Can skincare products be refrigerated or frozen for storage?
"Mini beauty refrigerators" are becoming increasingly popular, but why does storing skincare products in a refrigerator keep them better? What if you freeze them directly?
If I just freeze all my skincare products, can I use them forever? If the product you're using contains water (most products do), you should think twice before freezing it.
- If the product contains water, the freezing process will cause water molecules to expand and bond together. So, when you thaw the product, the water molecules will change, which may alter the texture of the product.
- Most importantly, water will freeze from one side of the product to the other, and water molecules will squeeze oil molecules together, potentially causing the product's ingredients to separate.
Another problem is that freezing or thawing can reduce the effectiveness of preservatives in the product! Preservatives need to be properly dispersed throughout the product to work. If the water molecules in the product move during the freezing and thawing process, it could affect the preservative system, leading to mold or bacterial growth. Freezing can cause textural changes and even lead to premature product spoilage.
