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Now that tiny stud earrings are so trendy, more and more women are buying cheap pairs at places like Forever 21 and wearing them everyday. There’s nothing wrong with this–I mean, just because they’re cheap doesn’t mean they’re not incredibly cool! And this way you don’t have to invest in a pricey pair, only to be *over* the trend in a few months or years.
The only problem is the irritation they can cause–especially for women with sensitive skin. In fact, some women can’t even wear 14K gold or yellow gold. If earrings *of any kind* make your ear holes red and itchy–you’ve got to try these super simple tricks for making them wearable now:
How to make cheap earrings wearable for sensitive skin
Paint 2 layers of clear nail polish on the posts. I have to admit I was wary of this tip when I first read it–wouldn’t nail polish also be irritating? It turns out, it isn’t and this is the most effective trick for making cheap earrings less irritating. In fact, they sell a product called “Jewelry Shield” on Amazon that is basically just a bottle of clear nail polish.
The trick is to apply two coats, wait for it to completely dry and reapply it every couple of weeks (because it wears off). You can also use it on other types of jewelry to make them less irritating (bracelets, necklaces, etc.).
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Smear Vaseline or Neosporin on them before wearing. If you’re too freaked out by the nail polish trick (or just don’t own any), use petroleum jelly or even Neosporin to create a protective barrier between the metal and your skin. Plus, the Neosporin is a proactive way of dealing with the allergic reaction.
READ MORE: How To Get The Green From Fake Jewelry Off Your Skin
Don’t wear them constantly. Take a break from cheap jewelry–even if you’ve applied the clear polish or Vaseline. Let your earring holes breath by going earring-free at least half the time.
Buy nickel-free jewelry. Nickel seems to be the culprit of the irritated ears–earrings of any kind (cheap or expensive) can contain nickel and that’s what many women are allergic to. If the clear polish and Vaseline tricks don’t work for you–consider switching to only nickel-free jewelry as a more permanent solutions. Be advised that if you buy earrings that are coated in a material that’s nickel-free, but the coating wears off you might still be exposed.
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Good luck!
[Photo: PeaceLoveShea]
