You pay a lot of money for you makeup and cosmetics.
Therefore, you want to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. In which case, you should be storing your makeup in a designated, humidity-reducing, miniature fridge designated specifically for makeup use.
But can you imagine buying a full mini fridge as a cosmetic refrigerator? You’d be left with so much open space that you wouldn’t know what to do with. Instead we’d suggest a purchasing a specially designed makeup fridge to keep things cool and compact.
Below, we’ve listed and reviewed five of the best makeup refrigerators that you can but, providing a detailed breakdown of each.
Best Make-Up Refrigerators Reviews For 2020
1. Chefman Mini Portable Compact Personal Fridge [best overall]
Chefman may not have made this as just a skincare fridge, which is why it’s perfectly versatile.
With a low volume of just four liters, there’s enough room to store makeup without it going bad, but not so much room that you’re just wasting electricity to chill the air.
You can use this indoors, but if you’re going on the road, there’s also a car charger adapter so you can keep things nice and chilled while you’re driving.
Throughout the entire design, Chefman keeps things nice and eco-friendly with absolutely no freon or other harmful chemicals in the same category. As a fair warning, this also has a heating setting to keep food warm (not hot), which is pretty easy to accidentally flip on.
That’s something you want to avoid at all costs, otherwise you’re doing the opposite of preserving your makeup. Thankfully, the red and green indicator lights will let you know if you’ve made this mistake before any cosmetics are ruined.
If you want to use that heat setting for food when you’re not using this for makeup, it only goes up to 140°F, which is the threshold for just before food sits in the danger zone and starts to go bad.
Not ideal for long car rides, though the cool setting goes down to 32°F, which is perfect for ice-cold beverages without being truly frozen. It works for more than just makeup.
Chefman is all about making small appliances with big ideas, and we think it’s kind of adorable that they actually went to the effort of making this look like an actual refrigerator.
The handle is flush with the front of the fridge, so the only protruding element here will be the slight nub of the hinges. They keep this to a uniform size so you can store it wherever you need without issue, such as a backpack with a low level of capacity.
Last but not least, you get a one-year warranty that protects against unexpected mechanical failure and manufacturer defects.
I know it’s easy to forget (and I swear that’s why these companies do it), but you have to fill out the warranty card that comes with the user manual if you want to file a warranty claim. The issue here is that it can take four to six weeks to process, so this really feels like a 10.5 month warranty.
- Size: 9.5” x 7” x 10”
- Volume: 4 liters
- Power: 12V
- Weight: 4.5 lbs
2. AstroAI Mini Fridge for Skincare Products
As a makeup refrigerator, the AstroAI hits the nail on the head, while featuring some of the same things we’re going to see in other personal mini fridge models just like it.
You have the option of cooling or heating, which ranges from 32°F to 150°F, just like the Chefman. However, AstroAI and Chefman differ in design for a few reasons.
For one, the Chefman is more of a rounded-edge rectangle, while the AstroAI feels more like a smooth cube, like a pair of dice or something along those lines. It allows for more discreet mini fridge placement, though it does technically take up more horizontal counter space.
The low profile has a few hinges on the right side, and the latch on the left clips in to remain flush against the chassis.
Much like Chefman, AstroAI practices safe design and construction by keeping freon out of the equation, and they excel past Chefman in one department: the warranty. AstroAI gives you a three-year warranty, which covers manufacturer defects and unexpected/unprovoked machine failure.
This runs off of a standard 110V AC port, or 12V DC adapter, which is most likely what you’ll be using if you want to keep this portable.
Regardless of what power supply you use, you’ll enjoy the operating volume, which is less than what you can expect from a whisper between two people. It sits at just 25db, making it one of the most quiet refrigeration units we’ve ever tested.
With any refrigerator, you have to wait for the coolant to settle while it’s in the upright position before you plug it in. Once that’s all taken care of, this mini marvel is going to chill the air inside within about one hour, and then maintain it moving forward.
If you leave this open for more than sixty seconds, it only takes about twenty minutes to restore the air temperature back down to your preset, so long as it’s left running the entire time.
While it’s a bit on the heavier side at 8.8 lbs, it’s still portable thanks to the handle along the top, and can be used for more than makeup when the time comes.
- Size: 9.9” x 8.3” x 6.2”
- Volume: 9 liters
- Power: 12V
- Weight: 8.8 lbs
3. Igloo Playmate Pal MaxCold Cooler
While this isn’t a refrigerator, Igloo has been making some of the best coolers for the longest time (just think back to any 90’s cookout).
The insulation level on this allows you to store your makeup for up to 12 hours, making it a great travel companion if you’re about to hit the road. It’s like a temporary skin care fridge, if you think about it.
