Chill Your Skincare Staples With The Best Skincare Fridges

If you’ve scrolled through your favorite makeup artist’s Instagram lately or watched a handful of TikTok beauty influencer videos, then a skincare fridge might already be on your radar. Typically countertop appliance-sized and stocked with a bevy of colorful bottles, these mini refrigerators certainly look photo-op ready but are they actually useful? As it turns out, the answer is yes: A skincare fridge can be an easy way to store—and even extend the life of—some of your favorite products.

When it comes to skincare, “there are some formulations that have relatively short shelf lives, and for some of them, refrigeration can help prolong the life,” says Dr. Hadley King, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. “Ingredients that fall under the ‘short shelf life’ category include vitamin C, retinol, probiotics, and some combinations of benzoyl peroxide.” In addition, refrigeration can also help extend the lifespan of skincare that doesn’t contain preservatives, says King, which is sometimes true of products labeled as “clean” or “natural.”

Skincare fridges can make your products work even better.

Beyond just extending freshness, refrigeration can also make the potential effects of certain products more pronounced, albeit temporarily. “Any skincare product that claims to be soothing, cooling, and anti-inflammatory may be more soothing and cooling if stored in a refrigerator,” says King. “For example, cooling face masks and anti-itch lotions with menthol may feel more soothing if they are cooled.” The same can be true for tools like jade rollers or products with metal-tip applicators, which you might find on an eye gel, for example, that’s intended to decrease puffiness. “When chilled, they can offer a cooling and soothing sensation and constrict blood vessels, which can decrease puffiness and redness,” King adds.

If you use these types of products frequently or just treat self-care like a sport, King says you might benefit from the convenience a skincare fridge offers (though do know you can also dedicate a spare drawer or shelf in your kitchen fridge to beauty items, too, if you have the space). As you look for a model, try to find something more micro than mini-sized to sit on your vanity, dresser, or counter in your bedroom or bathroom without taking up too much space.

Skincare fridges should be between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Most importantly, make sure your fridge can be set to a temperature between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. “This temperature range maintains ideal consistency of products while reducing risk of growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast and decreasing risk of accelerated deactivation of active ingredients and preservatives,” says King. That said, anything colder could alter the consistency and texture of your products permanently, making them thicker and difficult to apply. Generally speaking, clay- and oil-based products and creams shouldn’t be refrigerated at all for this reason.

Ready to find the best beauty fridge for your skincare stash? Start reaping the benefits of chilling your products with these 10 standout models.