It’s exceedingly aesthetic—I know. I remember watching 10-second snippets of enthusiasts arranging their micro-refrigerators with eye-creams, masks, and lip-patches, and wanting one for myself. But is it a must-have? Does it do more than treating the eyes to aesthetically-pleasing visuals, and satisfying the Monica within us all? Let’s find out.
What’s The Deal With These Micro-Sized Refrigerators?
Do You Need To Refrigerate Your Products?
It depends. Most products are formulated to remain stable at room temperature (if they don’t come with a tag that instructs you to refrigerate them, you don’t have to); but there are certain ingredients that can benefit from refrigeration—these include natural or organic products, or those formulated with fewer preservatives than usual. The idea is that storing them in a fridge can extend their shelf-lives, and prevent them from perishing quickly—because cooler temperatures enhance their efficacy, and prevent yeast, mold, and bacteria from sabotaging them. Even formulas containing retinol, vitamin C, and benzoyl peroxide require refrigeration as they’re not very stable when exposed to light or heat. Let’s not forget that chilling your formulas can soothe the skin, and treat inflammation, burning and irritation effectively. Think about it—a cool eye-gel will treat A.M puffiness better than a normal one. That’s because a cooler temperature, in conjunction with a soothing and hydrating product, can aid in constricting your blood-vessels, and eventually, reduce inflammation. And just the idea of a owning a micro-fridge displaying a neatly-stacked line-up of products is satisfying. Nothing captures the essence of self-care better than that.
What Products Can You Refrigerate?
Anything from sheet-masks to eye-gels can be stored in a fridge. Even devices like face-rollers, ice-globes, and Gua Sha, food-based and gel-based products, items containing just oils and butters, and a couple of serums (containing ingredients like vitamin C and retinol) qualify. Just the act of cooling them can de-puff, improve circulation, reduce swelling, and rejuvenate the skin.
What Should You Not Refrigerate?
There are a couple of products that you mustn’t stuff into a skincare fridge, and these include cleansers, exfoliators, and pore-strips. Don’t store your makeup, nail-polishes, and fragrances in a refrigerator. They’re stable at room temperature.
Can You Use A Normal Refrigerator?
If you choose not to buy a skincare fridge, and assign a space in your normal refrigerator for your products, ensure that they’re not in contact with one another as this can lead to cross-contamination. Keep in mind that storing your products in a standard refrigerator can affect the consistency of some of your formulas by making them thicker.
The Verdict
Remember that these mini-sized, aesthetic-looking fridges come with a price—they’re pretty costly. And because this is more of a preference than a compulsion, you don’t have to buy one. If your products don’t have to be refrigerated, it depends on you, and what you like.
Featured Image: Instagram
