Skincare Fridges: Do They Work?
They’re small, cute, and all over Pinterest. But are skincare fridges effective in maximizing your routine?
When we see those serum-brimming beauty fridges, lacquered in shades of pink, lavender, and blue, it’s easy to see the allure. They’re adorable! In fact, if you search Pinterest or Instagram, you’ll come face to face with a multitude of pretty, colorful, product-packed fridges. And by the looks of it, the trend is going nowhere. At least not soon anyway. There’s too much buzz going on for it to die out yet.
What we want to know is, will chilling your skincare really extend the life of your beauty products, or is it merely a marketing gimmick?
It’s time to find out!
Scroll down to learn more about the benefits of beauty fridges and whether you really need one or not. Plus, what products are best kept in a skincare fridge!
DO YOU REALLY NEED A SKINCARE FRIDGE?
When it comes to the topic of beauty fridges, experts are divided.
Some say they’re not necessary “because whenever a product is released into the market it has to go through stability testing, which shows that a product is stable, that it will not decompose at room temperature, and that it’s not going to lose its efficacy even once it’s opened,” says renowned dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.
Others insist they can extend the life of your cosmetics and even boost their effectiveness.
“A designated skincare fridge is a great way to keep your products active for a longer period of time after opening.,” says dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel. “Cooling the products helps inhibit bacterial and fungal growth once the product has been contaminated with fingers.”
Your best bet is to store your beauty products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Whether that’s inside or outside of a beauty fridge – it doesn’t really matter as long as their place of storage is neither too warm nor too cool.
If you don’t have a place like that in your home, a skincare fridge may come in handy. It can prevent an increased risk of bacteria, mold, and yeast from accelerating active ingredients’ deactivation in your creams, serums, and cleansers. Plus, it won’t alter the texture or consistency of your products.
HOW COOLER TEMPERATURES CAN CHANGE SKINCARE APPLICATION
Even though experts may be divided over the necessity of beauty fridges, chilling your gels, lotions, and serums isn’t a bad idea at all.
“The cooling effect on the skin can help complement the active ingredients in serums that are designed to hydrate, soothe, and brighten the skin,” says skincare pro Dr. Joshua Zeichner. “And applying a cold moisturizer can help calm an inflamed skin barrier for symptomatic relief of itching.”
Its effects would be magnified with skincare products that offer soothing, calming effects like face masks with aloe vera, for instance. Or eye creams intended to decrease puffiness, like Truly’s Eye Candy Anti-Puff Eye Cream.
“The cooler temperature helps to constrict blood vessels, which can decrease puffiness and redness,” explains dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
Besides offering anti-inflammatory effects, those cool temperatures may extend the life of your lotions and potions – especially in formulations like retinol and vitamin C which have unstable molecules and shorter shelf lives.
Refrigeration provides them with a more stable environment to keep them working effectively and for longer.
The same logic applies to clean or natural products that don’t contain preservatives. You’ll need to take extra care over how they’re stored to prolong their shelf life.
Storing tools like jade rollers in a fridge is another great idea to give you that chilled sensation to minimize pores and tighten the skin.
Truly’s Purple Rain Facial Serum & Vegan Collagen Facial Serum are great candidates for chilling in your beauty fridge.
WHAT TO PUT IN A BEAUTY FRIDGE
- Unstable serums – like those containing retinol or vitamin C
- Face masks
- Eye creams
- Hydrating mists
- Beauty tools, like jade rollers or applicators
WHAT NOT TO PUT IN A BEAUTY FRIDGE
- Makeup
- Fragrances
- Oils
CAN YOU PUT SKINCARE PRODUCTS IN A REGULAR FRIDGE?
If you don’t fancy splashing out on one of these fancy fridges, you might be wondering if you can use your home refrigerator instead.
According to Zeichner, “So long as your refrigerator is properly cleaned and your skin-care products are physically separated from your food, a regular refrigerator accomplishes the same goal as a skin-care fridge.”
Make sure that your fridge is kept between 35-38°F to keep your products working effectively. Colder temperatures may affect the consistency, texture, and efficiency of some products.
It’s also best to make sure they’re not exposed to any drips or leaks in your fridge. Ideally, keep your products separated from the rest of the things in your refrigerator.
SKINCARE FRIDGES – WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
According to skin expert Dr. Rekha Tailor, certain ingredients and beauty products could benefit from being stored in a skincare fridge.
“There is some evidence to suggest that refrigerating certain retinol and benzoyl peroxide may extend their shelf life,” Dr Tailor explains. “It may also be of benefit to store eye creams, sheet masks and beauty tools (such as ice globes) in the fridge to help with de-puffing.”
However, like with most skincare trends, it’s all down to personal experimentation. While the evidence all points to the beauty fridge being effective yet not essential, if you like the idea of having a designated place for your products, it could be a great investment for you. It’s especially useful if you struggle with redness or puffy skin, as cooling your products make them more soothing.
What’s more, if you love creating your own beauty concoctions or swear by clean skincare products, you can instantly boost their lifeline by placing them in a refrigerator.
Whether you put them in your ordinary fridge, locate a cool and dark environment, or buy a beauty fridge, it’s entirely up to you what you prefer.
But honestly, we wouldn’t blame you at all for getting in on the skincare fridge trend. They’re sooo adorable!
