The Benefits of a Cosmetics Fridge: To Chill or Not To Chill

Refrigerating Skincare Cosmetics

When You Should, When You Should Not To refrigerate or not to refrigerate - that is the question.

Depending on who you ask, you are bound to get differing answers. While there is no definitive “yes you should” or “no you should not,” there is some consensus amongst cosmetology professionals as to when you should and should not refrigerate cosmetics, which are outlined below.

Natural Oils for Skin Care

Oils should not be refrigerated as the cold air can cause the water and oil within the makeup to separate, which then nullifies its function, making them useless, and wasting your money. That said, make sure you store oils at room temperature (we recommend 65° to 75°F) because if they get too hot, the oil can turn rancid.

Perfumes, Colognes, and Body Sprays

Quite a few fragrances can be affected by a variety of factors, including heat, light, and exposure to air. When it comes to storing perfumes, it's best to leave them in their original packaging to ensure freshness and protection. However, with certain parfums, refrigeration is essential to maintaining its quality and prolonging its shelf life. Uncover more on how to store your perfumes and extend their aromas here.

Eye Creams and Serums

Refrigerating eye creams and serums can be a good thing for a couple of reasons. First, the cooling of the cream can help to increase the shelf life of the cream itself, which saves you money, while also enhancing the product’s effect, too. Second, applying the cool cream has a cooling effect and restricts blood vessels, reducing eye puffiness and dark circles. For optimal results, we recommend storing these products at 50°- 60°F.

Chilled Face Masks and Facial Creams

This is a bit tricky because depending on what the masks and creams are comprised of will depend on the answer. For masks and creams that are made from food or preservatives (e.g. avocados), you will definitely want to refrigerate them just as you would any food item once it has been opened or used. We recommend they are refrigerated at 45°- 60°F. For those masks and creams that do not contain food or preservatives, there is no specific reason to refrigerate them. However, just with other cosmetic creams, it can be beneficial to refrigerate them for increased effect or longevity of the product.

Eyeliner and Lipliner Pencils

The short answer is no. There is no reason to refrigerate your eyeliner or other pencils; rather, keep them at room temperature to prevent them from melting. That said, refrigerating for a bit of time prior to use can lead to a better application texture and result.

Lipsticks and Lip balms

Generally, you do not place your lipstick in the refrigerator as there is no need. However, heat can break down your lipstick and can alter its color. So, while you do not want to refrigerate the lipstick you are using daily, you can refrigerate shades that you do not wear often or if you have several tubes of the same shade that you will eventually get to wear. For general lipstick storage, we recommend a 65°- 75° temperature range with low humidity.

Liquid Makeup

Liquid makeup, such as mascara, eyeliner, and foundation, have expiration dates, and it often expires relatively quickly after opening it, meaning you are replacing these products more often. Because of this, it is an excellent idea to refrigerate liquid makeup as it may extend the shelf life of liquid makeup products. When storing, you will want a temperature range between 50°- 60°F to ensure that the product is not so cold that it causes the ingredients to separate and/or harden. Pay careful attention, however, to the expiration date, as well as the makeup color and texture, to ensure that you are replacing as needed.

Organic Skincare Cosmetics

Anything made with organic material should be refrigerated. This would include DIY face masks made from fresh ingredients. Another great indicator for refrigerating is if you purchased the product and it came refrigerated or chilled. Keep track of the expiration date and discard appropriately. As stated above, refrigeration for organic cosmetics can produce increased potency of the product. Recommend refrigerate between 50° to 60°F.

Refrigerating most cosmetics is not required unless it contains food or organic materials. However, face creams, night treatment serums encased in amber glass, masks, and sheet masks all benefit from refrigeration storage. Doing so can prolong their shelf life, as well as enhance the application experience due to the cool, therapeutic effect. As always, be sure to review expiration dates before storing your cosmetics, and be sure to keep them out of the sun as that can lessen their effectiveness and/or ruin them altogether.