You’re Storing Your Skin Care Products the Wrong Way. This is to Keep Them Fresh Until You Use Them Up

You’ve just gotten the high-end moisturizer you’ve been eyeing for weeks. You can’t wait to slather it on your face, excited to see the transformation it promises. But over time, you notice that the once creamy formula has become runny and separated. You’re now left with a product that not only smells bad, but doesn’t work as well. What went wrong, you ask? The culprit may be improper storage.

Storing your beauty products may seem easy, but it’s easy to overlook the impact it has on your daily effectiveness. The heat, sunlight and air exposure often found in common storage places such as bathrooms can accelerate the breakdown of formulas and make them less effective, or even unusable, before their actual expiration date. With this in mind, it’s time to start paying more attention to where you store your skincare products to ensure that their formulations remain at their optimal effectiveness. Next, I’ll share some valuable tips to help you keep your skincare products fresh and effective until you run out.

Keep products away from sunlight and heat sources
If your storage location typically gets warm, you may unknowingly damage the effectiveness of those active but fragile ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C. These active ingredients are heat sensitive and degrade rapidly when exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time. Ideally, it is best to keep skin care products within a temperature range of 50-70°F (10-21°C) to prevent oxidation of the formula. Also, avoid leaving products in the car when you are out on a hot day, as just one hour can have a real impact on the longevity and stability of the formula.

Another factor you really don’t want to underestimate is sunlight. Sunlight is a major culprit in damaging skin care formulations, especially when it comes to products that contain antioxidants and natural extracts. Try to store your skincare products in a dark place where light can’t reach them, such as a drawer in a room or a shelf in a closet.

Also, do not leave products open or exposed to direct light for long periods of time, and be aware of their expiration dates. Most have a shelf life of about 30 months, but once you open them, they can last 10 to 12 months, depending on how they are stored. Keep track of when you open products and if they start to change consistency, color or smell, throw them out even if they haven’t reached their shelf life yet.

Mini fridge for storing skin care products

Store them in the fridge if necessary
Although it’s not necessary most of the time, there are some products that are best kept in the fridge, mainly in the summer. For example, natural formulas that do not contain preservatives tend to have a longer shelf life when stored in the refrigerator. The same is true for vitamin C serum or retinoids. In addition, keeping eye creams, masks or facial sprays in the refrigerator can provide a refreshing and cooling effect.

However, it is also possible that a product may lose some of its properties if exposed to freezing temperatures. The key is to keep your skincare products in a temperature-controlled environment, not too hot or too cold, and avoid leaving them in places like the garage or a well-ventilated windowsill during the winter.

A mini fridge like the Cooluli can come in handy. It’s perfect for storing your beauty essentials (it does the whole 6-step process) and keeping them cool and fresh for next time. It’s small enough to fit on your bathroom counter to add a splash of color to your skincare vanity, and it’s 100% eco-friendly.

Use sealed containers and amber bottles
Did you know that when products are exposed to air – even for a short period of time – the active ingredients break down and oxidize? That’s why products in jars, which require you to dip your finger in and give bacteria a chance to invade the formula, tend to degrade faster than products in sealed bottles or pump dispensers.

For optimal storage, you should keep all creams and lotions in sealed containers and serums in amber bottles, which are UV-protected and prevent the formula from degrading.

The type of closure used on the container also helps protect cosmetics from microbial contamination during use. According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, pump top caps provide the best protection for lotions. If you still prefer jars, be sure to use a clean spatula or spoon to avoid introducing bacteria into the product.

If your preferred skin care product is not in a sealed pump dispenser, don’t concede defeat right away. You can easily transfer it to a sealed container, giving it a chance to resist early degradation and extend its life. There are many airless pump jars and bottles on Amazon that will serve the purpose, such as these.

Can I leave my skin care products in the bathroom?
Most people would say to avoid leaving skin care products in the bathroom, and for good reason. Steam and moist air from the shower are not the best conditions for storing products, and it’s especially problematic if you leave a jar of cream on the sink counter while you’re enjoying the hot tub. Obviously, you don’t want to end up with a bottle of lotion that’s more hydrating than cream, but you also don’t want to run to the basement every time you need to moisturize (unless that’s your thing).

Takeout? As long as you create the perfect environment to protect them, keeping your skin care products in the bathroom is perfectly fine. Most brands make their products with the idea that people can use them at room temperature and withstand short-term temperature fluctuations, such as those that occur when taking a hot shower.

That said, you should still make every effort to ensure that the room is well ventilated and that steam is not allowed to build up in the bathroom. Consider getting a shelf as far away from the shower or other heat sources as possible, or better yet, store your products in a sealed storage box. Also, keep the lid tightly closed after use to avoid moisture getting into the product – water and moisture can cause bacterial growth, mold and mildew, which can accelerate formula degradation.

On the other hand, if you’re talking about months of storage before opening or days between uses, leaving your product in the bathroom may push it. If you don’t use a product every day, or plan to use it months after you buy it, it’s best to store it elsewhere, such as your room.

Overview
Pay attention to storage conditions to ensure that your skin care products are safe and secure. First, store them in a cool, dry and dark place. Choose airtight containers and use pump caps to seal lotions. Avoid leaving products in the car and keep them away from windows and direct sunlight. Use a clean spoon or spatula for jarred products and do not leave your products in the bathroom for more than 3-4 months.