By Andi Douglas, nwaMotherlode beauty editor
I know everyone wants to win The Big Chill Giveaway, but what to do with your old fridge when Metro Appliances and More wheels in your brand new stainless steel dream? Make it into your very own cosmetics cooler, of course!
(Click here to sign up to win the French door refrigerator. There’s still time!)
Keeping some of your beauty products in a cold dark spot can help extend their shelf life. “That’s because chemical reactions occur faster at higher temperatures,” according to TheBeautyBrains.com. “Lipsticks are prone to oxidation reactions that can turn certain oils rancid and keeping your sticks in the fridge can slow down that process.” Keeping your makeup in the steamy bathroom where temperatures can fluctuate dramatically can cause your products to age prematurely, and no one wants that.
Keeping your lipstick, liners and pencils in the cold will also prevent breaking and mushing so they will last longer and go on smoother.
Lotions and creams will be safe as long as they are kept sealed tight and in the dark, like a cabinet or a drawer, but applying while cold can help depuff your face in the mornings. This works especially well with eye creams to wake you up and help you look rested.
I’m sure this is not the first time you have heard of keeping nail polish in the fridge to keep it from getting gunky and drying up in the heat. To stop it from sealing shut, dab petroleum jelly or some Aquaphor around the neck of the bottle and in the lid before closing. When your ready to use it, just rub it between the palms of your hands to warm. Don’t shake it, which mixes air into the polish and causes bubbles.
Still have room in your dedicated Makeup Fridge? Keep a few essentials on hand for organic DIY facemasks:
Baking Soda and Orange Face Mask: Mix 1 tbsp orange juice with 1 tbsp baking soda to create a paste. I found this mask on theglitterguide.com and have it on right now! Spread a thin layer on face and neck and leave it on for 20 minutes. It is a little tingly but that means it’s working. Dampen your fingertips and scrub the mask in a circular motion for exfoliation, rinse. Okay, I just rinsed mine off and my skin feels great, really. I keep touching my face like a crazy person!
Homemade Pore Strips: Mix 1 tbsp unflavored gelatin and 1 ½-2 tbsp milk. Microwave for 10-15 seconds and immediately apply to your face anywhere you would normally want a pore strip. Allison from petitielefant.com, who concocted this mask, emphasizes to do these steps on the quick because the gelatin starts to dry fast. Let it dry for about 15 minutes, then peel away and be grossed out by what was in your pores.
Cranberry Face Mask: Ashley at collegefashion.net was inspired by seasonal foods and came up with this autumn inspired mask. Combine 6-7 fresh, crushed cranberries, 1 tsp of honey, and 1 tsp of plain yogurt. Apply to a clean face in a circular motion. Wait 15 minutes and rinse gently with warm water. The cranberries, rich in Vitamin C and K and antioxidants, will keep your skin looking healthy and even decrease dark circles.
If you have to make do with just one fridge in your house, no worries. This is the perfect way to use the awkwardly shaped butter shelf in the door.
Have a question for Andi Douglas, beauty blogger and fellow mama of three? Andi welcomes your questions and feedback to Beauty Buzz. E-mail her at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com.
