We love costume jewellery – or fashion jewellery – because it’s fun, fashionable, and unlikely to blow our budget!
The only downside is that unlike fine jewellery, costume jewellery is made with materials such as plated metals, semi-precious stones, glass and plastic beads. These materials can tarnish and show signs of wear and damage.
Your jewellery comes in contact with the natural oils in your skin, as well as moisture and air. These things react with the metal in the jewellery, causing it to corrode.
So how can you prevent tarnish?
1. Keep your jewellery dry by avoiding contact with creams, water, perfume and sweat. If your jewellery does get wet, thoroughly dry it before putting it away.
2. Minimise your jewellery’s exposure to air and water by keeping it in a dark velvet bag. Otherwise, remove as much air as you can from a ziplock bag, and seal your jewellery inside.
3. Try applying a thin layer of clear nail polish on any part of the jewellery that comes into contact with your skin.
Want to know how to stop your jewellery from tangling while travelling? Click here.