Women are buying less eye make-up in a bid to save money

The study, by The College of Optometrists also found that as well as half cutting back spending on cosmetic, a third hang on to their make-up for longer in a bid to save money.

24 per cent of women in the study also said they hadn’t purchased any eye make-up for more than six months, with 10 per cent not buying any eye make-up for two years.

The College of Optometrists are warning old eye make-up could put women’s eye health at risk. Many women keep mascara longer than the recommended three to six months, risking eye infections such as conjunctivitis and styes.

Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric advisor of the College of Optometrists says, ‘Given the recent economic climate, it’s understandable that women are looking to save money, but worrying to see that so many are willing to risk their eye health in order to do so. Old, out-of-date makeup may harbour bacteria which can cause unpleasant and unsightly infections; mascara is the worst culprit as the pumping action of the brush can drive bacteria into the tube. To avoid nasty eye infections it’s best to throw away your old make-up regularly, especially if it’s a ‘wet’ product such as mascara or liquid eyeliner’

Top tips for safe eye make-up use:
Don’t apply make-up on the move.  Scratching the eye with a mascara wand is the most common injury from make-up and can lead to eye infections. To reduce the risk of scratches, only apply where there is no risk of sudden movement or jolts which could lead to injury.
· Don’t share your eye make-up. Sharing make-up can be risky as you may be sharing bacteria too. It’s particularly inadvisable to share mascara and eyeliner.
· Play it safe - ditch mascara after 3-6 months of use. Cosmetic brushes pick up bacteria from the skin. The risk of infection is increased if you moisten the brushes with saliva.
· Avoid using eyeliner on the inside or ‘wet’ area of your eyelids. It can block the glands there and lead to styes and dry eyes.
· Put your contact lenses in before you put your make-up on.  Contact lens wearers know how important it is to keep their contact lenses clean to avoid infection but then risk compromising this with old make-up. If you are a contact lens wearer put your lenses in before you put your make-up on – not only will this will make it easier for you to see what you are doing but it will also mean you are less likely to get make-up underneath your lenses.
· Wash eye make-up brushes regularly. Make up brushes pick up dirt, grease, oil and bacteria from the skin and are then transferred onto your products. To help keep your eyes in good health and your products clean and safe, wash your brushes regularly in warm, soapy water.