As I was putting away some new goodies recently, I realised that I was completely out of space so it was out with the old, in with the new. I started shifting some of the stuff I had not used in the past couple of months - or so I thought. When I opened some of them, I realised I may have had them for years rather than months and they were not fit to be used by even my worst of enemies. So I had a clear-out. A big clear-out. It took an entire day but let me tell you, I have more space than I know what to do with. It is remarkable to think that some of the stuff I had in the cupboard had been there for years without being used.. Some things looked like they had a life of their own, and indeed, one moisturiser plucked itself out of the jar and told me off for letting it go to waste! The nerve.

In any event, when was the last time you had a really good clear-out? All of the half used products that have been pushed to the back of the cupboard? The lipsticks that seemed like a good idea when you bought them but made you look like a drag queen in the harsh light of day? Eyeshadow compacts that you've used only half the shades of. Well the time has come. This is never an easy task because all I can ever think of is the amount of money I spent on them originally, but let's face it; if you have not used it in the last year or so, will you ever? And it is no good thinking that you can use it for a fancy dress party because you do that only once a year or so. So let's do the deed. Rubber gloves to the ready, plastic bin bag in one hand and the handle of the bathroom cupboard in the other. Ready, steady, go.

Make-up
With make-up you need to be ruthless. Some make-up artists recommend having three different kits. One containing the stuff you use daily, one that gets used for special occasions, and the last for anything that is left over. The theory is that if you don't open the left over one for a year you should simply pitch it. Well I just can't do that. I have some eyeshadows that I still use, even though I have had them for over 20 years. No snide comments on my age please! But since they are powder and have been kept in good nick, they are fine to continue using. But there are guidelines for how long your make-up should be kept, depending on what sort of product it is.

[quote] Foundations and tinted moisturisers – Use the same guide as you would a skincare product, one to one-and-a-half years once they have been opened. If they smell or change in texture, appearance or colour: get rid of them.

Powder – Whether loose or pressed, these can be used pretty much indefinitely as long as you have not allowed them to get damp. With pressed powders you may find they get a film, but that can be scraped away to reveal fresh powder underneath. If they look in any way suspect though, ditch 'em.

Cream eyeshadows and cream blushers – One to one-and-a-half years. Due to the texture, you never want to keep this sort of product any longer than that. If you don't use them often, refrigerate them and you can keep them six to nine months longer, as long as they don't change in appearance or smell.

Powder eyeshadows and powder blushers – As long as you have cared for them, they can be used until they are gone.

Pencils – Again, because they are creamy based they should not be kept for longer than about a year-and-a-half. But if you have enough of the pencil left, sharpen away about an inch of it and see what the texture is like. If it is still soft and doesn't drag on the skin, and there isn't any funny smell, you can try to use it. But if you have any hint of a reaction, or if you are prone to dodgy skin with products, don't risk it and throw it away.

Lipsticks and glosses – Most of these will start to smell after about a year. If you are using a range where they fragrance the product, you may be able to stretch it out a while longer, but if there is a funny smell or taste I wouldn't bother. Any bacteria that are growing in these products will be ingested because they are being worn on your mouth. Yuck. Those of you with delicate stomachs have been warned as you can make yourself feel constantly queasy and never attribute it to something as banal as a lipstick that has gone off.

Mascara – three months. Yes, you heard me correctly, three months. If you keep it in the fridge, you might be able to stretch it another month or so. Coloured mascaras that you only wear occasionally should also be kept in the fridge to extend the life. If you think about the following, you will understand. Your eyelashes are there to keep bacteria and debris from falling into your eyes. You pick them up on the brush and shove them back into the container, which is lovely and warm and dark. Basically, the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Plus a lot of you leave the mascara in your nice steamy, warm bathroom where it heats up. Or you carry it in your handbag from hot places to cold and back again. You can give yourself a very nasty eye infection even if you are the only one who ever wears your mascara. That is also why mascara is a product that should never be shared. And I realise they work better as they get older, but you really need to safeguard your eyes from potential infection. Three months!