Discoloured or smelly lipsticks, mascara and eye pencils can accumulate dangerous bacteria.

Although all cosmetics come with a best before date, a study by Debenhams found 89per cent of women did not know that this information was available on beauty products’ labels.

More than two-thirds of women only change products when they run out, while about three-quarters are not in the habit of washing make-up sponges.

“Women don’t like throwing things away but you have to remember it is probably no longer doing its job properly and could well give you a nasty infection,” the Daily Star quoted Ruth Attridge from Debenhams, as saying.

[Source]