Beauty Fridges: Are They Really Necessary?

Last Updated on November 20, 2022

Skincare-dedicated mini-fridges are all the hype right now. They’re cute, nifty ways to store your beauty products. Recently, we’ve seen many influencers and popular social media accounts show off their skincare arsenals in these pretty little cooling compartments. Some even swear by the ultimate value of beauty fridges.

However, there’s one big question we should be asking. While beauty fridges certainly look and seem like something you should order right now, are they really necessary?

To answer this one big question, we discuss what people use beauty fridges for and its pros and cons. We then provide a list of criteria to help you decide if you should get one for yourself.

Beauty fridges and what people use them for

Beauty fridges serve as a storage unit for your skincare and beauty products. They also help to preserve certain essential ingredients that would otherwise lose their potency if exposed to light or heat. Some of these key ingredients include retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and vitamin C. You spend your dollars on skincare products, so you certainly want them to remain effective for as long as possible. A beauty fridge is supposed to help you to accomplish that.

Sheet masks, Gua Sha, and face rollers have also been thrown into the beauty fridge publicity circle. Keeping these items at cold temperatures helps to heighten their soothing effect on your skin.

The pros and cons of owning a beauty fridge

Pros of a beauty fridge

1. Beauty fridges preserve certain ingredients in creams, liquids, and serums that would otherwise lose their potency if exposed to heat.
2. Regular fridges are too cold for skincare, whereas beauty fridges are specifically made for temperatures suitable for beauty products.
3. They are great in humid environments and hot climates. It’s a good way to avoid melting lipsticks or hot glosses – one less thing to worry about in Summer!
4. Just like normal fridges, they can last years, granted they are of high quality.
5. They provide a cooling effect on masks, eye creams, mists and face rollers to soothe, calm redness and reduce puffiness.
6. There is a variety on the market that provide extra functionalities like a USB and AC/DC charging outlet (check out Astroia’s Portable Mini Skincare Fridge which is great for travelers), and LED mirrors (the KOOLATRON Mirrored LED Mini Fridge has a mirror on its front door to apply your skincare right there and then).
7. Space. Space. Space. Just like acrylic holders and drawers, they also act as an organizer to help declutter and house your products.
8. They are truly a piece of skincare accessory guaranteed to look aesthetically pleasing no matter where you place them.

Cons of a beauty fridge

1. Not all beauty products can be refrigerated. These include powders, foundations, fragrances, and oils—these should never be refrigerated. It is best to keep them at room temperature, otherwise, their smooth application will become almost impossible.
2. Beauty fridges can get expensive depending on quality. Beauty fridges of poor quality are usually made with cheap plastic, too cold (these run below 32oF), not cool enough, or lose their cool only after a short period of time. High quality fridges are the opposite, bonus if they come with generous space to fit enough products.
3. A lot of them make noise, so choose one that runs at 25db or less (noise level) so you won’t be disturbed. The Astroai Mini Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer is the fridge for this.
4. They use a noticeable amount of energy – you’ll definitely see a spike in your electrical bill. So, we recommend going for energy efficient fridges like CAYNEL’s Mini Fridge Cooler & Warmer which is made with semiconductor insulation. The Astroai mentioned in the previous point is also engineered with semiconductor refrigeration chip to save energy and reduce carbon footprint.

Clearly, not all beauty fridges are created equal. And yes, there are obvious benefits to having one. Seeing your products stored in a beauty fridge might feel very satisfying. But the question remains—are they 100% necessary?

The answer: Only and exclusively in a set of circumstances would you absolutely need a beauty fridge.

How to know you absolutely need a beauty fridge

1. Your skincare products contain any of these main ingredients, and you are not able to protect them from light or heat: retinol (alias vitamin A), vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide (mostly found in acne creams), zinc oxide, oxybenzone, avobenzone (commonly found in sunscreens), sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide (commonly found in chemical peels)
2. You’ve placed your beauty products on an extremely cluttered vanity, dresser, or shelf.
3. There is little to no ventilation in your bathroom where you might have otherwise placed these products.
4. Your kitchen fridge is too full of food (totally understandable if you’re a fellow foodie!)
5. Your kitchen fridge is too cold; anything below 32°F is generally too cold for beauty products.
6. You hoard sheet masks, Gua Shas, and face rollers (respectfully).
7. You use a lot of organic, preservative-free beauty products. Think Lush.
8. You simply cannot go on living life without having the aesthetics of this little fridge. It could either be for your viewing pleasure or that of your social media friends.
9. You are certain that you will use your beauty fridge for beauty products alone (no midnight snacks going in there!)
10. This one is more of a requirement. You have enough space in your bedroom or bathroom to comfortably accommodate a beauty fridge.

Only if most of these are true for you will a beauty fridge be absolutely, 100% worth investing in. If not, then no, a beauty fridge is not an absolute necessity. However, if you still want one, by all means, go ahead and get that chic beauty mini-fridge you’ve been eyeing. Or, check out our article on 7 Cutest Beauty Fridges to Buy ASAP where we’ve hand-picked some of the best in the market, as well as what skincare products you should keep in and keep out.

The verdict

Companies put beauty products through a thorough testing process before they hit the market. This testing guarantees that fridge or no fridge, your beauty products will be fully effective. Unless it is explicitly specified on a product, then it really doesn’t need refrigeration. Also, “cool and dry” doesn’t instantly imply “store in a fridge”. So, there’s nothing wrong or less potent about your skincare if your neighbor owns a beauty fridge and you don’t!

However, some ingredients do lose their potency when exposed to heat or light. This is where beauty fridges can save the day. Moreover, if you really want to make the most out of your masking or misting experience, prevent products from melting in hot climates, maintain the shelf-life of your natural skincare, or just want this coveted skincare accessory for the aesthetics, then investing in a high-quality beauty fridge is undeniably worth it.