How long have you had your mascara?

Some girls (me included) just can’t live without their mascara! Along with your foundation it is an essential extension of your arm that is a must have at all times! Unfortunately if we don’t change our mascara regularly it can be a hazardous necessity.

Research by the College of Optometrists  has revealed that women’s beauty habits are putting their eye health at risk. Despite recommendations that eye make-up should be thrown away after six months, one in four women continues to use bacteria-ridden products that are over four years old. A quarter of those surveyed confessed to sharing eye make-up with friends and family, even though 1 in 10 admitted to frequently suffering from conditions such as conjunctivitis, said the college. Welsh women were the worst culprits. A third admitted to owning eye make-up that was over four years old while women in their late 30’s and early 40’s had the oldest make-up bags; one in five admitted to using make-up that was over five years old. Dr Susan Blakeney optometric advisor to the college said “Mascara can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s not surprising we’ve found nearly half of women suffer from itchy, watery and red eyes.”

So there you have it if you want to steer clear of sty’s and conjunctivitis throw away any open mascara after six months and do not share your maraca with anybody else it doesn’t matter how clean they are!