You should have a fridge in your kitchen. Maybe you even have a mini fridge, where you can store beer or just keep some snacks cold. But what about a fridge dedicated solely to your skincare products?
Social media influencers’ recent love of so-called skincare fridges would have you believe that you absolutely must own one. But just how necessary is it to keep your skincare products on ice?
Dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD, addresses some of the hype behind skincare fridges — what they are, which products to keep in them and whether you really need one.
What is a skincare fridge?
Fans of skincare fridges claim that refrigeration is a vital way to preserve the integrity of the ingredients in their skincare products — especially unstable ingredients that are prone to breaking down in the heat, like vitamin C.
Thus, these mini fridges are designed specifically for storing your skincare products. They’re typically teeny-tiny, coming in at just a few liters large, and they come in fun colors and designs. Think of them like very cold toiletry bags that are just big enough to frost some of your faves.
”They’re cute, aren’t they?” Dr. Piliang says. But that doesn’t mean they’re necessary.
Do skincare fridges work?
If you’ve ever tried facial icing or put cold aloe vera on a sunburn, you know it sometimes feels good to apply an icy-cold product to your skin — like flipping to the cold side of the pillow.
”It can feel very nice to put something cool on your face, especially on a hot day,” Dr. Piliang agrees. ”If your skin is irritated, a soothing mask can feel good, and aloe vera that comes from the fridge is a relief for sunburnt skin.”
Beyond that, though, the benefits of refrigerating your skincare products are slim to none. Skincare products go through rigorous testing to ensure that they work well and can withstand some variations in temperature.
”Generally, refrigeration doesn’t change the ingredients of the product,” she says. ”It doesn’t make them more or less effective. So, it ends up being more about how it feels on your skin.”
Can I put skincare products in the kitchen fridge?
If you’re thinking of tucking your skincare products in next to the produce, hold up. The fridge that stores your food is typically about 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 38℉ (1.66℃ to 3.33℃), while it’s recommended that skincare fridges are set to 40℉ to 60℉ (4.44℃ to 15.55℃).
So, why does it matter? Storing your skincare products in super-cold temps can cause them to become so chilly that they become difficult to use. You might actually have to wait for them to warm up before you can smooth them onto your skin, which puts a real damper on your ability to dive into your skincare routine.
If you do prefer chilled facial products, skincare fridges are a better choice than the kind that stores your food. They can also be a handy way to store everything in one spot, keeping you from having to run to the kitchen every time you want to apply your favorite serum.
What products can I put in a skincare fridge?
Again, skincare fridges are unnecessary. But if you really love the feeling of cold products on your clean skin, go for it — especially if you live in a very hot climate and/or don’t have air conditioning.
Remember, though: You actually don’t need many products for your everyday skincare routine! Make sure you’re not overdoing it and using a bunch of products your skin simply doesn’t need.
All that said, products that are generally fine to chill include:
- Aloe vera.
- Eye creams.
- Gua sha tools.
- Face rollers.
- Facial mists and essences.
- Hydrogel under-eye masks.
- Sheet masks.
- Toner.
- Vitamin C serum.
What not to put in a skincare fridge
Keep that foundation out of the fridge — and the rest of your cosmetics, too.
”Makeup is meant to be at room or body temperature to go on the skin smoothly and spread evenly,” Dr. Piliang explains. ”Otherwise, it may not spread as well, which can result in an uneven skin tone.”
Other products to keep out of the cold include:
- Clay masks or other products containing clay.
- Facial oils.
- Moisturizer.
Tips for safely storing your skincare products
Think about skincare products like Goldilocks thought about her porridge: Not too hot and not too cold, but just right. Dr. Piliang shares some suggestions for keeping your skincare products in tip-top shape.
- Room temperature is best. Most products are made to be stored at room temperature. ”It’s best to store your skincare products in a cabinet in a temperature-controlled room,” she says, ”You want them to be at about 60℉ to 80℉ in order to stay nice.”
- Keep them away from UV rays. ”You don’t want to put your products on a window sill,” Dr. Piliang cautions. ”Ultraviolet light can make products break down.”
- Avoid high temps. Ever left something in your car and come back to find it in a gloopy, gloppy mess? ”You don’t want to store your skincare products anywhere that’s very hot.”
The one outlier is sunscreen, which you can (and should) carry with you, even on super-hot days.
The above is something about why you need a skincare fridge. If you would like to find out more about such a mini fridge, please feel free to leave a message online, chat with our team on WhatsApp +86 170 5109 5790 or send us an email at sales@kelylands.com. We always welcome your inquiries.
