Storing Products

[GGirl]

How should you store products? I know to keep away from light and humidity but should some be stored in the fridge? I'm specifically wondering about products such as sunscreens and products with vitamin A, C, E and other antioxidants. With all the other ingredients put in them (at least in the products I have) I would have guessed that this would make them stable, but I'm still wondering if it would be a good idea to do this. Hope someone can help.

[drtodorov]

Generally, for products containing antioxidants, storing in the refrigerator prolongs shelf-life. Some can even be frozen but not all because some lose homogeneity after freezing/thawing.

[GGirl]

Thanks again. :) I thought I'd have to - that is really good to know. I'm sure I read somewhere about sunscreen being stored in the fridge too. Would it be better to leave it out?

[drtodorov]

Many sunscreens can be refrigerated as well.

[GGirl]

Good to know. I didn't know whether it would keep better, or make it worse, if I stored it in the fridge. It doesn't say how to store it on the box. Thanks again. :)

[drtodorov]

Keep in mind that there are lots of sunscreen formulations. While most are ok to refrigerate, some might separate and lose homogeneity.

[GGirl]

I'll keep mine out of the fridge, in a dark, less hot place, just in case mine does that then. How come they can separate in the fridge but not other products? Is it to do with they're sun protecting ingredients?

So, just to be clear, apologies beforehand for going on. :P If a cleanser, moisturiser, serum, etc. contains antioxidants, even if it's just Vitamin E, it would be better stored in the fridge? And they wouldn't lose any other ability but some sunscreens can?

Thank you. I really appreciate you replying back. Feel a lot better.

[drtodorov]

Some sunscreens are emulsions or suspensions, i.e. colloidal systems. Such systems can sometimes separate into oil/water or water/solid, etc. phases. Nonetheless, most sunscreens can be stored in refrigerator (not freezer) just fine.

[GGirl]

Started to read up on colloidal systems and I read on here that cetyl and stearyl alcohols can create a colloidal system with other ingredients.

One of my products (a cream cleanser) with antioxidants has cetyl alcohol in it, would that affect a product like that if it was stored in the fridge?

And apologies again for so many questions, just trying to fully understand it.

Thank you, I really appreciate it. :)

[drtodorov]

Not every colloidal system separate when put in the refrigerator. Most commercial skin care creams do not separate even when they contain emulsifiers.

[GGirl]

Thanks for that. :) I'm putting my cleanser, etc. that has antioxidants in the fridge, but I think I'll leave the sunscreen out for now, might put it in when it gets a lot warmer though. :P

I'm still at the beginning of learning all these things and my brain doesn't seem to want to go to A to B, goes in circles, and takes a while to get something. Thank you for being patient.

[Kenway]

When we refrigerate a something at 40˚F or 4.4˚C, we can stop the bacteria from multiplying, but we don't kill them.