The Secret to Refrigerating Eye Gels and Face Masks for Maximum Benefits

If you’ve never refrigerated your skincare before, prepare to be amazed! There are so many benefits to putting your favorite face masks, eye gels, or even facial moisturizers in the fridge. 

Whether you decide to store your skincare on a shelf in your kitchen fridge or use a skincare fridge, keeping certain skincare products cool can enhance their benefits and prolong their shelf life. 

Let’s discuss the many benefits of refrigerating skincare, what kind of skincare you should refrigerate, and what products need to be kept at room temperature!

The benefits of storing skincare in the fridge

Nothing compares to that instantly relaxing sensation you feel when a chilled face mask or under-eye gels lay gently on your skin. It’s the ultimate way to start your day or unwind after a long one.

When you store skincare in the fridge, there are multiple benefits you should know about that could motivate you to join the chilled skincare revolution. 

Benefits of chilled skincare:

• Cools upon skin contact: Cooling skincare can feel so refreshing and make your skin feel so clean! It’s also such a nice treat in the warmer months. 
• Soothes inflammation: When the skin swells from sun exposure, acne breakouts, or overnight puffiness, applying a chilled skincare product such as a chilled face mask can help reduce inflammation. 
• Reduces redness: Chilled skincare is a life hack for acne-prone skin. According to Good Housekeeping, “using cold compresses [and] a cooling mask is helpful to bring redness down”. Calm breakouts by applying a chilled face mask for just 10-15 minutes and watch your skin breathe a sigh of relief.
• Extends shelf life: Storing skincare at a slightly cooler temperature has been said to slow bacteria that may otherwise grow when stored on the shelf.

All benefits aside, most of us store our skincare in a muggy, humid bathroom which can encourage bacteria to grow and spoil skincare at a rapid rate. Storing skincare in the fridge can keep your favorite skincare products lasting as long as possible!

What skincare should you store in the fridge?

There are so many great skincare products you can store in the fridge that will make your skin light up from the cooling sensation! A great example is gel-based products. Most gel-based products will be a great addition to your chilled skincare collection as the gel formula responds well to the cold and gives such a satisfying chill when applied to the skin. 

Here are some other skincare items you can store in the fridge: 

1. Eye gels

When we think of chilled skincare, we think of eye gels. If you’re wondering if eye gels are worth the hype, we wrote a blog post about the benefits of using eye gels in your skin routine (spoiler alert: they’re SO worth it). 

Here are some of our favorite eye gels that deserve honorable mention. 

Serve Chilled™ On Ice Eye Gels

These eye gels are affordable, travel-friendly, and purposely designed to be served chilled. Packed with firming and nourishing ingredients like bakuchiol, cloudberry oil, and 9 different peptides, these eye gels are the perfect antidote to bags and fine lines. In just 5 minutes, you’ll notice smoother, brighter under-eyes with less puffiness thanks to our proprietary HydraSurge5™ technology.

Serve Chilled™ Rosé Eye Gels

These playful yet powerful pink gels are a luxuriously hydrating experience, formulated to protect skin from environmental aggressors with their antioxidant-rich combination of resveratrol (sourced from grapes!) and strawberry extract, plus an ultra-hydrating dose of hyaluronic acid. Keep 'em chilled in the fridge for an added boost of hydration and healthy antioxidants to keep you looking fresh all day long.

2. Face masks 

…duh!! This is another no-brainer – we definitely recommend keeping multiple skincare face masks stocked in your fridge. The moment you apply a face mask that’s cool to the touch, you’ll get the hype. 

Check out the Serve Chilled™ Bubbly Face Mask - a bubbly hydrogel face mask that will leave your skin glowing in just 10 minutes! This ultra-luxe hydrogel mask is packed with powerful ingredients like resveratrol, niacinamide, and orange extract, that will leave your skin looking brighter, more even, and more radiant. You'll be amazed at how quickly this mask starts to work – it will deliver the nourishing serum deep into your skin for optimal absorption. 

We can’t talk about refrigerated skincare masks and not mention the O.G. On Ice Face Mask. Another member of our Serve Chilled™ collection, this 5-star face mask is giving ice queen or king – it’s perfect for reducing skin swelling, fine lines, and dryness and thrives on giving off a cooling sensation.

3. Eye creams

Chilled eye creams can help soothe and de-puff the under-eye area. Both gel- and cream-based eye creams can be stored in the fridge to help reduce puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines around the eyes. 

People Magazine researched for you and put together a list of The 12 Best Eye Creams for Puffiness of 2024, some of the top selections being Fenty Skin Thicc N Smooth Rich Peptide Eye Cream, The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream, Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Treatment, and The Ordinary Depuffing Eye Serum.  

