New year 'means new stock of make-up'

Women using their compact mirrors to look dazzling in 2011 should consider getting rid of any old make-up, according to an expert.

Christi Rantis, a Chicagoan make-up expert writing for the Examiner, explained that old products can be "disgusting" as a lot of bacteria can live in different applicators, particularly mascara.

As a result, people are at serious risk of developing an eye infection by using such things, she asserted.

Ms Rantis remarked that people are too eager to hold onto things but explained there are certain problems with make-up that are easy to spot, such as the smell of products.

"If your make-up even remotely starts smelling odd or different, then you know what to do," she explained. "Mascara especially will develop an odour from all the bacteria gathering in the tube. 

"Don't commit makeup suicide. Ditch that sucker and buy a new one."

Company magazine believes mascara can last for around three-to-six months, claiming that it easily harbours bacteria as it is wet-based.