Skincare Fridge: Skincare Products You Should Put in the Refrigerator
Do you really need a skincare fridge? Or at the very least, do you need to store your skincare products in the refrigerator? We get these questions all the time, so we decided to ask a few experts for their opinions. The answer? All of our experts agreed you don’t need a skincare fridge, it’s truly a luxury item. “Most skincare products are formulated and packaged to withstand room temperature,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sheila Farhang.
However, that doesn’t mean that your skincare products can’t benefit from a skincare fridge. In fact, many of our experts even recommended it. Here are a few product types you may want to consider storing in cooler temperatures.
Antioxidants
Antioxidant serums and creams like ones containing vitamin C or vitamin A and it’s derivatives can benefit benefit from a skincare fridge. “They preserve shelf life and make them more stable,” says board-certified dermatologist and beauty chemist Dr. Alexis Stephens. That’s because “topical vitamin C and retinoids can be unstable with heat and light exposure and could be stored in the fridge to ensure their shelf-life,” says board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Claire Chang.
Toners, Mists, Sheet Masks, & Tools
Products that are meant to give you that refreshing feeling or even assist in reducing puffiness are great to store in cooler temperatures. We’re talking about toners, mists, sheet masks, and even beauty tools like jade rollers and gua sha tools. Cosmetic formulation chemist Esther Olu recommends chilling facial rollers because “it's an excellent way to help with depuffing the skin and can even help with inflammatory acne.”
That said, avoid putting facial tools in the freezer. “Extreme temperatures can actually damage the skin—think microscopic frost bite and to an extent micro-cryolipolysis (ahem, Coolscupting),” says Dr. Farhang
Eye Products
Similar to the last category, chilling your eye creams and serums can help with de-puffing the eye area. Additionally, “the cool temperature constricts the underlying blood vessels and helps reduce under eye puffiness,” says Dr. Chang.
Products for Itchy Skin, Eczema, & Rosacea
Turns out, a nice, cool cream can actually help with itchy skin. In fact, “using chilled moisturizers and body creams is a simple way to relieve itch without using steroids,” says Dr. Chang. On top of that, “rosacea is exacerbated with heat, so application of products with a cooler temperature can actually constrict the vessels helping to decrease the flushing and redness,” says Dr. Farhang.
Certain Skincare Prescriptions
There are certain skincare prescriptions that actually need to be stored in a refrigerator. The good news is that’s usually noted on the product packaging, so you’ll likely not have to do any guesswork. “Some prescription topicals, like Triluma (a lightening cream), should be kept refrigerated, but your regular refrigerator will do just fine,” says Dr. Chang.
Benzoyl Peroxide Treatments
Benzoyl peroxide, a popular acne treatment ingredient, is also an ingredient that experts say to store in a refrigerator. “Benzoyl peroxide is often placed in the refrigerator to prolong its activity since it denatures at room temperature. This is only a problem if one lives in a very hot environment,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tina Alster.
DIY Skincare & Preservative-Free Products
While we’re not the biggest fans of DIY skincare, if you do dabble with homemade products or even preservative-free products, then it’s best to store them in a refrigerator.
Watch this video to learn more about skincare fridges from skincare experts.
