Store These 3 Skin Care Products in the Fridge

Sure, you may not be the biggest fan of the cold weather (hey, if you are, more power to you!). But when it comes to your beauty products, keeping them cold might actually be a good idea.

Yep, make a little room in your fridge next to your milk and eggs: It’s time to chill some of your favorite skin care products! Dr. Rocio Rivera, head of scientific communications for L'Oréal Paris, explains that in certain cases, using skin care products that have been stored in the refrigerator can help to temporarily reduce the appearance of puffiness. Plus, it can feel refreshing to slather on a chilled cream when it’s super-hot outside or you’ve spent all day cooped up in an environment that’s been pumping out artificial heat. Ready to get the low-down on storing skin care products in your kitchen? Here are three types of skin care products—overnight face masks, moisturizers, and eye creams—Rivera says you should consider stashing in your fridge.

1. Overnight Face Mask

Rivera recommends storing the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power™ Intensive Overnight Mask in your refrigerator for a cool treat for your skin before you go to bed. (Rivera says that when you put the chilled overnight mask on your face, it’ll start to warm up as it comes into contact with your skin.) This creamy, leave-on mask can immediately make skin feel hydrated and can diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles with continued use over time. After cleansing your skin, take the overnight mask out of the fridge and use it in place of your regular moisturizer. Smooth it over your face, neck, and jawline until absorbed. Leave it on overnight, then go about your regular morning skin care routine (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, SPF, etc.) when you wake up.

2. Moisturizer

Rivera says you can also stash the L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care Extra Dry Skin in your refrigerator for a nice refreshing feeling. As you’re well aware by now, moisturizing is one step in your skin care routine you should never skip—and that’s especially true if your complexion is super-dry. Extra dry skin has a very fragile skin moisture barrier that can be easily damaged by external factors like pollution and UV rays. Consequently, skin can then lose its ability to retain moisture, becoming easily dehydrated, feeling tight and uncomfortable. This water-based moisturizer is formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe water to help provide long-lasting hydration and comfort to extra dry skin. Once you’ve taken the moisturizer out of the fridge, Rivera recommends you apply a thick amount onto your face and then tissue off any excess. Pro tip: Apply the moisturizer to damp skin to help lock in hydration.

3. Eye Cream

Last but not least, Rivera says you can store an eye cream in the fridge to help temporarily reduce the look of puffiness and dark circles. Here’s why: When cold, eye creams can cause short-term vasoconstriction (a.k.a. tightening of blood vessels), which may make them more beneficial for those with puffy eyes or dark circles. Who knew?

Looking for a product recommendation? Try the L'Oréal Paris Eye Defense. This light, non-greasy gel-cream is specially formulated to defend against signs of premature aging around the eyes, including puffiness, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles. To use, take the eye cream out of the fridge and apply it in small dots around your eye until it’s absorbed.

No fridge? No problem! Try an eye cream with a cool rollerball tip, like the L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic Eye Roller. The cooling, massaging effect can provide a de-puffing action to reduce the look of under-eye bags. To use, gently roll the cooling tip under your eye starting from the bridge of your nose outward toward your temple to massage the entire eye area. You can use the product morning and night.