Out of date cosmetics putting women at risk

Many admit they completely ignore use-by dates on make-up and toiletries – sometimes keeping items for several years too long.

Even if the products start to smell or become discoloured, women confess to ignoring the official guidance and continuing to use them well past their best-before date.

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And many admit they simply did not realise cosmetics can go off.

In fact mascara generally lasts only between four and six months, eye shadow and blusher 18 to 24 months, and an eyebrow pencil 18 months.

Lipstick or lip gloss lasts for 12 to 24 months, eye and lip liner for 18 months and perfume 36 months.

More than 14 million adults in the UK use and wear beauty products every day.

Yet the research shows that 49 per cent of cosmetic owners do not look at the “use by” date after opening their products.

And 66 per cent admit that they continue to use them past the date regardless of any possible health concerns.

Three quarters – 73 per cent – say that they do not know what the ingredients in make-up are.

The new findings from Opinium Research show that 15 per cent of cosmetics buyers are not aware that beauty products have “use by”’ dates, and a further 49 per cent do not check this date, despite knowing it is there. A third of the 3,813 questioned said that they do check dates but do not necessarily follow them.

Dr Chris Flower, a chartered biologist, toxicologist and director general of the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association, said: “Consumers themselves are the greatest source of possible contamination for cosmetic products.

“Bacteria, yeasts and moulds, awful though it sounds, are always present on our skin and hair, in the air around us, and on the many items we touch every day.

Although most micro-organisms are harmless, some can lead to product spoilage. Continued use of a spoiled product could lead to skin irritations or even infections in broken or sensitive skin.

“Cosmetics are made to resist everyday exposure to micro-organisms for long enough to ensure the consumer can finish using the product safely.

“The ‘period after opening’ labelling is not a hard-and-fast cut-off time but a prompt to make you ask whether or not to keep or discard a product which you are using slowly.

“It is extremely important that if a consumer notices a product looks or smells different then the product should be discarded.”

James Endersby, managing director of Opinium Research said: “Food has an expiration date, and people don’t think twice about throwing away gone-off milk and mouldy bread so why would people think cosmetics are any different?

“They say beauty is timeless, but unfortunately make-up products are not.

“In order to look after your health and beauty, people should only keep their items to the stated times.”