In the summer, you can almost always expect a sweltering heatwave, and according to the National Weather Service, that’ll be Thursday through Saturday this week. By the Fourth of July, you can expect record-high temperatures and heat indexes upwards of 100 degrees.
In addition to staying hydrated and seeking air conditioning, we’re pulling out our personal fans, cooling towels, facial sprays and more to get through the heat.
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Our favorite products to stay cool this summer
Below, I rounded up our NBC Select editors’ favorite products they can’t live without in the summer.
Best products to stay hydrated
During the summer, electrolytes are a great way to help keep you hydrated while you’re sweating and spending active days in the sun. I’m a fan of DripDrop’s hydration powder packets during workouts or when I’m walking a lot outdoors. Their products aren’t super sugary and have a subtle taste.
The viral Stanley Quencher remains wildly popular for its versatility and functionality. The tumbler has a comfortable handle, a leak-resistant straw lid, and a cupholder-friendly base. Its double-wall insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 11 hours, according to the brand. In addition to the 40-ounce option, it also comes in four other sizes and over 30 colors.
This hands-free bottle holder can fit water bottles ranging from 17 to 40 ounces. It has an adjustable insulated compartment, which also has pockets for carrying other small essentials like AirPods, sunscreen and keys. It has an adjustable strap, so you can wear it as a crossbody bag or sling it over your wrist.
“I leave my everyday bag at home whenever I use it. I never worry about my water bottle sweating or leaking because the inside of this holder is water-resistant,” says Malin. “It’s basically a purse with dedicated water bottle space, and for the convenience it offers, it’s worth every penny.”
Best fans
Shark launched this mini personal fan earlier this year. It has a cooling plate and mister, and you can set it up on a flat surface or hold it in your hands to keep cool. You can manually adjust the intensity, and a full charge lasts a couple of days, according to NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, who tested the fan. “I use fan mode when I need a constant cool breeze, the mister when I’m getting sweaty and need a little refresh, and the cooling plate mode when my skin feels super hot or I’m having a hot flash and I need to lower my temperature quickly,” she says.
This editor-favorite neck fan is a quick and easy way to stay cool during the summer. It’s rechargeable, has three airflow speeds and depending on the setting, the battery can last for up to nine hours, according to the brand. It also has no blades, so you don’t have to worry about your hair or jewelry snagging while it’s on, says Malin, who has been using this fan for years.
NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown has had this box fan for almost 15 years, and it’s still good as new. “On those days when it’s too cool to justify turning on the A/C but hot enough that I still need to cool my place down, this classic gets the job done,” says Brown. “Also, the sound of a box fan running is better than any other white noise machine I’ve tried over the years.” Brown recommends taking the fan apart to clean dust and debris, which helps it last longer.
More fans to shop
- Snawowo Mini Handheld Personal Fan
- Vornado OSC84 Whole Room Tower Fan
- Amacool Flexible Tripod Clip-on Fan
Best beauty and wellness products
You can apply Lume’s whole body deodorant to any of your sweat zones to prevent odor. There’s three formulas: a smooth solid, cream tube and cream stick, each of which comes in eight scents. It’s available in a sweat control antiperspirant cream or spray. It’s also gentle on sensitive skin.
“Right off the bat, it was clear that this deodorant did exactly what it was meant to. Over my time wearing it, I experienced almost zero body odor, even in times of serious stress,” says NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, who tested the cream formula. “I wore it all day on my underarms and underboob, including to the gym, to the office and even to bed, and it held up against what would, for me, normally result in a bit of armpit smell. I can say that after a full 24 hours, it was still going strong.”
This mist provides a quick cool-down during the summer. “Nothing feels better than a fresh spritz of a face mist during the summer heat, especially when I’m on the subway platform or walking for miles in the sun,” says NBC Select editor Mili Godio. “I love this one from Avene because it’s gentle and straightforward (literally just thermal water), so I don’t have to worry about my skin getting red or irritated due to extra ingredients.”
These body wipes come in a pack of 30 and easily fit in any bag for a quick refresh. “They make me feel so much cleaner and cooler after I use them, and they smell incredible,” says Malin. “The wipes are soft and gentle against my skin, and I love that they come individually wrapped.”
In humid weather, skin-on-skin or fabric-on-skin chaffing can be hard to avoid. Malin applies Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Gel to avoid irritation and prevent chaffing when she’s outside in the heat. “Unlike Megababe’s Thigh Rescue balm, the gel is sweat-resistant, which is ideal during heat like we’re currently experiencing, and it feels very lightweight on my skin,” Malin says.
More beauty and wellness items to shop
- Dove Advanced Antiperspirant Deodorant
- Samnyte Hair Wax Stick
- Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
- Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick
Best sunscreens
This stick sunscreen earned a top 10 spot in our list of the 100 best face sunscreens. It blurs pores and has a matte finish, which means it layers nicely under makeup, and doesn’t leave a white cast. Plus, it’s small enough to throw into your purse or beach bag and take with you on the go.
When it’s hot and sticky outside, my full face of foundation can get sweaty and overstimulating. I’ve been struggling with breakouts lately, so I still like to have coverage in my daily makeup routine. This tinted sunscreen is my go-to summer product: It blends quickly and layers well under my other makeup. It also provides surprisingly good coverage despite being super lightweight.
Vacation’s lotion sunscreen is a favorite among our NBC Select editors. This viral sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays and smells nicely of coconut, banana and pool water. A little goes a long way in the small bottle, according to NBC Select social media editor Caitlin Cusack. “Vacation’s SPF 50 body lotion smells absolutely amazing, glides on easily, doesn’t leave a white cast and is totally safe for my acne-prone skin,” she says.
If you’re looking for an effective SPF for kids, Blue Lizard’s mineral sunscreen (one of our favorite Australian sunscreens) is gentle, rubs easily into skin and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. The lotion’s cap turns pink in harmful UV light, a useful tool to teach kids about UV rays. It’s also fragrance- and paraben-free, and the brand offers stick sunscreen alternatives that are easy to apply on the go.
More sunscreens to shop
- Supergoop! Protec(tint) Daily Skin Tint SPF 50
- Round Lab Birch Juice
- Sun Bum Daily 50 Body Lotion
- Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 50 Spray Sunscreen (2 pack)
Best cooling apparel and accessories
“I tested these cooling pajamas for our Wellness Awards and I’m still wearing them months later,” says Brown. “The fit isn’t too loose or too tight, and the fabric is buttery soft. I’m a hot sleeper who also likes being under several blankets (even in the summer), and I love that I don’t feel that urge to take off everything in the middle of the night.” The pajamas come in sizes XXS to XXL and are designed to be loose-fitting with adjustable straps and an elastic waistband.
More cooling apparel and accessories to shop
- Under Armour Men’s Tech 2.0 Short-Sleeve T-Shirt
- Nike Womens Dri-fit Legend T-Shirt
- Mission Cooling UPF Performance Hat
More cooling products we recommend
This window air conditioner has been NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz’s favorite for over three years. “It’s u-shaped, so you can still open and close your window after installing your AC,” says Rabinowitz. “More importantly for hot weather, it’s an inverter model that’s both powerful and energy efficient.” You can control the unit with the physical buttons on the unit, the included remote or the Midea smart home app.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an editorial intern for NBC Select. In the past, I’ve covered sales for big shopping events like Prime Day. For this article, I consulted our staff on their must-have summer products.
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