How to store cosmetics?

Cold is key, and cosmetic fridges have become the latest obsession. A whim or a necessity? How to store cosmetics in the best way possible? Do all cosmetics need to be stored in the same way?

Until recently, many women placed their eye contour cream in the fridge door, their freshest perfumes next to the yogurts, their flash-effect ampoules in the vegetable drawer, and their facial mists next to the bottled water. They were well aware that their favorite products not only kept better but also multiplied their effects on their skin, and they knew they had to keep their cosmetics cold.

These are the same people who have fallen for cosmetic fridges, delighted to give their favorite beauty products the exclusivity and treatment they deserve.

COSMETIC FRIDGE, THE ACCESSORY OF THE MOMENT

Few 'appliances' have sparked such desire among women, and the intensity of this could be comparable to having a dressing room with a pull-out shelf for shoes.

Also known as mini beauty fridges, they are so photogenic that since their arrival, they have been flooding Instagram under the hashtag #beautyfridge, and there isn't a self-respecting influencer who doesn't keep their best-kept beauty secrets inside one.

They are eye-catching, and there isn't a beauty lover who doesn't dream of having one. It’s no wonder, because they are as practical and useful as they are cute.

They come in different sizes—from 20 to 40 centimeters high—with all kinds of designs, from retro—in the image and likeness of the famous Smeg—to the most avant-garde or customizable via stickers. What they all have in common is the ability to cool cosmetics to temperatures up to 15 degrees below room temperature and a usable door to place massage rollers or sheet masks.

Cosmetic fridges are powered through a power outlet or a car charger, making them extremely useful for traveling.

COSMETIC FRIDGE: ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY?

User experience and expert opinions say yes. In addition to decorating the vanity or bathroom, they preserve cosmetic formulas, increase the sensorial experience of many products, multiply the effects of others, and extend the shelf life of some makeup.

At this point, no one doubts the aesthetic benefits of cold. Who hasn't held an ice cube wrapped in a cloth against their eyes to make puffiness disappear, or dabbed it on after applying makeup to set it before setting sprays existed?

Cosmetologists, dermatologists, and aestheticians agree on that. Cold helps to close pores and refine skin texture, drain and lighten the legs, activate blood circulation, reduce inflammation, decongest tissues, and tighten the skin.

STORE IN A DRY PLACE, AT A STABLE TEMPERATURE, AWAY FROM LIGHT

It is a recommendation present in almost all beauty cream leaflets, and something that always worries people who follow it to the letter and don't know where to put their cosmetics so that temperature changes, heating, and air conditioning don't affect them.

It is true that some formulas are more sensitive to degradation than others and some cosmetics are more or less 'delicate.' Besides taking good note of the PAO—the expiration date of cosmetics once opened—it is advisable to protect them from oxidation, light, and temperature changes. And what better way than inside a tailor-made cosmetic fridge?

COSMETICS THAT SHOULD BE KEPT COLD

First of all, for preservation reasons, organic products—which lack the maximum amount of preservatives—and are more sensitive should be kept cold, as well as DIY products—made by you.

It is also beneficial in terms of preservation to keep formulas containing vitamin A and C or collagen unaltered. Even though they are super safe and photo-stable, it doesn't hurt to keep them at a constant temperature.

The case of retinol is one of the clearest. It should always be kept at temperatures between 13 and 19 degrees to avoid losing its effect.

STORING COSMETICS COLD

In terms of enhancing sensory effects or efficacy, these are the cosmetics that deserve a spot in your beauty fridge:

• Eye contours. It is no coincidence that many of them come in roll-on format with metal massagers. It is more than proven that cold exerts a draining and anti-inflammatory effect that helps eliminate puffiness and dark circles.





• Flash-effect ampoules. If they are already miraculous on their own, at low temperatures they have the power to tighten the skin even more, close pores, and achieve a true photoshop effect.





• Masks. And if they are for the eye contour or sheet masks, even more so. They have a deeper effect when cooled, and in summer, it is best to keep them in the fridge.





• Thermal waters. Undisputed. The freshness they provide when sprayed on the skin is multiplied.





• Patch-format cosmetics. Whether for the eyes or other areas, their active ingredients penetrate better if they have been previously cooled.





• After-Sun. As long as it does not contain oils, in addition to repairing, it will lower your skin temperature immediately.





• Draining body products. Those menthol creams or similar ingredients, meant to relieve your legs after a night of dancing or a day spent standing, multiply their efficacy if you take them out of the cosmetic fridge and activate circulation in record time.





• Facial mists. Also known as 'mists,' they are the perfect residents for mini cosmetic fridges.





• Cosmetics for sensitive skin. Redness, the feeling of tightness, and burning disappear faster if calming active ingredients are applied cold.





• Massage tools. Jade rollers deserve a permanent spot in beauty fridges, as cold increases their anti-inflammatory and draining effect. Plus, the sensations are multiplied.





• Nail polishes. Unless used very often, they dry out and become unusable. If you are one of those who collect colors, it is better to keep them cold, although you should take them out of the fridge a few hours before using them.





• Lipsticks. Has your favorite lipstick ever bent in half? It's not uncommon when the heat arrives, so now you know. And the same goes for eyeliner pencils.

AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Careful, not all members of your beauty routine should be kept in a cosmetic fridge. You have to be especially careful with oil-based creams, as they would solidify and lose their properties.

In general, you should avoid keeping all those oil-based creams in your mini fridge because they tend to solidify or become harder.

The same applies to wax-based formulas, balms, facial or hair oils, foundations or primers containing silicones, and powder blushes, bronzers, and eyeshadows.

Regarding perfumes, there is controversy, but experts recommend keeping them away from heat sources and direct light because the cold could disrupt the balance of their notes.

Are you encouraged to invest in this appliance? If you're hesitant, try storing some of your favorite cosmetics in the fridge for a night and check your feelings when applying them the next day.