Do you know what is going on your face? Do you even stop to think about your morning ritual? Maybe you should. Everyone seems to have heard of lipsticks being tested for lead and mascara containing mercury. But what is the real harm of these chemicals and how prevalent are they?

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics recently tested a multitude of lipsticks on the current market for lead and found that 61 percent of lipsticks tested contained a detectable amount of this contaminant. Lead has been known to harm the developing brain of a child, and the government has already demanded its removal from gasoline and house paint, but not hair dye.

And that’s not all. Skin Deep (a thorough site that reviews all the harmful products in current cosmetics) found that when washing the mascara off your face every night, you may be washing a small dose of mercury right onto your eyes or face. Mercury in mascara has been known to damage brain function at low levels.

And this is just the makeup that you apply on a good day! What about the skincare products that you need to cleanse and refresh your face and body every morning and evening? Sodium laurel sulfate, found in common shampoos and cleansers can be potentially damaging, drying and cause irritation if left on the skin for prolonged periods of time. And parabens, which are the most commonly used preservatives in the United States have been known to cause skin irritations and rashes.

Luckily, there are brands out there trying to make a difference. These include Weleda, Burt’s Bees, Dr. Hauschka and Edelbio Skincare. Edelbio creates products that are Swiss-certified organic, dermatologist tested and safe for use on the most sensitive skin types, with no harmful chemicals. It’s nice to know that there are companies out there trying to positively change what we put on our skin. Now it’s up to us as consumers to start thinking about and buying products that are good for the environment and our bodies.