This is Where you Should REALLY Store your Make-Up Products

Can you keep foundation, lipstick and mascara in the bathroom? And do you really need to keep certain beauty products in the fridge? Well now’s the time to start taking note, as online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com have compiled a definitive guide on what should go where when it comes to beauty storage. The experts have discovered that dry environments work best for most products, but storing things like aloe vera and eye cream in the fridge can be beneficial to your skin. This is where you should really be storing all of your make-up products:

Liquid Foundation

Liquids foundations, creamy products and serums should be kept in a cool, dark place, that’s preferably away from an outside wall. Any exposure to heat and sunlight can dry out the products and separate the natural oils that are contained in the make-up.

Some suggest that storing liquid foundation in the fridge can help preserve the product, making it last longer than its suggested expiry date. The expiry date is the open jar symbol which includes the letter ‘m’ and a number before it, which stands for the amount of months you can keep it once opened.

Eye Cream or Gel

If you use eye cream or gel to help with puffy eyes, try storing the product in the fridge. Cold temperatures tighten blood vessels, which will reduce the swelling.

Powder Products

Powder products such as eye shadows, face powders, blushes, bronzers etc. can be stored anywhere that is dry. Extra humidity can cause powder products to turn saturated and cakey. Don’t store powders in the bathroom, as the shower and bath humidity can be a death sentence to these types of products. Also, make sure you store these types of products away from radiators and heaters.

Fragrance

It’s important to always store your fragrances in a cool, dark place with the cap tightly shut onto the bottle. Exposure to heat and humidity can alter the aroma and affect the essential oils. Despite suggestions, DON’T store your fragrances in the fridge. Unless you live in a country that gets extreme heat, it’s simply not necessary. This is because extreme temperatures either end of the spectrum will alter the fragrances smell.

Blending Sponges

Do not store your blending sponges (or anything else that doesn’t really have a seal) in the bathroom. The steam from your shower or bath can condense on the surface of these cosmetics, and can produce mould. After cleaning your blending sponges, leave them to air-dry outside of the bathroom.

Lipstick

Lipsticks need to be stored in a cool, dry place, unless you’re bulk-buying a load of your favourite lipsticks. In which case, these should all be stored in the fridge to preserve the colour and texture. Too much heat exposure to lipsticks can cause them to break down and decompose over time.

Aloe Vera

If you’re using aloe vera for sunburn, try storing it in the fridge before use. This will cool the skin down on application, so you won’t be able to sense the burning/itching feeling that sunburn gives you.

Sun Cream

Despite suggestions that you should store sun cream in the fridge, it’s better to store it in a cool, dry place. Take it off the bathroom counter and away from heated rooms, as this can make the formula separate and can also cause mould.

Nail Polish

It is recommended that you store nail polishes in the fridge. Sunlight and heat can cause the product to become thick and gloopy and it can also alter the colour. Keeping your polish in the fridge can help the paint stay thin and even for application, and can preserve the colour.

Eyeliner and Mascara

You should generally store all eyeliner and mascara products in a cool, dark place. Although it’s been suggested to store them in the fridge to preserve the shelf life, you generally shouldn’t, as the bacteria in make-up can cause eye infections or irritations. The shelf life on mascara and eyeliner is generally quite an important one to follow.

Danielle Mead