4. Serums

It’s a great idea to keep serums cold – it can protect the integrity of their active ingredients and prevent them from separating. Vitamin C Serums are the go-to skin brightener, but they’re notoriously unstable and can lose potency when exposed to light and heat. Keep your Vitamin C serum in the fridge to prolong its shelf life and efficacy so it can deliver maximum benefits, among them being an even skin tone, reduced fine lines, and environmental protection. According to Sunday Riley, serums with retinol will also benefit from refrigeration. 

5. Acne treatments 

Ingredients frequently found in skincare to treat acne and breakouts would do well in the fridge. If your skincare has hyaluronic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid, pop them in the fridge to keep them effective for longer, increase their soothing benefits, and promote blood circulation for faster healing of blemishes. 

Still not sure which of your skincare products you can store in the fridge? Check the label! If the label recommends storing it in a cool, dark place, it would most likely benefit from being stored in the fridge.  

Skincare products that should NOT be refrigerated 

Certain skincare products just don’t do well in the fridge – the cold temperatures can do more harm than good. 

Skincare you should not put in your fridge: 

• Facial oils or any oil-based products
• Clay masks should be kept room-temp to prevent hardening
• Hand and foot masks with shea butter 
• Thick creams

It’s also important to make sure your skincare isn’t too cold, or you could damage the skin’s barrier. 

Kitchen fridge vs. skincare fridge

Is it time to own a skincare fridge? Skincare fridges are a hot debate without even trying – some people see their value and others need scientific proof they’re just not getting. But at the end of the day, if you enjoy the cooling sensation of applying chilled skincare, that’s the only reason you truly need to refrigerate your skincare. 

Going into your kitchen fridge in the middle of your skincare routine is just not the vibe. It can be a little weird to see your eye cream and eye gels in the fridge sitting next to the ketchup and pickles. 

If you’re considering a skincare fridge, here are the signs you’ll love having a skincare fridge on your vanity.

You…

• Have a skincare collection expanding beyond your skin cabinet 
• Live in a warm or humid climate
• Want to enhance your skincare efficacy
• Have acne-prone skin or redness
• Struggle with facial or under-eye puffiness

If you’re ready to keep your skincare cool, a skincare mini fridge makes a cute addition to any bathroom counter or vanity and will keep all your products cool and within reach. 

If nothing other than new decor, skincare fridges are super cute! There are so many fun colors, shapes, and styles. You can also decorate the front with a mirror, stickers, magnets, etc. Don’t be afraid to get creative with what you put inside your fridge too! 

You can find some great affordable skincare fridges on Amazon. People Magazine also ranked the Best Skincare Fridges of 2024 to do the heavy lifting for you.

Items you need in your skincare fridge

If you need some more ideas on how to keep your skincare fridge stocked, here are some of our favorites we think should be found in every skincare fridge: 

Skincare tools

A jade roller or gua sha are great tools to reduce puffiness and improve the natural contours of the face. By placing it in your skin fridge, it’ll have an added cooling sensation and further enhance the benefits and efficacy of your skin tools! 

Face mists

Face mists are a beloved skincare product because of their cooling, hydrating, and refreshing sensation. Imagine taking that one step further and storing your face mist in the fridge! Not only do face mists last longer when refrigerated, but they will also hydrate and refresh the skin on another level when chilled, especially if you have sensitive or inflamed skin.

Lip gels

Did you know you can store lip gels in the fridge? It can feel so refreshing and increase your lip hydration by applying a chilled lip gel! For an elevated experience try our Rosé hydrating lip gels to complete any skin routine. 

Night and day skin products

Don’t be afraid to dig into your skin fridge both day AND night! Night & Day Eye Gels can help tackle daily puffiness while replenishing lost moisture and reduce signs of fatigue by night so you can wake up to eyes that feel refreshed, revived, and ready to take on the day.

Having the perfect day and night face masks is also important: we highly recommend our FlashMasque® Illuminate 5-Minute Sheet Mask which can brighten your skin even on the most hectic morning, along with the Beauty Sleep Gel Face Mask that has retinol, peptides, and collagen to give the skin a healthy bounce and smoothing effect.

The chilled skincare advantage

Refrigerating your skincare products isn’t just about adding a luxurious touch to your routine – it's about unlocking a whole new level of benefits. From soothing inflammation to extending shelf life, the advantages are undeniable. Eye gels, face masks, serums, and even acne treatments thrive in the cool embrace of your fridge, offering enhanced efficacy and a refreshing experience.

If nothing else, storing skincare in the fridge is a great way to feel so clean and refreshed after applying skincare that cools upon contact. Don’t go crazy though, remember that some products are best kept at room temperature, like oil-based products, thick creams, and clay masks! 

Whether you opt for a skincare fridge or a dedicated shelf in your kitchen refrigerator, the decision ultimately boils down to personal preference. As long as you’re indulging in a sensory experience and enjoying the process of caring for your skin both morning and night, that’s all that matters! 

Find the perfect skincare face mask for your skin type by taking our quiz!