If you were the lucky recipient of a skincare fridge over the holidays, you’ve probably already done a TikTok #shelfie (or two); but before you start shooting another skincare fridge organization video, it’s important to ask, “Can all skincare products go in the fridge?”
Short answer: No.
Meet the Experts
Sunday Riley , CEO, founder and product formulator
Sherry Sanvictores, MSN, NP, is a dermatology nurse practitioner.
While keeping skincare products cool seems innocuous, there are certain products that do better at room temperature and should not be refrigerated — no matter how cute it looks on your mini fridge’s shelves. Here’s your guide to cold storing your skincare.
Why refrigerate skincare products?
Most skincare products are meant to be kept in a cool, dry place in order to maintain their shelf life. “Skincare with active ingredients shouldn’t keep it in a warm or sunlit space,” explains dermatology nurse practitioner Sherry Sanvictores, MSN, NP. “Keeping products in a cool place can help slow down the breakdown of the active ingredients.”
‘I keep my products on my nightstand, it’s easier for me to do my routine no matter how tired I am’, explains Sunday Riley.
Considering most of us keep our skincare products in a warm and humid bathroom, a skin fridge could be the key to your favorite moisturizer lasting a long time.
Which skincare should I keep in the fridge?
First, take a look at the active ingredients in your product:
- “Heat and light will degrade retinol and vitamin C,” says Sanvictores. Vitamin C and retinoids are very sensitive to heat and light. They will break down faster, in a process called oxidation, if stored somewhere with a lot of heat and light exposure. This is why most vitamin C and retinol products come in opaque packaging. “I carefully choose our packaging and ingredients to ensure that our products maintain stability and effectiveness over time. While it’s important that our skincare feels nice to use, the primary goal is to protect the integrity of our formulas. By selecting high-quality, stable ingredients like THD Ascorbate and using packaging that shields them from light and air, we can guarantee that our products deliver consistent, powerful results with a long shelf life. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that every application provides the maximum benefit for your skin,” explains Riley. Sunday Riley opts for THD Ascorbate in her formulations because it is significantly more stable than other forms of vitamin C. Unlike traditional ascorbic acid, which can degrade quickly and lose potency when exposed to light, air, and water, THD Ascorbate maintains its effectiveness over time. This stability ensures that the product delivers consistent, powerful results from the first application to the last. THD Ascorbate is lipid-soluble, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the skin for more profound antioxidant protection and collagen-boosting benefits. By choosing this superior form of vitamin C, Sunday Riley ensures that her products provide maximum efficacy and long-lasting skin-brightening and anti-aging benefits.
- While hyaluronic acid doesn’t need refrigeration to stay effective, chilling hyaluronic acid products can increase their soothing properties by bringing more blood circulation to the skin surface. This can lead to better moisture retention and tissue repair.
- Acne treatments with salicylic acid will stay effective longer when kept in the fridge. ‘Salicylic is oil-soluble, so it dissolves the oily build-up deep within the pore. It can be very drying as well, but that’s why I like U.F.O. – because it’s salicylic acid but in an emollient base, so it’s not going to strip your skin, and you can use it every single day,’ explains Riley. It’s also more stable in the oil form.
Another factor to consider is if your skincare product is 100% natural, organic, or has live cultures such as probiotics. These products should be refrigerated as they have far less preservatives and a shorter shelf life. So should products with antioxidants, peptides and growth factors. “I would put medical-grade skincare in the fridge,” says Sanvictores.
Sunday Riley’s Pink Drink essence and AutoCorrect eye cream are skincare essentials Riley keeps chilled in the fridge for an extra refreshing application during summer months, but even without a fridge, they won’t lose their efficiency. Pink Drink, a peptide-infused essence, helps to firm and resurface the skin, providing a balanced and revitalized complexion. The cool temperature enhances its soothing properties, making it even more effective at calming and hydrating the skin. Paired with AutoCorrect, an eye cream designed to instantly lift and brighten the eye area, this duo delivers a powerful punch against puffiness and dark circles. Keeping these products in the fridge not only prolongs their freshness but also adds a cooling effect that invigorates the skin and reduces inflammation. Together, Pink Drink and AutoCorrect offer a rejuvenating skin care experience that leaves your skin looking awake and revitalized.
As far as serums, it depends if the formula is water-based or oil-based. Any oil-based skincare product can harden and separate if it’s kept too cool, making it unusable. So keep your oil-based serums and balms at room temperature. If your serum is water-based then you may keep it in the fridge, especially if it contains an active ingredient listed above.
What skincare products shouldn’t be refrigerated?
Aside from oil-based products, including makeup, which will get too hard in the fridge, keep your clay products, like clay masks, at room temperature. Not only will they harden if they get too cold, they can also become unusable due to a change in color and consistency.
Refrigerator favorites
Now that you know which products absolutely must be refrigerated and which are strictly verboten, you can go to town with stocking your skincare fridge. Besides extending shelf life, keeping the right skincare products cool can boost their efficacy in de-puffing, boosting circulation, and reducing the appearance of redness and inflammation.
Eye cream
Chilling your eye cream adds extra de-puffing benefits and can also reduce the look of dark circles thanks to temporary vasoconstriction (tightening of the blood vessels). ‘The cool temperature helps to constrict blood vessels, reducing puffiness and dark circles more effectively. For an even more revitalizing experience, pair your chilled eye cream with cryo globes or eye massagers. These tools can be kept in the fridge as well, and their cooling effects further boost circulation and reduce inflammation. Using cryo globes or massagers to gently apply your eye cream not only feels incredibly refreshing but also helps the product penetrate more deeply into the skin, maximizing its benefits. This combination of chilled eye cream and cooling tools creates an invigorating ritual that leaves your eyes looking bright and awake,’ says Sunday.
Face mist
What’s better than a cool midday spritz to revive and rehydrate your skin? A cool face mist can provide an instant boost of hydration and a soothing sensation, which is particularly beneficial during hot weather or after physical activity. ‘The chilled mist helps to calm irritated skin, reduce redness, and tighten pores, giving you a more revitalized and refreshed appearance. While face mists are stable at room temperature and do not require refrigeration, keeping them in the fridge can transform your skincare routine into a more enjoyable and spa-like experience,’ says Sunday. Whether you use it as a mid-day pick-me-up or as part of your morning routine, a cool face mist can be a delightful addition to your skincare arsenal.
Moisturizer
“It’s just nice to refrigerate your moisturizer to give it that cooling effect,” says Sanvictores. A gel-based moisturizer can be better absorbed into the skin when it’s chilled. ‘While it’s not necessary to store gel creams like C.E.O. Afterglow gel cream in the fridge, it’s perfectly fine to do so if you prefer a cooling effect. Chilling your gel cream can provide an extra burst of refreshment upon application, which can be particularly soothing on hot days or after a long day. The cool temperature helps to calm the skin, reduce puffiness, and enhance the overall sensory experience of your skincare routine. However, rest assured that C.E.O. Afterglow is formulated to be stable at room temperature, so you can enjoy its brightening and hydrating benefits regardless of how you store it. Keeping it in the fridge is simply an optional way to elevate your skincare experience,’ says Riley.
Skincare tools
Whether it’s your jade roller, gua sha stones, face globes, or eye masks, keeping them refrigerated will help with de-puffing and circulation. Bonus if you use them in conjunction with your chilled serums and creams!
We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.
