Out with the old, in with the new - and that applies to your make-up bag as well. At this time of year, it's worth remembering that certain auld acquaintances should be forgot - not only forgot, but binned altogether. Certain trends in maquillage were all well and good at the time (who could have got through summer without a lurid shade of purple eyeshadow?) but by now they're beginning to shout "1998", or even, God forbid, "1997! 1997!". So in the name of progress, modernity and enduring beauty it's time to grit your teeth, take a deep breath, open your make-up bag and start editing. First of all, take a good look at your nail varnish collection. Now red and any shade of it (Scarlet, Crimson, Vamp, Jugular) is an enduring favourite and can stay just in case you get lucky after the office. Blue, however, should definitely get the old heave-ho, as should orange, green, puce, yellow (oh dear, was that ever a good look?) and most bottles involving glitter. I know, I know, they wowed everyone at that fondue in September but be honest, it was probably for their novelty value rather than their hand-enhancing properties. It is all to easy to look like you've a) shut your hand in the car door or b) decided the Goth look is a good one for a 32-year-old. Not so. Neither of these represented a good fashion moment. Don't worry about all that good polish gone to waste, however. You can either make a decorative bathroom feature out of it or off-load it on an eternally grateful eight-year-old, who will put it to proper use. Next up for inspection comes mascara. If you thought black eye gook was indispensable (Cleopatra used it, after all), then think again. In years to come, that I-didn't-sleep-in-my-own-bed-last-night look, complete with caked black eyes will sum up the makeup Zeitgeist of 1998 to perfection. It was kind of sexy, admittedly, but that was only during the first half hour after it was applied. From there on in, the effect could have been best summed up as "Dalmatian Dog". Cute canine, it's true, but not one known for its pulling power.

Liquid eyeliner or thick black kohl is another offender but there's no point being anything but lenient here. Trends may come and trends may go but women will hang on to their favourite eyeliner as if it were a half-price down duvet in the sales. If you're being very Mel Gibson about the whole editing process, throw them all out. If not, sneak it back in. If on the other hand your eyeliner is blue or purple, you know what to do. Next tackle those eyeshadows. It is a testament to the power of glossy magazines that the summer of 1998 saw us all plunging into the pastel eyeshadow market like we'd forgotten the first eyeshadow we ever bought was bright blue and made by Constance Caroll.

By the time we had reached 18, of course, most of us had realised browns, greys, and greens were probably the best bet if your eyes weren't purple, orange or lime. Then the powers that be decided to resurrect shades such as Lilac Torment and Tangerine Tangental and we all had great fun for a while. Party's over, I'm afraid; bright pink is just not a good colour for eyes unless you're a white rabbit, and even then it's debatable.

It's not all bad news, though. Lipsticks remained fairly constant in shade and texture (although if you flirted with the matching pistachio-eye-and-lip look, it might be a good idea to loose both). Foundations and powders can also stay put as most of us have the good sense to stick to one that suits us, year in, year out. If, however, you look like you've been Tango-ed, the message is still the same - foundations are meant to match your skin tone, not turn it tangerine.

Other sitting tenants as far as your make-up bag is concerned include lip gloss (as long as it's not too glossy); anything shimmery (odds are this look is too flattering to disappear too fast); a subtle blusher, if you wear one; eyebrow brush (a very good trend), and concealer. If you're feeling flush, invest in some new make-up brushes and sponges, and hell, seeing as you've done such good work, you could throw in a new make-up bag as well. Now it's time to look at that discarded pile of once-loved cosmetics and admit that, yes, you'll probably put them all back into your bag as soon as the flush of puritanical enthusiasm wears off. Oh well, at least you found out what you had in there in the first place.