4 Beauty Products You Should Actually Be Storing in the Fridge
For the most part it makes sense to store your cosmetics close at hand — in the bathroom. But some beauty products benefit from being stored in colder temperatures which makes them work better and last longer. Here are a few that you should consider transitioning from your bathroom cabinet to the fridge. Bonus: regain a bit of space in your cramped bathroom!
Facial Mists, Toners, and Eye Creams
Ever run an ice cube across your face? You may have noticed the chilliness temporarily tightens your pores. Similarly, applying ice to a swollen ankle reduces swelling. When you apply facial mists, toners, or eye creams that have been kept in cooler temperatures, they can provide the same shrinking and de-puffing benefits. And, the moment of cold can be enjoyable, especially during hot summer months, early in the morning, or whenever you need a little pick-me-up.
Products With Active Ingredients
Products with active ingredients like retinol, benzoyl peroxide, or vitamin C, should not be stored in warm or light-filled spaces like a steamy shower or sunlit windowsill. Products with active ingredients have expiration dates, at which point the active ingredient becomes inactive. Heat, and light can speed up the expiration by weakening the active ingredient over time.
Keeping your retinol moisturizer or benzoyl peroxide acne spot treatment in a dark and cool environment like the fridge will slow down the degradation of the active ingredient. For example, studies show that the vitamin C in strawberries, a rich source of vitamin C, had a lower degradation rate when stored at lower temperatures.
Nail Polish
Keeping nail polish in the fridge can also extend your polish’s shelf life, prevent clumping, and shield it from sunlight that may cause discoloration. But here’s the catch: In colder temps, the polish’s viscosity increases, i.e. gets thicker. So when you want to give yourself a mani or pedi, remove the polish from the fridge and give it a few minutes to adjust to room temperature and thin out. You may even need to give it a few shakes.
Melted Lipstick
We’ve all been there. There’s nothing worse (or messier) than your favorite lipstick or balm melting in your purse, pocket, or car.
Place it in the refrigerator for a few hours to solidify it. When you take it out, give it a few minutes to warm up before using clean fingers or a small cosmetics spatula to smooth it back to a usable shape.
Storing your beauty products properly boosts their effectiveness and duration. Meaning, you get more bang for your beauty buck. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is confusing your vitamin C serum and the mustard.