luggage, or handbag to protect hair, skin, and scalp! Just shake and spray on any area that needs sun protection, from your face to your scalp to your body. "
Polina Lichagina, Vice-President, Operations and Client Service, bicom
“The best beauty product for me at the moment is definitely the new Blush Cream from the Quebec-born brand WonderBlush - a go-to essential for a fresh, natural, and buildable flush that enhances the complexion effortlessly. It’s a true multi-use essential, designed for both cheeks and lips in a convenient stick format.”
Danielle Triano, AVP, Beauty, Autumn Communications
“One thing I’m genuinely obsessed with right now is the ORA Method LED Gua Sha treatment. I’ve tried just about every facial and sculpting treatment out there, and this is one of the few that delivers that immediate lifted, depuffed, incredibly radiant look while still feeling restorative and relaxing. It gives your skin that healthy, fresh-from-vacation glow in a way that feels very natural and effortless. I think treatments like this reflect a broader cultural shift in beauty. It's no longer about looking overly done, it's about embracing treatments that prioritize skin health and radiance.”
Marjorie Roux, Founder & President, Matinee Studio
“Nothing captures the essence of summer like a great beach hair day, and DESIGNME Sea Salt Spray delivers exactly that. It is easy to use and leaves hair feeling soft with the perfect amount of texture. I believe it will be a summer essential for any occasion.”
Ina Subramanian, Founder/Principal, MatriArc Growth Studio
“I’ve been personally interested in the rise of body serums which are currently up +88.5% year-over-year according to SPATE, fueled by TikTok discovery and a more educated, ingredient-savvy consumer. But I believe we will see this paired as a ritual beyond only the product when used with fascia-releasing techniques. Body serums (like Osea’s Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum) + fascia release tools (such as Esker’s Body Plane) can transform a simple skincare step to one that is sculpting, circulation-boosting and hydrating. Apply an active body serum post-shower, then work it into the skin with massage, by hand, or with a gua sha or fascia tool to support lymphatic flow and improve overall tone and texture for a sophisticated summer body care moment.”
Jennifer Fiorenza, Co-Founder, LRJ PR & Communications
“As the temperature rises, our beauty routines should be getting lighter, not more complicated. Summer is all about embracing a sun-kissed glow and maintaining smooth skin without the tedious salon upkeep. Sliick’s new Ready-to-Use Wax Strips are the ultimate summer shortcut. They require no heating or prep, meaning you can achieve salon-smooth skin in minutes. Perfect for last-minute beach days or keeping your bikini line and face fuzz-free effortlessly. Bonus - they are pre-coated and perfectly pre-cut for both face + body - and infused with skin-soothing Vitamin E and nourishing Jojoba Oil. Just rub between your hands, peel, apply, and pull for up to 4 weeks of smooth, radiant skin. I plan to run to Sally Beauty to stock up on this summer must-have.”
Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Founder & CEO, TishTash Group
“For me, the most exciting shift in summer beauty right now is the continued move away from chasing quick fixes, towards genuinely investing in your skin's future. Skincare now is about longevity and building real resilience from within rather than masking concerns on the surface. We're seeing incredible advances in biotech ingredients; collagen-stimulating peptides, barrier-strengthening formulas, and next-generation delivery systems that work at a cellular level to restore elasticity and repair over time. My current obsession is the new Rodial Salmon DNA range – it takes the regenerative power of polynucleotides, once only available as an injectable clinic treatment, and transforms it into a luxurious daily ritual.”
Lori Riviere, Co-Director, Riviere Agency
“While this may be a slightly unconventional take, my favorite ‘beauty product’ for summer isn’t actually a traditional product at all... it’s a color analysis by Megan Bentley, The Color Countess. Recently featured by Vogue's beauty editor, Megan’s analysis completely changed the way I approach beauty and getting dressed. Finding out I’m a True Winter transformed my makeup bag overnight. Simply switching to cooler-toned makeup, especially blush, has noticeably brightened my complexion and reduced the amount of concealer I use by at least 50 percent. I think more people are realizing that the right colors can often have a bigger impact than buying more products.”
