How Your Make-Up Bag Could Give You An Infection... Or Even MENINGITIS

#1 You couldn't make it up! Your could be at risk of using bacteria infected cosmetics if you hoard beauty products

A study by beauty company LiB Group found that a fifth of women hoard their cosmetics for more than five years, putting them at risk of blood poisoning, urine infections and gastroenteritis a stomach condition which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

And around a quarter of the women polled admitted to keeping their mascara for up to one year, despite warnings by health and beauty experts to replace it every three months.

Meanwhile, 20% of British women are hoarding their cleanser for a year twice as long as is recommended.

And to top off the worrying trend, one in ten women admitted to using lipsticks which were more than three years old two years beyond its typical expiration date.

The survey of 5,000 women was carried out after scientists at London Metropolitan University found that old cosmetic products can contain unsafe levels of potentially lethal bacteria.

#2 Shocking levels of dangerous bacteria were found on expired cosmetics

A team of researchers tested five common beauty products which had passed their expiry date, including a blusher, foundation and lip gloss.

Deadly bacteria found to be lurking on expired cosmetics included enterococcus faecalis one of the main causes of meningitis, which can result in blood poisoning and permanent brain damage.

Researchers also found eubacterium bacteria, which causes bacterial vaginosis and aeromonas bacteria, which is responsible for causing gastroenteritis and wound infections.

Alongside the enterobacter bug, which causes urinary and respiratory tract infections, other shocking finds included antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the bugs responsible for causing skin conditions such as acne.

Katie Tillard, Chief Operating Officer for LiB Group said: "We all have one or two unusual items in our beauty collection but it's clear from this research that lots of women also keep stuff they just don't use.

"We advise that women should listen to their friends when it comes to the latest beauty recommendations, and should try sample sizes so that if you don't end up liking it, you'll be saving on space in your make-up bag and money in your wallet."

#3 Researchers revealed that you could be using make-up which is infected with seriously dangerous bacteria

The out-of-date products tested by London Met scientists were sent in by beauty bloggers from around the UK.

Laura Byrne, 26, who sent in a nine-month out-of-date blusher from London, said: "I'm absolutely shocked that my blusher contains bacteria that could cause meningitis and septicaemia.

"I was aware that I had kept it well past its use by date but didn't think for a minute that a blusher to contain killer diseases growing in it."

Microbiologist Paul Matewele from the London Metropolitan University confirmed the shocking test results.

#4

He said: "All the old make-up products of foundation, lip gloss and lipstick tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis under strict laboratory tests.

"Enterococcus faecalis is the potentially deadly strain of bacteria which causes meningitis and Septicaemia and is one of the biggest killers for newborn babies."