Skincare Storage: Should You Refrigerate Your Products?

The way you store your skincare products can affect both their efficacy and longevity. Exposure to heat or high temperatures can speed up their deterioration, causing the ingredients to separate or break down, rendering them useless. This is the main reason manufacturers recommend their products be stored in a cool, dry place.

Does this mean that cosmetics and skincare formulas should be stored in the fridge? Do all products require refrigeration? What does cold temperature do to the shelf life and efficacy of your products? Continue reading to find out and learn more about cold storage for beauty products 

What are the benefits of storing products in the fridge?

Apart from providing a cooling sensation to your skin, storing products in the fridge also:

• Offers a consistent temperature that can help the active ingredients remain effective (slow their breakdown)
• Allows products to work better at de-puffing or soothing the skin
• Can help keep the bacteria at bay, reducing the risk of your skincare getting contaminated
• Increases the product’s shelf life and helps you get the most out of them

Which products should be kept in the fridge?

If you’re thinking of keeping your products cool, you can consider using a skincare mini fridge to keep all your essentials accessible and in one place. You can, of course, choose to store them in your main or regular fridge. Below are some of the skincare products that can benefit from cold storage. 

Eye creams

These are among the best products to be kept in a consistent, cold temperature. A chilled eye cream or serum offers an additional de-puffing effect that can improve the look of eye bags and dark circles due to short-term vasoconstriction (tightening or blood vessels). The cooling effect, furthermore, provides that nice sensation that is beneficial in refreshing tired eyes. 

Serums

As these products contain active ingredients, keeping them refrigerated will keep them stable for a long period. Vitamin C, for instance, is known to be very sensitive to light and break down (in a process called oxidation) when stored in a warm or bright place. This is why they’re packed in opaque and airtight containers. 

Acne treatments

Skincare products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide will remain effective longer when stored in cold temperatures. The same is also true for prescription or antibiotic acne treatments. You might also read in the container not to store the product above a certain temperature. 

Sheet masks and eye patches

Storing these products in the fridge can enhance the refreshing effects of your sheet masks and eye patches. This is especially true for those that claim to be cooling, calming, and anti-inflammatory. Chilled soothing, gel-based masks can help calm irritated skin, as well as offer a burst of cooling hydration. 

Sunscreens

Keeping your SPF products in the fridge can maximize their efficacy and shelf life. Storing them in a warm place or at room temperature can quickly break down many of the active ingredients in the products and therefore cannot block UV rays as efficiently. Exposure to heat and light may also cause the products to degrade more rapidly.  

For further reading: 9 Ways to Up Your Sunscreen and Sun Protection Game

Moisturizers

This can depend on the product’s consistency. If your face moisturizer has a thicker consistency, it is ideal to store them in a cool, dry place and as storing it in the fridge can alter its texture. If it is a gel-based moisturizer, it is safe to keep it in the fridge for that extra cooling sensation. 

For further reading: 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Moisturizer

Skincare tools

It is also a good idea to store your jade roller, gua sha stones, face globes, and other skin care tools in the fridge. Apart from the cooling sensation, chilled tools can also help with de-puffing, boosting circulation, and energizing the skin. Make sure to keep these tools clean, so bacteria don’t get on them and transfer to your facial skin. 

 Which products don’t need refrigeration?

Oil-based products (such as facial oils or oil-based foundations) and clay masks shouldn’t be refrigerated. Doing so can cause them to harden or become unstable. Their color and consistency can also change and therefore make them unusable. It’s fine to store them at room temperature, away from direct heat or sunlight. 

Do take note that the bathroom is not exactly an ideal place to store your beauty and skincare products. The humidity and constant temperature changes in this room can increase the likelihood of bacteria and mold growing. They may also heat your skincare and damage the product’s formulation.

Looking for medical-grade products?

Cutis’s own skincare line, Dr. Sylvia Skin Care, offers a number of medical-grade formulations that deliver multi-layer fortification to the skin. From cleansers to moisturizers and anti-aging serums to broad-spectrum sunscreens, we got you covered. We even have neck serums, sheet masks, and repair creams to give your skin the TLC it deserves. 

Make Cutis and Dr. Sylvia Skin Care your partner in achieving your beauty and skincare goals. Browse through our blog today for more product and treatment recommendations or contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore to schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.