If you’ve ever considered the standard Playmate Pal – the predecessor Igloo product – you’ll be happy to know that for basically the same price, the MaxCold has about 20% more ice retention.
Having one of these in your home is also convenient: freeze Cold Paks, and put them in the bottom before you put your makeup inside if you’re going to keep this on your vanity. Switch out the package every day, and you’re good to go.
Overall, this has a thick and durable, scratch-resistant shell that maintains its aesthetics even after some rough-and-tough love. The handle comes with a tactile grip for your hands to squeeze, so that you maintain your grip throughout everyth8ing that you do.
The locking latch on the lid (where it slides down), can be finicky, so I recommend being careful when you go to open this so you don’t snap anything.
- Size: 12” x 11” x 8”
- Volume: 7 quarts
- Power: Manual cooling
- Weight: 2 lbs
4. Cooluli Mini Electric Cooler
Cooluli makes a beauty fridge that may just be the most portable, high-capacity option yet (given the size).
To kick things off, you have a lot of space in this four liter capacity, without having to crowd your cosmetics in a cluster. Use AC, DC, or USB to run it from your car lighter port, the power strip on your desk at work, or plugged right into your computer.
Cooluli gives you seven different colors to choose from, from bright pink to stark black, fire engine red to chalk white, and plenty more.
Apart from the aesthetics, you get a concealed handle on the top that allows you to comfortably move this from spot to spot, making it simple to just grab your mini fridge at the end of the work day and head on out.
However, the latch for the fridge door isn’t quite the same. It holds, it keeps the cold air in, but it’s flimsy.
It’s just a little jiggly, so it’s easier to open the latch by accident than it is with the other fridges on this list. That being said, it comes to the rescue with a three amp cooling chip, which helps maintain overall fridge performance throughout the day.
Mix that with the quiet fan, which only runs at 28 db, and you’ve got a powerful, quiet unit. If you’re bringing this with you on the go, the last thing you want is to disturb everyone else around you.
Cooluli helps with that peace of mind. As you’re going to see with a lot of makeup fridges, you only get a one-year warranty on this, which only protects against manufacturer defects.
As a word of warning, the temperature controls are very accurate, so freezing can happen if you leave it too low. If you store this fridge in a warm space, it may read the external temperature through compressor heat and try to over-produce cold air.
- Size: 5.3” x 5.7” x 8.3”
- Volume: 4 liters
- Power: 12V or USB-powered
- Weight: 4.8 lbs
5. Nostalgia Retro Personal Cooling Mini Fridge
Last but not least, we have this nifty little brand: Nostalgia. With the standard six 12 oz can capacity that we see in most of the other fridges, or a total of four liters of space, it comes on par with many of the other attributes we’ve seen so far.
Nostalgia comes in as a cheap option for those on a budget who are trying to get the most bang for their buck, but that does come with some caveats.
For one, the metal hinges may arrive slightly loose. This isn’t a big deal as long as you have a screwdriver handy, but it’s an oversight in quality check for sure. The latch is basically a plastic piece that you need to be careful with.
If you open the door, or look on the video of the sales page, you’ll see a clear plastic component on the door latch that helps to keep the fridge closed. It works, it’s just not the sturdiest thing out there.
Nostalgia has to cut corners somewhere to offer this kind of power. You can run this via AC and DC power adapters, and you can also lift it with extreme ease.
At just 4.7 lbs, it just feels like a slightly heavy lunch box. Nostalgia did a great job at distributing the weight of this unit so that you don’t notice it while carrying.
This is good for a makeup fridge, but unlike the others that we’ve reviewed, this should not store refrigerator-only foods in it. The lowest temperature you can achieve is 45°F, which is more than enough to chill canned soda and makeup, but not enough to keep milk from spoiling.
Your interior shelf slides out for more storage space if you need, and your unit goes up to 130°F if you wanted to store something warm inside for a car ride home.
If you’re on a late-night fast food run, this keeps fries at the perfect temperature until you get home (just saying, it has multiple uses).
- Size: 9.8” x 7.1” x 10.4”
- Volume: 4 liters
- Power: 12V
- Weight: 4.7 lbs
Make-Up Refrigerator Buying Guide & FAQ
What to Look for in a Makeup Refrigerator
MAKEUP FRIDGE Volume
How much makeup are you going to store in here? It’s not like you can group everything up and say, “Yeah, it looks like a four liter fridge should hold all of this.”
I’m not expecting you to do that. What you should do is group everything together, and get a fridge that allows for a little bit more than what you think you’ll need to store them.
