All of us are guilty of clinging onto make-up products which are well past their best. Whether it's for sentimental reasons or if your favourite brand just doesn't make that shade anymore, sometimes it can be hard to clear out your make-up bag. There are plenty of good reasons to give your make-up bag a revamp though and below we give you a step by step guide to ensure your cosmetics collection is pristine...

1. Empty and clean your make-up bag

Whether you have a tiny make-up bag or one that resembles a weekend holdall, your make-up bag itself will have seen plenty of wear and tear as well as dirt so start by giving it a good clean. Empty the contents out and wash the bag in warm soapy water. If your cosmetics bag is coming apart at the seams and has seen better days then treat yourself to a new one.

2. Check the use by dates on your make up

Most quality make-up products will have a use by date on them which is usually indicated in months. Items such as toner, cleanser, moisturiser and powder typically have use by dates of up to two years although most women will use there's in a matter of weeks! The key items to be aware of when it comes to make-up use by dates are mascara (four - six months) and concealer (a year) as these products are in danger of coming into contact with the most bacteria. If items such as blusher and eye shadow, which technically have a shelf life of one to two years, are discoloured or dried out then it's time to throw these away too.

3. Don't forget your brushes and sponges

There's little point replacing all of your out of date make-up with new quality make-up if you are still going to use your existing brushes. Most quality make-up brushes can handle being washed and dried which will ensure they are clean and ready to use. If you want to update your sponge and brush collection then check out our excellent and affordable range of make-up brushes.

4. Refill your make-up bag

The best part of de-cluttering your make-up bag is that when the job's done you get to stock up on new quality make-up. Now is the perfect time to update your colours and check that you are wearing the right shades to suit your skin. New products such as Silk Foundation Primer would be a superb addition to your make-up collection as this product helps create the perfect base for the rest of your make-up. If you want a range of new colours for your eye shadows then browse our collection of Eye Shadows and you'll find some great colours to choose from all priced at just £3.50 each.

At Jane Fardon Cosmetics we specialise in creating affordable quality make-up for discerning women so if you need to give your make-up collection a boost then visit our online shop.