21 best heatwave-friendly products GLAMOUR editors are using to cool down
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We pray for hot weather from January 1st — then it hits 26°C and we're frantically googling ‘how to cool down in a heatwave’. Yep, this week has seen scorching temperatures that, while bringing a smile to our faces, the hot days have left us all a little bothered.
Unfortunately, we don't get this weather often enough to be super prepared — and America's love for air-con? Not quite carried over here just yet. Thankfully, GLAMOUR editors — AKA your digital personal shoppers — have set about compiling an edit of the heatwave essentials to help keep you cool, and have shared their top tips for dipping your core temperature.
We're talking an upgrade on the one electric fan we’ve owned for millennia and are currently carrying from room to room to keep our home cool, as well as cooling blankets, body temperature-regulating duvets and breathable pillows that make sleeping through the night a possibility.
Struggling with what to wear? We've found the loose-fitting clothing (AKA a linen dress) we plan on living in this summer, as well as the oversized bottle to ensure we get plenty of water in our system. But it also pays to be protected, so we've also dropped our top-rated face sunscreens, SPF lip balms, and humidity-defying hair protection sprays to fight warm-weather frizz. You can thank us with a year’s supply of ice lollies.
Swap flustered for fresh.
How to cool down during the heatwave: Quick tips and tricks
- Fill a hot water bottle with tap water and put it in the freezer for your very own ice pack to take to bed.
- Purchase an ice towel to drape over your skin when sat down.
- Invest in a good fan to keep air moving around the room.
- Wear a neck fan when commuting for a constant cool breeze.
- Use a cooling face mist for a quick and chilling fix.
- Stay hydrated with a stainless steel water bottle.
- Buy some blackout blinds for your bedroom to keep the sun out.
- Wear floaty dresses, linen trousers and other loose fitting items.
- Take your duvet out of the cover and sleep with linen sheets, or invest in a lightweight and temperature-regulating duvet for the summer months.
Ahead, the best products to help you cool down during the heatwave, approved by GLAMOUR editors:
Best fan for the heatwave
Pro Breeze 13" Inch Desktop Mini Tower Fan
Working from home is great — until you're melting mid-Zoom meeting. Thankfully, this mini tower fan, measuring up at just 13 inches, is the perfect size to sit facing you on your desk. Fitted with three speeds, it's both powerful and purse-friendly. Yep, you can run this from as little as 1p an hour!
Save when you shop our heatwave essentials with these Amazon discount codes.
Best mattress for the heatwave
Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress
For those seeking relief from night sweats, consider the Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress. Crafted with a six-layer design, it's tailored for temperature control and infused with graphite particles, renowned for their heat-absorbing abilities. Following this, memory foam provides personalised contouring, supported by layers for spinal alignment and breathability with 12cm Aeroflex pocket springs.
Best face sunscreen for the heatwave
Glow Hub Defend Yourself Face Sunscreen SPF 30
Your reminder that SPF is a vital step in your AM skincare routine. Thankfully, Glow Hub's formula is lightweight and silky, offering broad-spectrum protection and a dewy glow with no white cast. Even better news: It's fragrance-free and reef-safe, too.
Best neck fan for the heatwave
Thanks to a few viral videos on TikTok, these portable neck fans have been top of our to-buy lists since we saw the temperatures set to rise above 25. This one is a steal, now coming in at less than £10, and we can't wait to wear it on the tube.
2.2L Andrew James Ice Maker Machine
We sure are getting through a lot of ice at the moment, and we can't bear the thought of our local supermarket selling out again. We'll be purchasing the Andrew James ice-making machine for our summer BBQs as it makes different sizes of ice cubes in under 10 minutes.
Best inflatable pool for the heatwave
Whether you're prepping the garden for the arrival of your nieces and nephews or planning to WFH while dipping your toes, this inflatable pool — designed to look just like the finishing touch to our daily Diet Coke — is perfect for keeping you cool.
Best duvet for the heatwave
This double-sided, high-tech duvet comes from the creators of some of the best mattresses on the market, Simba Sleep. One side features the brand's patented ‘Outlast’ technology, which was initially designed by NASA for astronauts to regulate body temperature all night long. The other? Lined with 300-thread-count cotton that's supremely breathable. It's really no surprise that it's earned more than 12,000 positive customer reviews.
Save when you shop our heatwave essentials with these Emma Sleep discount codes.
Best after-sun lotions for the heatwave
Sun Bum Cool Down After Sun Spray
There's no better feeling than spritzing freshly tanned skin with a nourishing after-sun. Sun Bum's fine-mist spray, infused with soothing aloe vera and vitamin E, is easy to apply and non-greasy. We can also confirm this one's cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly, too.
