Women warned of make-up germ risk as the normal war paint bag is found to be 4 years out of date

Risk: Most women are unaware of how their make-up bags can be a breeding ground for bacteria

They might appear innocent components of the female armoury.

But beware. Those trusty pots of eyeshadow and tubes of lipstick can be dangerous.

Beauty products, like food, do not last forever.

Over time bacteria can infiltrate them, only to be transferred on to the face and cause irritation or even infection.

But the average make-up bag is a hoarding space for items that are four years out of date, a study shows.

And some women hang on to items for up to 15 years past recommended use-by dates.

Old mascara wands can breed bacteria that lead to conjunctivitis, which causes redness, itching and swelling.

They should not be used six months after opening but women admit to keeping them for an average of a year.

Expired lipsticks, meanwhile, can make lips dry, irritated and blistered.

And dirty brushes are a breeding ground for micro-organisms that can cause herpes, ringworm and impetigo, an infectious disease that results in blisters.

Five years ago rules were brought in by the European Union requiring all cosmetics to carry advice on when they will expire.

Many manufacturers responded by adding ;period after opening symbols to packaging to indicate how many months a product lasts.

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But, according to research by Debenhams, 89 per cent of women do not know such information exists, cannot understand it, or simply cannot read the often tiny writing.

"I"d avoid that one, it looks a bit old"

So eyeshadow and blusher, which tend to have PAOs of 18 to 24 months, are kept for an average of 180 months thats 15 years.

And lipstick, with a recommended life of up to two years, has an average keep-for life of ten.

In addition, 68 per cent of women say they replace make-up or skin products only when they run out, no matter how long that takes.

A further 72 per cent never wash make-up sponges or brushes.

Debenhams has written to Health Secretary Andy Burnham to push for further legislation to cover the safety of consumers.

Spokesman Sara Stern said: ;We wouldnt hesitate to chuck out mouldy or bacteria-ridden food and the same standards should apply to lotions we put on our skin.

;Beauty is timeless, but unfortunately products are not.