When it comes to makeup, I am a hoarder. My makeup bag is bulging to the seams. Of what you may ask and indeed that is the question I asked myself the other day. The answer is below:

  • 1 old compact with a scrap of makeup left and 1 newish one
  • 3 grey eyeliner pencils (clearly my favourite colour!)
  • 2 mascaras – one almost empty and out of date
  • 3 shades of red lipstick, one pink and one plum
  • 2 x eyeshadows, one that I can’t open despite my best efforts but that I continue to hope that one day I will be able to…

The contents of my makeup bag this morning.

So it’s confirmed, I am a hoarder.  In all honesty, I only use a couple of these items on a daily basis but still feel the need to cart the rest around. Apparently however, I am not alone. A British study of 1000 women found that 2/3rds of participants are reluctant to throw out makeup that is past its prime.  So what’s the problem? The study’s author says that while “beauty is timeless, our makeup is not”.

Certain types of makeup are more susceptible to bacterial infection or mould growth including liquid foundation, concealers and the worst is mascara. So tips for keeping your make up fresh and up to date:

  • If your makeup is past its used by date, toss it particularly if it contains water as an ingredient. Water can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
  • If you have an eye infection or cold sore avoid wearing makeup on the affected area. If you do wear it consider changing your mascara, lipstick and lipgloss as they may continue to carry the microorganisms that caused the initial infection.
  • Don’t share mascara – eyes are very sensitive and cross contamination may occur.
  • If the product smells or looks bad, throw it out. Best not to take the risk.
  • If you are in your 30′s and were wearing the same makeup at highschool, it’s time for a change!

There are exceptions to these guidelines. Dry powdered products such as mineral make up generally don’t go off and they don’t contain water so not prone to microbial overgrowth.

So if like me, you are a hoarder, check out your make up bag and see if you have any products that are way overdue being replaced. And if you dare, tell us what gems you find!

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