Is a Skincare Fridge really worth the hype?

Interested in cold therapy? Looking to buy a skincare fridge? Here’s how ice-facials are the at home trick for tighter, brighter skin!

Multiple step facials and expensive tubes, tubs and pots may always have their place in your skincare routine. But sometimes, a simple trick can upgrade your routine exponentially. And when the trick is easy (and virtually free!) it’s a no-brainer. Whether you’re just using a cube of ice from your fridge, a cold spoon or a specially created ice roller, massaging your skin with a cool tool will help you fake the rosy glow you can get after a brisk walk outside. 

Are cold temperatures good for your skin?

Cold temperatures can cause the blood vessels under the surface of your skin to constrict and tighten. This makes your pores look tighter and smoother. The temperature cools the skin down to soothe irritation and inflammation, making it ideal if your skin is prone to redness, zits or rashes. 

Cryotherapy is the in-office version of icing your skin. Ultra-cool liquid nitrogen is used to bring the skin to really cold temperatures very fast. This causes the blood vessels to contract and tighten. So when the skin gets back to normal temperature, the blood vessels dilate back to their original size quickly. This causes a sudden jolt of blood and oxygen to the surface, leaving your skin looking plumper, glowier and healthier in the process. 

So if cold therapy is that great, do you need a skincare fridge?

Celebrities and estheticians (and all your favourite skincare influencers) have been extolling the benefits of a skincare fridge so you can get all your serums, moisturisers and face mask straight out of there before applying. Some even say that it’s a safer, more effective way to store it. They prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus. However, most products don’t actually need to be stored in a refrigerator because their formulations are shelf-stable.

Prior to its release into the market, a product goes through months and months of testing. A good formulation ensures it’ll have enough stabilisers and preservatives so that the components stay fresh and efficacious. Even once the tube or tub is opened. A cool, dark place works just as well, so if you store your Vitamin C serums in a drawer or your vanity, it’ll protect from oxidation the same way. The only skincare products that you may see benefit from by keeping inside your fridge are natural or organic ones that are not stabilised. In this case, cool temperatures may prevent the components from going bad or turning rancid. 

Is there an alternative, at-home way to indulge in cold therapy?

The amount a skincare fridge can improve the performance of your actives is close to none. But the real benefit of a dedicated skincare fridge by your bed or in your room? This lies in the tools you can store in them. The ability to get a cold face roller within arms reach. This really does have its benefits—rubbing one across your face can reduce puffiness and improve fluid retention, so you look brighter, tighter and fresher with just one use. Roll an ice roller, gua sha or jade roller across the forehead and temples, around the eye sockets and downwards on the neck—this movement will stimulate the lymphatic glands to drain while soothing any irritation on the face. 

What’s the right way to do this?

When it comes to skincare therapies, icing your skin or removing a cold face roller from the fridge is super safe, and people of all skin types and textures can safely do it. Direct and extended ice application however, can cause sudden vasoconstriction and dilation. This can cause redness, especially if you’re prone to rosacea or other inflammatory skin conditions. But there should always be a barrier between an ice cube and your skin, such as a paper towel, plastic bag or a napkin. This will prevent your skin from getting an ‘ice burn’ that can seriously damage your skin.