Makeup.com posted the article "Why Skin-Care Fridges Are Suddenly Everywhere and Where to Buy One" featuring Dr. Purvisha Patel.
The article includes Dr. Patel's reasoning on why keeping skincare products cool is beneficial, including keeping active ingredients working for longer periods of time after opening and helping to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.
If your vitamin C serums are fighting with your Nutella for shelf space in your refrigerator, it might be time to invest in a skin-care fridge. These ultra-mini fridges have become a staple among skin-care enthusiasts everywhere and are beloved for their ability to keep products with active ingredients cold while also being particularly Instagrammable.
On the fence about adding one to your vanity? Dermatologist and Visha Skincare founder Purvisha Patel, MD, might sway you toward making the splurge. “A designated skin-care fridge, for those who have the space, time and money is a great way to keep your products with actives, active for a longer period of time after opening,” says Patel. “Cooling the skin-care products helps inhibit bacterial and fungal growth once the product has been contaminated with fingers etc. Once products get exposed to air, they also get oxidized. Refrigeration slows down the oxidation process and keeps the products from becoming inactive.” Keeping your products cool can also be helpful for those with sensitive skin because colder products can feel more soothing.
With that said, you don’t need to transfer all of your skin care into a fridge. Certain products are best kept chilled (think water-based serums and lotions), while products with high fat or oil content like body butters can be difficult to use after being refrigerated because they aren’t as easy to spread. Dr. Patel also cautions against storing products that are emulsions of oil and water (think La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Moisturizer for Very Sensitive Skin which has both water and shea butter) in the fridge because the oil and water will cool at different temperatures, meaning the actives will not be evenly dispersed when you apply it to your skin which can affect overall efficacy.