As temperatures climb and consumers spend more time outside, there is a renewed demand for products that protect, hydrate, and perform in the great outdoors. From sun care to bug repellents and summer-proof hair solutions, outdoor-ready personal care products are a major opportunity for brands.
At PLZ Personal Care Solutions, we help translate this demand for seasonal staples into high-performing, market-ready products. Here’s a look at current formulation insights and opportunities across personal care.
Smart Sun Care for Active Lifestyles
Sun care is no longer a beach-only essential. Instead, sunscreen is a part of everyday personal care, whether layered under makeup or built into moisturizers, lip balms, or mists.
Popular trends in sun care include:
- Mineral-based sunscreen formulations: Featuring zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients, mineral-based sunscreens offer broad-spectrum protection that works immediately upon application. They also present an ideal solution for those with sensitive skin and for eco-conscious consumers seeking reef/environmentally friendly products.
- Hybrid sun care products: Multi-functional sunscreens combine sun protection with skin care benefits, empowering consumers to streamline their skin care routines and promoting more frequent use. Popular options include moisturizers, foundations, mattifying formulas, or setting sprays—all with UV protection.
- Aerosol sunscreens: It’s no secret that packaging innovations can transform the way users experience a personal care brand. In the world of sun care, bag-on-valve technology has enabled just that. Today’s aerosol sunscreens offer continuous spray from any direction to achieve an even coat. This makes them ideally suited for large or hard-to-reach places, delivering convenient coverage at the beach, on the playing field, and beyond.
When formulating sun care products, brands should focus on sensorial feel, long-wear performance, and compatibility with other personal care routines. See our Sun Care Simplified infographic for more inspiration.
Protection and Relief for Outdoor Living with OTC Essentials
Warm weather brings a host of outdoor adventures, along with the need for reliable over the counter (OTC) solutions to keep consumers protected and comfortable. From bug bites to minor scrapes, seasonal exposure requires products that are effective and easy to use.
Key product categories gaining traction in the warmer seasons include:
- Insect repellents: Formulations made with active ingredients like DEET, picaridin, or essential oils are hot items on store shelves as the summer months heat up. Consumers commonly seek formulations designed for sensitive skin or unscented applications available in convenient packaging formats such as sprays, wipes, and roll-ons.
- Anti-itch and bite relief treatments: Hot, sunny days create the perfect conditions for insects to thrive. As a result, consumers often turn to fast-acting, soothing treatments to relieve bites and irritation. Formulations with added cooling or anti-inflammatory benefits can further enhance product appeal and effectiveness.
- First aid sprays and topical antiseptics: With more active, on-the-go lifestyles comes a greater chance of cuts, scrapes, and skin irritations. To meet this need, personal care brands are developing fast-acting, hygienic solutions that deliver convenience and peace of mind. Products designed for travel kits, beach bags, and outdoor packs are especially well-positioned to support consumers wherever summer takes them.
Visit our OTC webpage to learn how we help brands turn OTC product ideas into reality—delivering formulations that adhere to strict quality and documentation standards to meet FDA requirements for process control, documentation, and testing.
Summer-Proof Strands with Hair Care Innovations
Heat, humidity, chlorine, and salt water all wreak havoc on hair. Consumers are seeking summer hair care products that repair, protect, and enhance without weighing their hair down.
Seasonal product innovations include:
- UV-protective leave-ins and color-safe conditioners: The growing “skinification” trend in personal care has fueled the rise of multifunctional products that combine protection and performance, especially in summer. Formulas featuring built-in UVA/UVB filters are now common in color-safe conditioners, leave-in treatments, and styling hybrids. Popular seasonal offerings include UV-protective leave-in sprays and treatment masks that shield hair from sun, salt, and chlorine damage.
- Dry shampoos and sprays: As temperatures rise and on-the-go routines become the norm, waterless hair care products offer a practical solution for staying fresh between washes. Dry shampoos, powders, and bars help absorb oil, add volume, and refresh styles without the need for water, while texturizing sprays deliver effortless beachy waves, making them ideal for travel, post-workout touch-ups, or long days outdoors.
- Lightweight oils and serums: Heat and humidity can lead to frizz, flyaways, and loss of shine. To combat these effects without buildup, lightweight oils and serums offer a summer-ready solution. These formulations help lock in hydration while keeping hair manageable and polished all day long.
Check out our Summer Hair Care Essentials infographic for a snapshot of top ingredients and benefits driving warm-weather hair care.
Seasonal Readiness Starts with PLZ Personal Care Solutions
Looking to develop or refresh your outdoor-ready lineup? Whether it’s SPF-infused moisturizers, naturally derived repellents, or frizz-fighting finishers, outdoor-ready formulations need to perform under real-world conditions. That’s where our expertise comes in.
As a full-service contract manufacturer, PLZ Personal Care Solutions helps personal care brands bring seasonal innovations to life—from ideation and R&D to regulatory compliance and product manufacturing. Partner with us to create products that keep your customers covered, comfortable, and confident all summer long.
Contact us today to explore formulation options tailored to your brand and your budget.
