How to store cosmetics?

Cold is key, and cosmetic refrigerators have become the latest obsession. A luxury or a necessity? How can you best preserve your cosmetics ? Do all cosmetics need to be stored the same way?

Until recently, many women kept their eye cream in the refrigerator door, their freshest perfumes next to the yogurt, their flash-effect ampoules in the vegetable drawer, and their facial mists next to the mineral water. They were well aware that their favorite products not only kept better, but also enhanced their effects on their skin, and they knew they had to store their cosmetics in the refrigerator.

They are the same ones who have fallen for cosmetic refrigerators, delighted to give their favorite beauty products the exclusivity and treatment they deserve.

COSMETIC REFRIGERATOR, THE ACCESSORY OF THE MOMENT

Few household appliances have aroused such desire among women, and the intensity of this desire could be comparable to having a dressing room with a pull-out shoe shelf.

Also known as mini beauty fridges, they are so photogenic that since their arrival they have invaded Instagram under the hashtag #beautyfridge and there is no self-respecting influencer who does not keep their best-kept beauty secrets inside.

They're visually stunning, and every beauty lover dreams of owning one. It's no wonder, because they're as practical and useful as they are cute.

They come in different sizes—from 20 to 40 centimeters tall—and with all kinds of designs, from retro—reminiscent of the famous Smeg—to the most cutting-edge or customizable with 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 for storing massage rollers or sheet masks.

Cosmetic refrigerators are powered via a wall outlet or car charger, making them extremely useful for travel.

Are cosmetic refrigerators really necessary?

User experiences and expert opinions say yes. Besides decorating the vanity or bathroom, they preserve cosmetic formulas, enhance the sensory experience of many products, amplify the effects of others, and extend the shelf life of some makeup.

By now, no one doubts the aesthetic benefits of cold. Who hasn't held an ice cube wrapped in a handkerchief against their eyes to reduce puffiness, or dabbed it on after applying makeup to set it back when setting sprays didn't exist?

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

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

It's a recommendation found in almost all beauty cream leaflets, and something that always worries people who take it very seriously and don't know where to put their cosmetics so that changes in temperature, heating and air conditioning don't affect them.

It's true that some formulas are more susceptible to degradation than others, and some cosmetics are more or less 'delicate.' Besides carefully noting the PAO (the expiration date of cosmetics once opened), it's advisable to protect them from oxidation, light, and temperature changes. And what better place to do that than a custom-designed cosmetic refrigerator?

COSMETICS THAT SHOULD BE STORED IN A COLD

Firstly, and for preservation reasons, organic products – which do without the maximum amount of preservatives – and are more sensitive, as well as DIY products – made by you – should be kept cold.

For preservation purposes, it's also important to keep formulas containing vitamins A and C or collagen unaltered. Even though they are very safe and photostable, it's still a good idea to keep them at a constant temperature.

The case of retinol is one of the clearest. It should always be stored between 13 and 19 degrees Celsius to maintain its effectiveness.

STORE COSMETICS IN A COLD PLACE

When it comes to enhancing sensory effects or effectiveness, these are the cosmetics that deserve a place in your beauty fridge:

• Eye creams. It's no coincidence that many of them come in roll-on format with metal massagers. It's well-established that cold has a draining and anti-inflammatory effect that helps eliminate bags and dark circles under the eyes.





• Flash effect ampoules. If they're already miraculous, at low temperatures they have the ability to tighten the skin even more, close pores, and achieve a true Photoshop effect.





• Face masks. And if they're for the eye area or in a sheet format, even better. They have a deeper effect when they're cooled, and in summer it's best to keep them in the fridge.





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





• Cosmetics in patch form. Whether for eyes or other areas, their active ingredients penetrate better if they have been previously cooled.





• After-sun. As long as it doesn't contain oils, in addition to repairing, it will immediately lower your skin's temperature.





• Body creams with a draining effect. These creams with menthol or similar ingredients, designed to soothe your legs after a night of dancing or a long day on your feet, become even more effective when you take them out of the refrigerator and activate circulation in record time.





• Facial mists. Also known as 'mist', they are the perfect addition to mini cosmetic fridges.





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





• Massage tools. Jade rollers deserve a permanent spot in your beauty fridge, as the cold enhances their anti-inflammatory and draining effects. Plus, the sensations are amplified.





• Nail polishes. Unless used very often, they dry out and become unusable. If you're someone who collects colors, it's best to keep them refrigerated, although you should take them out of the refrigerator a few hours before using them.





• Lipsticks. Has your favorite lipstick ever bent in half? It's not uncommon when the weather gets warmer, so you know. And the same goes for eyeliners.

AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Be careful, not all the products in your beauty routine should be stored in a cosmetic refrigerator. Special care should be taken with oil-based creams, as they will solidify and lose their properties.

In general, you should avoid storing all those creams with an oil base in your mini fridge because they tend to solidify or become harder.

The same applies to formulas based on waxes, balms, facial or hair oils, makeup bases or primers containing silicones, and blushes, bronzing powders, and powder eyeshadows.

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

Are you tempted to invest in this appliance? If you're unsure, try storing some of your favorite cosmetics in the refrigerator overnight and see how they feel when you apply them the next day.