7 Freezer Friendly Skincare Tips For Keeping Cool

Even if the results you get from using chilled skincare products are debatably better than the ones you see from using the regular, room temperature versions, it's still a totally clutch move to put your lotions and eye creams in the fridge in the summertime. The fridge can magically transform your normal skin products into super cooling agents, capable of providing instant relief on a hot, humid day.

The power of the refrigerator to turn your favorite skincare products into crucial weapons in the fight against heat and humidity should not be discounted, even if the idea of mixing food and beauty products makes you a little uncomfortable. (In my experience, you should also probably warn your three male roommates who don't know anything about your skincare routine before you put lotion between one roommate's bottle of milk and the other roommate's bottle of pastis so they don't totally freak out when they see it in there.)

But once you get over the initial weirdness and start storing skincare products in the fridge, you'll never look back, and you'll want to put everything you put on your face into the fridge or freezer. You can even turn regular household objects into powerful skincare tools. So if you're ready to have your own mind blown, and to find sweet, sweet relief from an unrelenting summer, here are seven freezer-friendly skincare suggestions, straight from my own refrigerator, that are perfect for summertime relief:

1. Refrigerate Eye Creams And Body Lotions

Beauty blogger Michelle Phan swears by storing eye cream in the fridge because it'll keep it from degrading, which probably has some truth to it. There's also the theory that the coolness itself will help depuff and soothe irritated skin. All of this is great, but really, the main reason to keep lotions in the fridge is because that coolness feels awesome on a sweaty face or body.

2. Cool Down Already Cooling Moisturizing Sprays

Homemade moisturizer sprays should be kept in the fridge, but that doesn't mean you can't also refrigerate store-bought ones. The already refreshing feeling of these sprays is only amplified when it's kept cold, but you might want to keep these in a crisper drawer or on the shelves of the fridge door, which is the warmest part of the fridge so your spray doesn't accidentally freeze; this is especially important if your spray is in an aerosol can.

3. Put Your Toner In The Fridge

Cold contracts pores. Toner contracts pores. By that logic, cold toner contracts pores and pores. (Because math, right?) But that's basically the benefit of putting your toner in the fridge. Using a cold toner also feels incredibly refreshing. I personally love Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner so really, it's already right at home among vegetables.

Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner, $12, Amazon

4. Use Frozen Metal Spoons To Rub Out Dark Circles

This is one of those beauty tricks that gets passed down over the ages, but I do think it works. Put two metals spoons in the freezer, ideally overnight but a couple of hours should do the trick. Once they're sufficiently frozen, rub the concave side of the spoons underneath your eyes, from the inside out in a crescent-shape. This will help reduce puffiness and dark circles. You can then use one of the spoons to dig into the ice cream in your freezer (but probably after rinsing off your utensils).

5. You Can Throw Sheet Masks In The Crisper

There are lots of different formulas for sheet masks, and each mask does something slightly different, but overall, sheet masks are used to moisturize and calm your skin. Popping your sheet mask (while it's still in the packaging) into the fridge about 30 minutes before you use it will enhance that calm, cooling feeling as it sits on your face.

6. Tea Bags Can Relieve Puffy Eyes

Let two tea bags seep in hot water for a few minutes, move the bags to a separate container, and then put them in the fridge. Let them sit until cold, which will take about 30 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water and then plop those tea bags on your eyes. The caffeine (which is actually a not uncommon ingredient in some eye treatments) will help perk up your skin, so either black or green tea works best for this, but you could also use an herbal tea if you just want something that feels nice and will still help with de-puffing the skin.

7. Freeze Aloe Vera In An Ice Cube Tray

Sunburns suck, so always remember to put on sunscreen. But if you do get burned, one of the best salves is aloe vera, and the only thing that feels more refreshing than putting aloe vera on your sunburn is putting frozen aloe vera on your sunburn. Squeeze some gel into an ice tray and rub on burned skin as needed. Another benefit of this method is that the aloe vera is less goopy, making application much neater. (Remember that regular ice cubes have soothing beauty benefits, too!)

Images: Maxine Builder