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For Better Skin, Avoid These 6 Types of Jewelry
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Some women can wear any type of jewelry.
Others aren’t so lucky.
Certain types of metals seem to cause a reaction for no reason.
If you have sensitive skin—or just want to use hypoallergenic jewelry to protect yourself, keep reading.
We’ll explain the six jewelry types to avoid if you have sensitive skin.
But first, how can metals affect us?
What is a jewelry allergy?
Just like you can be allergic to peanuts, shellfish, or gluten, your body can be allergic to certain types of metals.
For those with sensitive skin, having those metals against their bodies for a long time can cause rashes, tenderness, swelling, and even blisters.
Perhaps the worst part is that even someone without sensitive skin can develop an allergy due to repeated exposure.
With nickel, for example, someone who is unaffected by the metal can develop a permanent allergy after wearing it for years.
Whether you have sensitive skin or want to avoid developing it, you’ll want to stay away from these six types of jewelry.
Source:Daria Shevtsova fromPexels
1. Copper
Copper can be an allergen and is incredibly common in our everyday environment.
Due to its ability to transfer electricity quickly, it’s used in almost every appliance in your house. It’s in your coins—the primary metal in every modern US coin except the penny is copper.
But when it’s on jewelry, you can run into problems. Copper allergies can lead to various symptoms, including a black or blue-green mark where you wore the jewelry.
2. Rose gold
Surprised to see rose gold on the list?
Most people are.
The truth is that for 99% of the population, rose gold is perfectly fine. But if you already know you have a copper allergy, it’s a good idea to stay away from rose gold.
That’s because gold is a soft metal and is mixed (alloyed) with other metals to make it stronger.
When it’s alloyed with a heavy amount of red-orange copper, it turns a pink color and is sold as rose gold.
So if you want to avoid even trace amounts of copper, stay away from rose gold.
Source: Arsham Haghani from Pexels
3. Brass
Like rose gold, brass is a combination of metals—in this case, copper and zinc.
Brass is typically made of two-thirds copper and one-third zinc.
Because finished brass often has a bright, gold-like color, it’s commonly used in fashion jewelry as a replacement for gold.
However, be aware that brass contains mostly copper and, unlike gold, will tarnish.
4. Nickel
Nickel is one of the most common allergens on the planet—even more common than well-known allergens like peanut or shellfish.
According to the most recent research, around 28% of children have a nickel allergy.
And like I mentioned before, those who don’t have an allergy now can develop one down the road with too much nickel exposure.
5. Stainless steel
Have you ever wondered why stainless steel—unlike regular steel—never seems to tarnish?
The answer lies in what the metal is made of. (Hint: a lot more than steel!)
Stainless steel is a combination of a variety of metals. When alloyed together, these metals prevent tarnishing.
It’s a great (and safe) metal for your pots and pans, but stainless steel poses some problems when it comes to jewelry.
That’s because the alloyed metals include around 12% nickel. And as we mentioned earlier, nickel is the one type of jewelry everyone should avoid.
Source:Nicole Berro fromPexels
6. Gold-plated jewelry
The best hypoallergenic metals are gold, silver, and platinum. But a common budget-friendly alternative is gold-plated jewelry, a non-precious piece coated with real gold.
But don’t stock up just yet.
That’s because gold plate can actually be worse than the other types of jewelry you just read about.
That’s right.
You see, the legal amount of gold in gold-plated jewelry is only 0.5 microns—1/200th the thickness of a sheet of printer paper.
In the absolute best-case scenario, gold plating will wear away in two years. And that leaves you with the who-knows-what metal underneath.
If you buy a nickel ring, you’ll know the risks and wear it cautiously. But a gold-plated ring can leech the same metals and hide in plain sight for years.
How to find hypoallergenic, budget-friendly jewelry
So, what’s a smart jewelry buyer to do?
It’s easy to paint a picture of doom and gloom, but in truth, there’s a simple solution that lets you wear hypoallergenic gold and silver jewelry without a four-figure price tag.
That solution is gold vermeil—pure sterling silver covered in a thick layer of 10- or 14-karat gold.
Gold vermeil has been used as the “gold” of choice for centuries, from some of England’s crown jewels to today’s Olympic gold medals.
The reason is simple. Gold vermeil is made entirely of precious metals, and the gold layer is at least five times thicker than that of gold-plated pieces.
The result? A beautiful, hypoallergenic piece that will last for years to come.
Conclusion
If you have sensitive skin, you know you must be pickier with your jewelry.
Some types of metals can cause serious discomfort.
But if you’re like most women with sensitive skin (or most women in general), you don’t have the budget to replace every piece you own with solid gold.
That’s why gold vermeil jewelry, like what we have here at Blush and Bar, is a perfect choice.
It’s durable, hypoallergenic, and comes with Blush and Bar’s lifetime warranty, so you know your piece will always look great.
It’s safe, hypoallergenic jewelry made with precious metals—but without the price tag.
