When we were 12 and 13 years old my girlfriends and I would often troll the cosmetics aisle of our local drugstore looking for new and exciting products to buy with our allowance money. Being a green-minded person even then, I reached for cosmetics I thought were natural, like Aveeno, Herbal Essences, and St. Ives (we loved that Apricot Scrub!). I assumed that the products on the store shelves were safe, and that natural would be even better for me and for the planet. I was fooled. I eventually found out these products are no different from conventional ones: they, too, contain chemicals that...

If someone were to ask you, “What’s that lovely fragrance you’re wearin g? ” would you sa y , “ Oh, that’s hormone disruptors, allergens and chemicals that have never been assessed for safety . It’ s my signature scent. ” Of course you wouldn’t. But th ere is a good chance that reply would be accurate . Not So Sexy: The health risks of secret chemicals in fragrance , a new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group , reveals that t op-selling fragrances contain an average of 14 undisclosed chemicals , many of which are linked to serious health problems. How can...