Is YOUR make-up out of date? Mascara goes off after three months, foundation after a year and even sneezing in the same room as cosmetics can cause them to go bad 

• 78 per cent of women had no idea that their make-up had a shelf life at all
• Turn over your make-up and looks for a pot with a number on to find out
• Bronzers can last two years, mascaras should be binned after three months

By Bianca London for MailOnline

Published: 04:40 EST, 3 August 2015 | Updated: 05:41 EST, 3 August 2015

Would you eat a sandwich four months past its sell by date? Of course not, but you are probably wearing make-up past its expiry date right now.

Most women only replace their make-up when it runs out, however long that might take, but recent research highlighted that the majority of women are unaware of a beauty product's shelf life, putting them at risk of anything from a painful eye infection to a disfiguring skin complaint.

When questioned, 78 per cent of women had no idea that their make-up had a shelf life at all. And even though 22 per cent of respondents were aware of their product's expiry dates, a shocking 82 per cent said they still kept the products well past their use by date.

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The majority of women are unaware of a beauty product's shelf life, putting them at risk of anything from a painful eye infection to a disfiguring skin complaint

So how can you tell if your make-up has a use by date and what it is? Flip it over and you'll see an open pot with a number on. This is the number of months your cosmetic will be fresh for after you've opened it. 

Whilst foundation and concealer can last as many as 18 months and bronzers up to two years, mascaras and liquid eyeliners should be in the bin after three months.

If that wasn't bad enough, even something as simple as sneezing or not washing your hands before applying your make-up can make a huge difference.

Whilst bronzers and blushers can last up to two years, mascaras and liquid eyeliners should be in the bin after three months

Bacteria from a sneeze travels 200 times further than what you may see - and if the droplets land on your cosmetics, the bacterial spores multiply. 

So how can you tell if your make-up has a use by date and what it is? Flip it over and you'll see an open pot with a number on (bottom right). This is the number of months your cosmetic will be fresh for after you've opened it

The same goes for handling your make-up with unwashed hands; always apply foundation or concealer onto the back of your hand and apply it from there rather than directly from the bottle. 

Emma Leslie, beauty editor at online cosmetics shop Escentual.com, added: 'Old make-up can become a breeding ground for bacteria, especially eye products which if shared or kept for a long time can spread infections. So it's not just a fashion thing.

'Be ruthless and honest with yourself and don’t be a hoarder! Ask yourself: When was the last time you used it? Does it suit you? Has it dried up/smell funny/or look odd? And don't forget to give your make-up brushes a thorough clean and throw out any overused sponges as these harbour bacteria like you wouldn’t believe.

'I keep a bottle of bareMinerals Quick Change Brush Cleaner to keep on top of it.

'To keep my make-up bag fresh and free of nasty bugs, I swap over my products regularly.' 

Other ways to preserve your make-up for as long as possible includes never pumping your mascara, which lets bacteria in, keeping lipstick in the fridge and storing fragrances away from sunlight. 

Eve Bickley explains how to find cosmetic expiration dates

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