Laurie Zakreski, Founder & President, ZAK Communications
“REVERSA is a family-owned Canadian skincare brand with over 30 years of innovation in dermatological care. ZAK has been happily representing the brand for the past year. The family legacy began in 1990 with the creation of Ombrelle, a Canadian dermatological breakthrough and the first sunscreen to offer both UVA and UVB protection, later sold to L’Oréal in 1997. Their Urban Protection Hydrating Care SPF 30 has a universal tint that works with most skin tones, it gives me just the right amount of coverage for a no-makeup look. The formulation is silky; it absorbs in seconds and leaves a dewy finish with summer friendly broad-spectrum UVA and UVB filters. It has fragmented hyaluronic acid to protect against pollution while keeping skin hydrated. After a long, cold winter in Montreal, it’s my daily go-to and a truly standout product. Too good not to mention: Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo. It's the perfect après tennis refresh. Nine times out of ten, when someone tells me how good I smell - it's the signature Oribe scent that the product leaves behind, I swear it lasts hours, I consider it a 2-1 fragrance AND re-styling product.”
Gianna Cesa, President, Behrman Cesa Communications
“My top beauty pick for summer is sunscreen. I know… cue the eye roll. The beauty industry is built on demonizing aging and managing symptoms (dryness, fine lines, irritation, etc.) instead of educating on fixing the root cause of the damage we cause to our skin. Applying sunscreen daily is one of the few things we can proactively choose to do to protect ourselves and avoid the damage altogether. I personally love a lightweight, tinted sunscreen that protects my skin while giving an effortless summer glow. It is the one product I never skip because it keeps skin healthy, hydrated, and protected during long days in the sun, layers nicely under makeup and also wears well on its own.”
Team Tarte
“tartelette quick stick tubing liquid liner goes on like silk, locks in like armor, and slides off with warm water - no makeup remover needed, no raccoon eyes, no notes. SmartFlex Tube Tech moves with every blink, wink, and side-eye you throw at the world. Ceramides, biotin and hyaluronic acid keep your lash line thriving while you slay.”
Kristina McInnis, Founder & CEO, KCMConnect
“My summer beauty essential is Mane Fresh Fluff Dry Shampoo Foam. For an instant scalp and hair refresh this summer, this not-so-dry, light and creamy foam transforms into a weightless finish for a soft, clean, and volume-full look.”
Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw, CEO & Communicator-In-Chief, First And Last PR
“My summer non-negotiable is the Reign Serum Perfume from LEIƏR and I say that as someone who doesn't tend to reach for hybrid products. This one earned it. It functions as both a hair treatment and a fragrance, which sounds like a gimmick until you actually use it. The formula is built on silk proteins and prickly pear extract, so it nourishes while it styles leaving hair with that glass-like finish that summer heat otherwise makes impossible. It's been approved by both dermatologists and hairstylists, and the results back that up. The scent is what really sets it apart. Reign opens with blackcurrant and saffron, blooms into gardenia and orange blossom, and finishes warm with amber, tonka, musk. It's the kind of fragrance that reads as your skin, not your product, which is everything for summer. I've been reaching for it constantly.”
Linda Mateljan, Strategist & Consultant
“My summer beauty pick is the Circadia by Dr. Pugliese Day/Night System. Think of it as skincare with a schedule. Circadian beauty is the under-the-radar trend redefining summer skin — built on the science that your skin has its own 24-hour biological clock, and that working with it (rather than against it) delivers dramatically better results. Daytime formulas arm skin against UV and environmental stress; nighttime formulas unlock deep cellular repair while you sleep. Summer is when this matters most — late nights, heat, and sun exposure throw your skin's rhythm completely off. Consider this the reset.”
Team ABMC
“The Dyson Supersonic™ Travel hair dryer is a re-engineered, travel-friendly hair dryer that is 32% smaller and 25% lighter than the original Supersonic. Designed for portability and on-the-go use, the Dyson Supersonic™ Travel offers a revolutionary, universally adaptable new format, making it easier than ever to achieve salon-quality results no matter where you’re going. Designed with intelligent heat control, this device measures hair temperature 40 times per second to protect against extreme heat damage.”
