A survey by the UK College of Optometrists reveals the 92 percent of women are putting their health and appearance at risk by using old makeup.

It’s not generally known that makeup has a sell-by date in most advanced countries. For example :

* Mascara has an expiry date of 3–6 months.
* Liquid and cream foundations, concealer, cleanser, moisturiser, 6–8 months.
* Pressed, loose and compressed powders, eye shadow, blusher, lip gloss, lipstick, toner, 1 year.
* Eye and lip liner, 18 months.

The problem is that these products can be a “hot house” for bacteria which can cause infections when the makeup is applied. The bacteria builds up over time until it becomes dangerous to use. Mascara is a particular problem because the stick used to apply it can scratch the soft tissue surrounding the eye.

The worst offenders, says the study, are women in their 30s and early 40s.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser 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 when they are holding onto their eye makeup for so long and sharing it among their friends.”

Now this really is beauty on a budget. Dr Fredric Brandt — the Botox man — says that just by eliminating sugar from your diet, you can look ten years younger in ten days.

And it isn’t just by losing weight : “In a nutshell, sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins. In other words, it actively ages you,” he claims.

In a new book, 10 Minutes/Ten Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Better and Youthful Appearance, Brandt says he saw a remarkable change in his own skin when he dropped sugar from his diet. He lost 20lb in weight, but also gained a new “glow, radiance and elasticity” in his face. Within a year, his body had changed as well.

“I’m really lean and have the body of a teenager, although I’m in my 40s … Believe me, it’s cheaper than a facelift.”

He continues, “The sugar triggers a process in the body called glycation. This is where the sugar molecules bind to your protein fibres — those wonderfully springy and resilient collagen and elastin fibres — which are the building blocks of skin.”

However, just by overheating starchy foods or grilling them, the sugar content mutates producing Advanced Glycation End products, AGEs, which do immense harm to the skin.

This is quite a complex book, so if you’re really interested in its message, we suggest you read it in detail.

Most people have read about so-called beauty serums. But how should they be used and do they work? Should they be used with moisturisors, or instead of them?

Serums always work better if you use them beneath your normal moisturiser. Experts say you should see some changes in the texture and tone of your skin after about a month, but it will depend on many factors. These include what your skincare program was before using the serum, your lifestyle, diet and other conditions in your lifestyle.

In Britain, one of the industry’s best-kept secrets — serums — are rapidly becoming the new must-haves thanks to a product sold by Boots that is rapidly flying off shelves nationwide.

Sales of No7 Protect and Perfect Serum increased by nearly 2,000 percent with 13 being sold every minute, after it was mentioned by the BBC Horizon TV show as a “wonder cream” that reduces wrinkles.

Dr Barry Cohen, founder of pH Advantage, says: “The molecules in a serum are smaller than that of a traditional moisturiser, and therefore are able to absorb more effectively into the skin’s pores.

“Concentrated ingredients are packed into a serum which can penetrate the skin much quicker and more deeply for an intensive treatment. They can also help to address certain skin problems such as dehydration and dullness.”

It’s always best to consult an experienced practitioner though, before trying out products of this kind.