Four liter fridges are these personal units that hold six 12 oz cans, so if you need more, then go for it.
are Makeup fridges Portable?
This comes down to the weight of the unit, how well it’s distributed, as well as how you’re going to move it around.
Does it have a handle along the top? Are you expected to just scoop it up and stash it somewhere?
Thinking about how you’re going to get around with it is important, because nobody wants to awkwardly carry a micro fridge on their arms while holding shopping bags, shouting “Hold the elevator!” on your way out of the apartment in the morning.
what is the Power Consumption of a makeup fridge?
Thankfully, this isn’t going to be a major concern. You can run AC and DC adapters that use very little electricity, averaging about a dollar a month.
You can even run many of these via a USB port to your computer or laptop, but this is where you run into problems.
USB plugs draw off of the internal power supply. For most PCs, this isn’t going to be an issue, but for laptops with a smaller internal power supply, it could draw too much electricity.
Look for the total amount of electricity your makeup fridge draws, and any electrical requirements of items you have attached to your laptop (microphone, keyboard, webcam) against the internal power supply capacity.
MAKEUP FRIDGE Operating Temperature
For a makeup fridge, you just need it to go down to about 45°F at the very lowest. So long as it works and maintains a temperature relative to this position, you’re going to be fine.
However, an operating temperature of 32°F to 41°F is required if you want to store non-stable foods, such as milk or orange juice, or something along those lines.
With micro fridges such as these, operating temperatures will fluctuate, and it’s completely normal. Nobody should be buying one of these to replace their home fridge.
This is where thermoelectric cooling sources come in handy due to their reliability.
What do You Put in a Make-Up Fridge?
Any cosmetics that state, on the packaging, that they need to be refrigerated. If you’re truly getting this for your makeup needs, then you need to pay attention to the packaging.
Items such as nail polish, sunscreen, eye cream, lipstick, and just about every single form of liquid makeup.
You might be surprised to find that some of your current makeup should be kept in a make up cooler as well. Time to dig through all that makeup bag!
What Does a Makeup Fridge do?
A cosmetics refrigerator is designed as a personal drink cooler, actually.
You’ll see many of them advertised with cans of soda inside, and that’s because they’re trying to make a versatile product. More people are going to buy these for drink cans than they are for makeup, but it can work the same way.
Makeup fridges keep specific makeups from deteriorating, or melting in higher heats that typically ruin expensive cosmetics. While protecting your cosmetics from temperature, they are also protected from humidity, which can do more damage than anything else.
The big picture behind this is that your makeup will survive for longer in one of these refrigeration units than out of them, preserving your investment.
If you spend anything north of one-hundred dollars on your makeup, it’s important to protect it, and protect yourself from monetary loss.
Is a Makeup Fridge Worth it?
That depends. How much do you spend on your cosmetics?
If you’re a big spender, then there’s no reason not to invest in a makeup fridge. Most of them will run you under a hundred dollars, and may only take about $12 at most to run annually. That’s like having $1.00 per month insurance on your expensive cosmetics.
Makeup fridges are versatile, so you can use it to store your cosmetics during the summer months when they would otherwise sit above their maximum temp threshold, and the rest of the year, you could use your makeup fridge for different purposes.
Since many of them can heat up to 130°F or higher, you could bring warm food to the office on a cold winter’s day for your lunch, or stash up to six 12 oz cans(in most sizes) for a long car trip.
If these additional uses suit you, and you plan on using this to hold onto makeup for most of the year, it’s definitely worth it to get one. You’ll quickly find plenty of uses for these if you open yourself up to the possibilities.
How Cold do Beauty Fridges Get?
Surprisingly, many of these fridges can get as low as 32°, which is at the threshold of the freezing point.
That’s because many beauty fridges are designed to be multifunctional, such as personal fridges in the car for long road trips that can store up to six 12 oz cans of soda. Basically, manufacturers want to make their fridges as multifunctional as possible.
Mini fridge cosmetics need to sit at specific temperatures, so if you have five different products that each require a different temperature, then you need to look at the storage temperature range (such as 37°F-40°F), and try to find a medium range for all of your cosmetics.
If you can have five different products meet at one specific temperature, that’s great.
If you can’t, because some have much more different ranges than others, you could always get two make-up fridges and label them: one cold, and one colder. If you have a lot of different cosmetics, this could work out best.
Preserving Your Makeup
Depending on what makeup you use in your daily routine or semi-weekly applications, you’re going to need to store them properly to reduce humidity, and preserve integrity.
With these little fridges, you can maintain your makeup without even having to think about it – just pop it all in, and let the unit do the work for you.
