As a beauty editor for a long time with a growing collection of products, I would love to have a glam room just for me. But in real life, I do everything in my regular bathroom, like taking care of my skin, hair, and makeup. (Thanks to my husband for being so patient with so little counter space.) Most of my products end up in bins with labels under the sink, and my makeup is stored in pouches in a basket by the tub, along with a few hair tools. It seems like a pretty normal setup, doesn’t it?
It turns out that this situation, which seemed harmless, may have been cutting short the life of some of my favorite things. Dermatologist Mona Gohara tells you which beauty products you should get out of your bathroom right away and where to keep them instead.
Mona Gohara, MD, is an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. It may seem like a no-brainer to keep beauty products in the bathroom, but Gohara says, “If heat, steam, or moisture can mess with it, the bathroom isn’t its home.”
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Scent
Gohara says that warm air messes with the scent story before you even spray it. Heat and humidity can break down fragrance molecules, which can change or even ruin the scent. This means you can’t keep your favorite bottle in the center console of your car or show it off on your vanity. To keep it smelling like new for longer, it’s better to keep the outer box and put it in a cool, dark place, like a closet or dresser drawer.
Nail Polish
Gohara jokes that the humidity in your bathroom will make the polish thicker faster than you can say “top coat.” But seriously, the temperature change can make the polish clump up, and being in the light can make it fade (I swear I’ve seen this happen at the salon—the color in the book never looks exactly like the polish that’s been sitting out on the wall) or even evaporate. So, even though the bottles are cute, it’s best to keep them in a dark, cool place where they won’t be seen.
Serum with Vitamin C
Gohara says, “This one hurts,” and then adds, “That’s why I asked Santa for a skincare fridge!” She says, “Bathroom heat turns your glow juice into expired orange juice.” It’s hard to keep vitamin C stable. Adding light, heat, and moisture to the mix will definitely cause oxidation. This means that the expensive serum you bought will probably not work as well and will break down. Gohara says to keep it in a drawer, the original box, or a skincare fridge.
Drugs and Supplements
I thought that if I put my supplements next to my skincare, I would remember to use them. But Gohara says, “A steamy bathroom quietly turns reliable meds and supplements into question marks.” Of course, they also do best in a dark, cool place.
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SPF (especially chemical sunscreens)
Gohara says, “Sun protection doesn’t like sauna conditions.” “Heat destroys filters in sunscreen.” She would rather hide them in the drawer by the front door. “Doing this keeps it useful and easy to remember—it’s the last thing I do before I leave.”
Masks for the Face
She says that bathrooms make sheet and hydrogel masks “ewww” and goo, taking away their intended freshness. “Storing them in the fridge is the best way to keep them fresh, and they also feel great on inflamed or puffy skin.”
Sponges and brushes for makeup
Gohara says, “Bathrooms turn brushes into hotels for germs.” “Let them dry outside of the bathroom after washing them.” Put them in a drawer or cup that lets air in, because wet sponges are great at attracting bacteria.
Pressed Makeup
When it’s humid, it gets into the compact and breaks down the binders in blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow, making the powders crack, hardpan, and crumble. She says, “Bathrooms turn powders into crumble chaos.” Instead, “a cool, dry vanity drawer keeps them smooth and usable for longer.”
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Tools for Hair
Moist air makes hot tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons work harder, which puts stress on the heating elements and makes it easier to plug them in with wet hands. “Also, it’s important to remember that moist air can also shorten the life of these tools, and they aren’t cheap. Gohara says to keep cooled tools in a bedroom drawer with a heat sleeve or silicone mat.”
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