Body Lotion & Pearl Strands

[Frost Me]

I seem to avoid using body lotion on the neck and chest area when I know I will be wearing Pearl strands, which is everyday. I use a product that is 70% Organic content, it is a natural care without synthetic fragrances, phthalates, harsh sulfates, artificial colors or parabens and unscented. So basically it is plant based and natural. My point is maybe because my lotion doesn't have synthetic chemicals due to it being more organic, is better, or not. I don't know? It might be alkaline heavy anyway.

Does anyone else avoid using creams or lotions when wearing their pearly strands? Am I fussing too much to protect the pearls?

 

[Fly Girl]

During the spring, summer and fall months I wear sun block on my face, neck and hands every day. I try to give it a few minutes to soak in, and I don't think that sun block is the greatest thing for pearls, but it is very important for my health.

I go ahead and wear my pearls regularly anyway, and try to wash them up to keep them clean after wearing. And, if in the long run the lotions cause some damage to the pearls, well then, I guess that I will need to get some more pearls!

 

[Frost Me]

Flygirl, you have had pearls longer than I, and you don't mention noticing anything different or harm to your fabulous pearls. This is good to hear! Thank you. I do wipe my pearls after use. How and what do you wash yours with?

 

[Fly Girl]

I use pure soap with distilled water and I'm careful to not get the string wet. Pat dry with a clean towel. I worry more about rubbing them with a cloth that has been sitting around collecting dust than the soap or lotion. Dust contains silica and this will scratch pearls.

How often? When they need it, or I get around to it.

 

[baby monster]

I also wear sunscreen daily in spring and summer. Just let it sink in and then put pearls on. Skin care is above pearls for me.

 

[cmd2014]

I wear sunblock too....but I have to admit that the one brand that doesn't cause me to react to it (darn sensitive skin!) is goopy and doesn't fully absorb in (it contains lots of Titanium Dioxide to make up for the lower amounts of chemical sunscreens). On my face it gets matted out with makeup and powder, but the stuff I put on my chest does get on my necklaces, and I have to admit that I have been hesitant to wear my pearls in the summertime because of it. I wore a cheap freshie rope all summer instead, and I have to confess that I'm not convinced it looks as good as the day I bought it because of this.

 

[ennui]

I don't use any sticky products on the days I wear pearls. I usually wear a product with SPF that has a nice dry-down, so it doesn't get on anything. I don't use sunscreens (I know, I know).

I think that even if the pearls can be washed, the lotions could migrate to the cord, and the cord will attract dirt.

 

[bsomlo]

I used a facial moisturizer with sunscreen but my pearls don't touch my face. I don't tend to wear moisturizer on my neck and chest and that's partly due to wearing pearls daily. I don't go anywhere near the sun (feel allergic to it).

I wipe my pearls every single time I remove them with a damp washcloth. Just damp enough to remove sweat and oil, but not so damp as to get the silk wet. I gently rub the strand going down the pearls one way, reverse, and rub down the pearls the other way (I figure I'm hitting between the pearls better by going both directions). If I don't go through this wipe-down routine, I can definitely feel the sweat/oil residue. Especially in the summer. I do not use soap and I do not use distilled water.

 

[katbran]

cmd - try giving the freshies a wash or two .. there might just be a residue over them from the cream that's a bit harder to remove.

Skin care > than pearls ... I live where the skin cancer rate is supposedly the highest in the world .. all that English skin and a tropical Africa like sun. My dear friend's daughter has been battling a stage 4 skin cancer that was virtually undetectable (both parents specialists) and it only was discovered when she had her 'mole' removed ... even the plastic surgeon and dermatologist thought it was nothing. So.... having known this child since she was 3 yrs old and she is now 27 .... wear your sunblock. Put it on your children. As Fly Girl said..you can always buy more pearls.

 

[cmd2014]

I'll give them a wash. I agree that sun protection > everything else.

 

[Lisa C]

Think about asking to have the strands strung on not-silk thread, and when/if the silk wears or stretches, and you get the strands restrung, then ask for not-silk thread. Then you can wash the pearls as frequently as you want and not have to worry about sunscreen.

 

[Frost Me]

Yes, I agree great point!

 

[Jambalaya]

I try not to mix any cosmetics with my pearls. On pearl days I don't use body lotion on my neck or use perfume. I want to preserve my pearls and it's commonly known that lotions, potions, sprays etc are bad for them.

 

[ennui]

Is there a way to tell if pearls are "dirty"? I wore a tin cup on a hot day, and it probably got lotions on it, but it looks okay. I think I wiped it down afterward. I'm just wondering what to look for.

 

[pearlsngems]

The surface may look like it has a dull film on it.

To clean, you can wet your hand and stroke it over the pearls, then wipe them dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. This gives them a little wash without wetting the silk.

 

[ennui]

Maybe I'll give them a wash. I have some castile soap that was recommended by a pearl person. They're on chain, so no harm.

 

[pearlsngems]

Most people will be able to use a mild castile soap and water to clean pearls.

We can't-- our well produces hard water, and soap of any sort (even liquid soap like Dr. Bronner's) interacts with the hard water to leave a scummy deposit. If I want to use soap to clean pearls, I have to use bottled water.

I find that a mild baby wash works well, and it doesn't leave scum.

 

[ennui]

My previous residence had horrible hard water -- I didn't even like to drink it, so you have my sympathies.

I used the Dr. Bronner Baby formula (no added fragrances), and the pearls do look better; the lustre is crisper. It could be my imagination. Anyway, no harm done. I'll have to restrain myself from going on a sudsy binge for other strands.

 

[pearlsngems]

I console myself that our well water actually tastes fine; the town's municipal water tastes truly awful.

But I do miss being able to use bar soap. Body wash is nice when it's a treat, not so nice when it's a necessity.

 

[Fly Girl]

We have hard water as well. Hence, the reason I said in my earlier posting that I use "distilled" water. If you spring for a water softener, you can save a few bucks when it comes to pearl washing.

 

[pearlsngems]

When we bought our house, we discovered we had both hard water and acidic water. We had to decide between a water softener and a chemical feeder pump. The latter won out since we didn't want to develop pinholes in our copper pipes!

 

[ennui]

Just for fun, what's the consensus on washing Akoyas strung on silk? I have a vintage strand and restringing would be costly (double 30"). Part of me wants to take the plunge and simply wash them, but fear stops me. I know I could carefully lay them out for a week or so while they dried. I need an enabler.

 

[cmd2014]

Sounds like you have nothing to lose. If you don't wash them, you'll probably not wear them. If you wash them and the silk fries, you're no worse off than if you sent them in to be restrung. If you dry them flat, they should be ok, and if it works, you're ahead of where you'd otherwise be.

 

[pearlsngems]

Wash them, handling them carefully since silk stretches when wet.
Lay them flat on a towel to dry, remembering that the silk inside the drill hole may take a longer time to dry.

I don't think this is a problem-- I've certainly washed my pearls strung on silk and didn't need to immediately restring them.

May I suggest taking another plunge: learn to restring them yourself! When you are ready to restring them, use a synthetic thread like Beaders Secret or Power Pro. See tutorials on the other pearl forum.

 

[NacreLover]

Ennui, When I move over to your neck of the woods, we should have a pearl restringing party. You come over and you can play with my stuff. Once you get the hang of it you will be tearing up everything.

 

[ennui]

Thank you for the encouragement, ladies! I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll have to figure out a good spot for them to dry without being disturbed.