Do you wear big, chunky jewelry or do you prefer daintier and/or real pieces? Well, hey, let’s face it – real is always nice, but I also love costume jewelry!
Particularly turquoise. If I see turquoise, I’m like a dog after a squirrel! Get outta my way ’cause I’ve got to see it, touch it and maybe take some home with me (after I’ve paid for it, of course!).
Here’s a piece I bought recently for the summer that I can’t wait to wear – I just love the mix of metals, as well as coral with the turquoise. And the charms – ooo la la! – beads and hammered disks and shells and sea creatures!
This post is the finale of ‘fashion week(s)’ here at Sondra Lyn at Home! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little ‘foray’ into the fashion world as a brief break from my normal decor and recipes. Be sure to go back and visit My Best Makeup and Skin Care Secrets – PART1 and PART2, and My 5 Best Fashion Tips.
So now, let’s talk about our jewelry and how to take care of it!
How to Care for Costume Jewelry
When I first started blogging, I did a post on an easy and decorative way to hang and display costume jewelry. The quality of the photos in that old post is pretty bad (I hope my photography has improved a bit!). You can see that my collection of costume necklaces has grown, even since then. I really don’t need any more… *note to self – must stay out of my favorite stores. This is an updated photo:
I do love the holder though, because keeping your costume jewelry separated and untangled is numero uno in taking care of it! When you have to pull and tug to get pieces untangled, it weakens them at the very least, and breaks them at most.
Here are my tips for caring for your costume jewelry:
- Hang it up. Keep necklaces hanging free so that they are less prone to tangle. The big upside to this is you can see at a glance what you have and easily choose the piece of the day!
- Sort it out. It helps to sort your pieces and keep them stored, covered, in groups of some kind. You can do according to color, item and/or finish. Keep sterling silver in airtight snack-size bags to keep it shiny between polishings.
- Keep it Clean. Well made costume jewelry will last a very long time – if you clean with a soft cloth periodically. Over time, exposure to cosmetics, perfume and lotions can affect the finish of most costume pieces.
- Protect your skin – protect your jewelry. Some cosmetic, and even some genuine, jewelry metals can cause your skin to discolor. See this article for why that happens.
For this post, I have partnered with the company that makes a fabulous new product that provides an invisible barrier between your jewelry and your skin!
This post is brought to you by Alchemy. I was given products and received compensation for this post. As usual, all opinions and turquoise jewelry are 100% mine.
Introducing… Alchemy! Alchemy is a gentle, water-based polymer that coats and keeps your jewelry from tarnishing, while at the same time protecting your skin from discoloration and irritation due to metals in your jewelry. Simply spray your jewelry with Alchemy and once dried it creates an invisible barrier between the jewelry and your skin. You can’t see it, feel it, or smell it.
Here’s a video that explains how to use it: Click HERE.
And the really awesome news? Alchemy is letting me give way a free bottle to not one, but 2 lucky readers!! So be sure to scroll down to the end of the post to enter.
Thank you so much for being here today, and please let me know in the comments what your favorite piece of jewelry is. Also tell me if you entered to win a free can of Alchemy spray! If you don’t want to wait to try it, you can buy it HERE.
Ta – Ta!!
Here’s the GIVEAWAY:
Giveaway is open only to residents of the United States, ages 18 and older.