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Do you have a make-up bag filled to the brim with old hand-me-downs? Lipsticks in appalling colours, electric blue eye shadow just in case you go to an 80s party, and tiny leftover eye pencils with the caps missing?

Old make-up doesn't just gather dust and clutter your make-up bag, it also collects bacteria and stops working properly. Many beauty products contain preservatives to extend the shelf life and stop germs from breeding, but after a while even these become ineffective.

"Keep your beauty products in the best condition, and protect your skin against infections and breakouts by keeping to each product's recommended expiry date," advises Vivienne Snell, spokesperson for Clinique.

There's a difference between shelf life, and the recommended expiry date of a product, she says. "Shelf life, or the expiry date on your product, refers to how long a product will remain fresh when it sits, unopened, on a shelf.

"But once it's been opened, the product is exposed to air and oxidation occurs. Many products have a sign on the label telling you how long it should last – look out for the symbol of a little pot with an open lid and a number, indicating the amount of weeks or months the opened product should be safe to use."

Of course, a beauty product that's used after its expiry date or once it's been open too long won't necessarily do any harm, but they may lose their hypo-allergenic properties, discoloration could occur, powder may cake, nail varnish dry out, and so on.

Throw out if it's older than...
Its recommended expiry date (unless you haven’t used it and the packaging is still sealed.)

Foundation: up to two years
Keep water-based foundation in a cupboard where the temperature is controlled – heat and cold may spoil the colour. Oil-based foundations need to be mixed well so the oil and colour don’t separate, causing the oil to squirt out first and the colour to dry out.

Concealer: one to two years
These are normally oil-based. A product with a sponge-tip or brush applicator that’s dipped into the concealer will have a shorter life (up to a year) than one that is squeezed out of a tube and isn’t exposed to air (up to two years).

Especially as concealer is sometimes used on spots, it’s important to not double-dip the applicator, allowing the germs to spread to the rest of the concealer and breed.

Powder: eight months to a year
Loose powder will stay fresh for two years, although it's normally used up before then. Compact powder has a shorter lifespan, as it's applied with a sponge applicator that comes into contact with your skin (and compact powder is normally used by women with oily skin).

These skin oils will cake the product over a few months, and spread skin bacteria if you have a break-out, so remember to keep your sponges clean.

Lipstick: six months to two years
These vary widely as there are so many different formulas, so check the packaging. The waxy lipstick can easily melt if left in a hot car, so keep it cool to extend its life.

A lipgloss in a pot that's applied with your finger can last up to six months. To keep it hygienic, wipe your lipgloss or Vaseline pots with a tissue every now and then to scrape off the top layer, and dip your lipsticks in pure alcohol every so often.

Eye shadow: up to two years
Don't use a wet brush on powder-based eye shadow (unless it's specifically designed for wet or dry application) as moisture may change the colour and cause it to cake.

It's very important to keep your brushes clean, as the eye area is the most delicate and eye infections can easily occur.

Pencil eyeliner: up to three years
Pencil eyeliner and lipliner are normally of a waxy substance, which doesn’t really allow germs to breed so they’re rather safe. (But remember to check the packaging.)

Mascara & liquid eye liner: six to eight weeks
This is the most sensitive of all make-up products, as the gel is the ideal breeding ground for germs. "Don't be tempted to keep mascara until you've used up all the gel," says Vivienne. "If it's been open for more than two months, throw it out."

And if you’ve used it while having an eye infection or even the slightest inflammation, chuck it. To keep things hygienic, don't pump your mascara wand into the container –this only allows air to be trapped inside, introducing germs and causing the mascara to dry and cake.

Nail polish: one year
Always ensure the inside top is clean when you close the bottle, otherwise it hardens and prevents the bottle from closing properly, causing the varnish to dry and discolour.

Sun creams: two years on average
Always check the packaging for an indication, as these vary widely depending on the formula used. "The big problem with old sun block is that they cease to be effective at all, which is very dangerous for our skin," says Vivienne.

"If you haven't used up your bottle of sunblock after summer, you've been using too little!" Also be vigilant with any moisturiser or foundation that contains SPF.

Keep it fresh
Vivienne recommends:
"Firstly, store your make-up in a temperate environment – a make-up bag in the car, though handy, will only melt and dry out your products.

Secondly, regularly wash your brushes, sponges and other applicators. Gently rinse with tepid water and a special brush cleanser or mild shampoo every two months.

Leave to dry on a towel – do not shake or squeeze as it may damage the fibres or bristles. Synthetic brushes (those you use for wet application, such as lipgloss or concealer) need to be washed more often.’

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