Would you cover your face with the same chemicals used in antifreeze, engine degreasers or oven cleaners? Most rational people would say no, but unknowingly we seem to be using products filled with these chemicals daily. What could we be using that would possibly be legal on the market that contain these kinds of hidden toxins? The answer lies within the cosmetic cases of millions across the country.

A $35 billion industry, cosmetics have become a fundamental part of many women’s lives. The average American woman uses 12 personal products daily; the average man uses about six, according to The Story of Stuff Project, an initiative that uses film and the power of community to encourage sustainable living.

Entering a department store, shoppers are bombarded with advertisements insisting they try a new lipstick or hairspray, and it’s easy to grow confused and overwhelmed by the unlimited choices that are available. We have become a society dependent on products that promise to make you instantly beautiful or desirable, and the scary part is using makeup and personal products daily can be more harmful then helpful.

Our skin will absorb 65 percent of whatever is applied to it. In common personal care products, 33 percent of ingredients have been linked to cancer causing agents, 45 percent are harmful for your reproductive organs and 60 percent can disrupt hormones. What makes them dangerous is the amount they are used and that they are directly ingested or absorbed by your skin.

Some companies will promise faster or “deeper” results by adding penetration enhancing ingredients (like L’Oreal’s nanoparticle technology) that haven’t been safely tested by the cosmetic industry. Furthermore, the industry doesn’t have a formal definition for buzz words like “organic” or “herbal,” so any company can put any solution into a bottle and slap those words on a label, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

What’s even scarier is that there are no laws regulating the dangerous ingredients used in cosmetics. Currently the FDA doesn’t evaluate the safety of personal care products, according to Storyofstuff.org. It’s a self-regulating industry that cares more about dollars than the poison they’re marketing.

So what’s a girl to do? Doing some research and switching to organic or natural products can benefit you in the long run, and if you want to check how safe the products you’re using are, visit Cosmeticsdatabase.com. This site tells you on a scale of 1 to 10 how harmful the products you’re using are and also offers organic alternatives.

Organic cosmetics are free of preservatives, talc, waxes and fragrances that can irritate skin or cause breakouts. They also don’t contain petrochemicals, made from oil and found in some popular shampoos like Herbal Essences. PVP/VA Copolymers, found in non-aeresol hairsprays like Aussie, can contribute to foreign body buildup in your lungs. Triethanolamine, used in cosmetics like Avon Clear Finish Foundation, is added to adjust the pH and can cause swelling or fluid-filled blisters and is toxic if absorbed over a long period of time.

Just think, next time you look at a bottle of Pine Sol brand cleaners, look for triethanolmine on the ingredient list and imagine applying that to your face.

Contrary to myth, there are actually many reasonably priced organic cosmetic options out there. Facial cosmetics at Upurea (upurea.com) range from $14 to $21. Also, many women believe it’s hard to find products that are 100-percent certified natural. At Sephora, a leading cosmetics chain, finding the right organic products for you is as easy as looking for their own green “natural seal.” At your local beauty store look for the USDA organic label on the product to make sure it is entirely organic.

And if you don’t want to spend the money to test out natural products you can try making them at home. YouTube videos like Gorgeously Green provide tutorials on how to make face masks, facial oils and body scrubs from ingredients that are readily available around your house. There are also books like “Natural Beauty Basic: Create Your Own Cosmetics and Body Care Products” that explain steps to make your own products.

So next time you use your faithful face cleanser or lip gloss, scan your eyes over the label. Look for anything that appears suspicious and do some research online. You may be surprised about the amount of chemicals your face is absorbing. If true beauty really does come from within, then going green is a way for you to always look your best.

Gina Jensen is a senior majoring in retail and is a wannabe Carrie Bradshaw. Send fashion faux pas and column ideas to [email protected].