Save when you shop our heatwave essentials with these Sephora discount codes.
Best linen dress for the heatwave
When you're hot and sticky in the midst of a heatwave, the last thing you want to do is wear any form of clothes. But, due to an indecent exposure risk, we have to. Welcome, floaty dresses made of linen, like this one from COS.
Save when you shop our heatwave essentials with these COS discount codes.
Best body sunscreens for the heatwave
Sol De Janeiro Rio Radiance Body Lotion SPF50
Body sunscreens, sun lotions, sun tan lotions — whatever you call them, they're one of the most important steps in any beauty routine, helping you to avoid extended sun exposure and skin cancer, hyperpigmentation, premature ageing, plus loss of elasticity. Sol de Janeiro's SPF visibly evens skin tone while it moisturises, thanks to the blend of niacinamide, pongamia seed extract and cupuacu butter.
Best SPF lip balm for the heatwave
Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating SPF50 Lip Balm
We've only just nailed the habit of using face SPF every day, but we also need to remember our lips. Ultra Violette's Sheen Screen offers glossy colour, hydration and protection in one. Available in six shades — we're currently emotionally attached to Bejewelled — and all finished with a fresh peppermint scent.
Best pillows for the heatwave
With its high-quality Aerosoft microfiber filling that feels just as soft as down, and groundbreaking Outlast technology that works to keep you consistently cool throughout the night. Yep, there's a lot to love about this squishy yet supportive pillow — including its fully washable design.
The ice-cold, lavender-scented towels? The highlight of any pricey workout class. Now you can create your own at home — simply wet, wring it out to activate and keep cool for up to 3 hours. Particularly great post-gym too!
Skin Gym Cryo Chill Ice Beaded Face Mask
Skin Gym's Ice Beaded Mask is top of our to-buy list. The innovative mask is filled with gel beads, which can be cooled to fight puffiness, calm irritation, and soothe stressed skin. We also love the fact that it forces you to take 10 minutes of self-care.
Save when you shop our heatwave essentials with these ASOS discount codes.
Best water bottle for the heatwave
Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Bottle
It's no secret, and scientifically proven, that staying hydrated is the key to getting through a heatwave. Designed to be 100% leakproof and able to hold both hot or cold beverages — water, electrolytes, squash, tea and coffee, all tried and tested by yours truly — Frank Green is our current go-to for taking our favourite beverage to-go. Plus, you can personalise every aspect, from the colour and size to the style of the lid (options include a flip straw, switch or button lid).
Best cooling face mist for the heatwave
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Skin Soothing Hydration Mist
Whether it's above 25°C or not, sometimes your makeup needs a quick refresh and an injection of hydration. This fine facial mist does just that, offering moisture barrier support on demand. Infused with three magic minerals — copper gluconate, magnesium aspartate, and zinc gluconate — these work together to energise the skin and help support healthy skin cell functioning.
Best linen bedding for the heatwave
Piglet In Bed Sandstone Red Pembroke Stripe 100% Linen Duvet Cover
Linen bedding, like linen clothing, is the best during a heatwave as it doesn't trap the heat. Piglet In Bed arguably do the very best, offering every size (single, double, king and super king) in an array of chic prints. But the brand has thought of everything, even promising to pre-wash every set for extra softness and to ensure the fabric doesn't shrink, lose its shape, or fade after purchase. One more perk? Every set comes with inside corner ties to stop your duvet from slipping.
Best blotting paper for the heatwave
Shiseido Oil-Control Blotting Paper
No matter your skin type, everyone is prone to an oily sheen come summer, and Shiseido's matte blotting paper is here to save the day. Simply dab and bid goodbye to that disco-ball glow.
For some of us, the thought of sleeping without anything covering our dignity gives us the fear. If that's you, look to this cooling blanket from Amazon; it can absorb heat and sweat from your body and keep you cool through the night.
Best heat protection spray for the heatwave
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
A heat protectant and styling product in one, this viral hit is essentially a raincoat for your locks. Yep, it works to repel moisture and humidity for up to three shampoos. The result? Sleek blow-drys with long-lasting gloss and shine.
Koolpak Luxury Hot & Cold Reusable Pack
Any minor bump or scratch at school, and we'd beg for an ice pack, so why not call on the nostalgic essential when temperatures reach more than 30°C? Designed to be used both hot and cold, simply pop it in the freezer for up to two hours (or microwave for 20 seconds) before placing the flexible, fabric moulds wherever needed.
