Be honest, how much thought do you put into figuring out how to store your favorite skincare products? Most people toss them in a bathroom cabinet and that’s that. We’re speaking from experience!
Well, new evidence is emerging that refrigerating skincare products can result in many helpful benefits. But which skincare products should you refrigerate, and what are the advantages of doing so?
Let’s dive in.
Why you should store your skincare in a fridge
You may have noticed in recent times the rise of mini skincare fridges being used by women to store their beloved creams and moisturizers. Every time we in the office browse Instagram or Pinterest, we are stunned by just how popular these fridges seem to be.
However, they are far from a passing trend or short-lived fad, and we think they could become a common staple of personal skincare in the long term. But why?
Storing your skincare in a fridge is a smart thing to do. Much like food, skincare products have a shelf-life. Natural ingredients expire after a certain amount of time, and this can severely restrict the effectiveness of the product. Keeping skincare refrigerated can significantly prolong the life of these ingredients, helping to keep the product potent and useful for longer. This is not only beneficial for your skin, but your bank balance too, as the rate you’ll need to run out and replace rotten creams will hugely decrease.
It’s a well-known fact that storing skincare in unsuitable places, such as areas that are exposed to heat and sunlight, speeds up their expiry process and shortens their period of effectiveness. Yes, you can simply keep your skincare in dark, cool cupboards, but they can still be vulnerable to bacteria and other pollutants.
Keeping your skincare products refrigerated is the best way to extend their life cycles and ensure you can continue treating your skin for longer.
What skincare products should be refrigerated?
Our basic stock answer to this question is “everything!”, but I’m sure you’d like us to be more specific and explain why. Here it goes.
Let’s look at some of the most common skin concerns and the products we use to treat them. For example, puffiness is something most of us struggle with, especially under our eyes in the mornings. Keeping serums, creams, and other products designed to reduce puffiness in a fridge will boost their potency and impact. This is much like using ice to treat a swollen wrist or ankle, the coldness has a much more powerful effect than something warmer.
Similarly, inflammation is best treated with cold. A chilled moisturizer will have an immediate positive effect when applied to inflamed skin. Coldness can be a brilliant soother of redness, blemishes, and other skin irritations. A moisturizer’s hydration abilities will also be boosted by the cold.
Finally, certain active ingredients such as Vitamin C and retinol can be easily damaged if exposed to heat or light. Keeping products that rely heavily on these ingredients, such as anti-aging serums and creams, properly refrigerated is the best way to preserve them for as long as possible, giving your skin the protection it needs.
Products that should NOT be refrigerated
While the majority of skincare products can significantly benefit from being refrigerated, there are some types of products that should be stored outside of a fridge.
More specifically, oils and balms should be stored in a cool, dry location such as a bathroom cupboard. Storing oils and balms in a fridge can actually cause them to harden, which can then lead to damage. Also, products that use clay should not be refrigerated for similar reasons.
Conclusion
All in all, keeping your favorite skincare products in a fridge is the best way to extend their life and ensure you are getting the most value out of them for longer.
Moisturizers, creams, gels, and anti-aging products can retain their potency and effectiveness when stored in a refrigerator.
However, balms, oils, and clays should not be refrigerated, as they can solidify and become damaged. Keep these products in cool dry locations away from heat fluctuations and sunlight.
Maybe investing in a skincare mini-fridge isn’t such a crazy idea after all, huh?