Minnesota has banned such products from store shelves, and you may want to consider banning them from your own daily routine. 

Like many women, Andrea Marienau of Sioux Falls doesn't often leave the house without her "face" on.
"I wear makeup every day,” she said, “sometimes not as much as others." 

But she hardly gave a second thought, as to what was in that makeup. About a year ago, her sensitive skin needed something new, so she switched to an all-natural line of products. That's when she learned some mascaras, eyeliners, and skin creams are made with mercury. 

"Now that I think back on it, different mascaras I wore that would clump and get into my eyes, on my skin,” Marienau said. “Makes me actually think now, what was I putting on my face?" 

Minnesota is now the first state in the nation to ban products where mercury is intentionally added, including cosmetics, toiletries, and fragrances. The law went into effect January 1st. 

"Exposure in cosmetics is generally quite low, but the issue is you might be exposed from a number of products, so that's going to add up," said John Gilkeson with Minnesota Pollution Control. 

Too much mercury can damage the nervous system, and may affect vision, speech, and coordination. Pregnant women with too much mercury in their tissues can give birth to babies with severe disabilities, related nervous system damage. 

Some researchers say there is no such thing as a safe level of mercury, and often, makeup manufacturers don't list ingredients. 

"It's very difficult for a consumer to research easily what makeups contain and not," said Dr. Heather Karu, a plastic reconstruction surgeon and medical director of Sanford’s Vivaz Medical Spa. 

The safety issue aside, health officials say mercury just isn't needed anymore in cosmetics. 

"It was added to a very select few products as an anti-microbial, an anti-germ type of thing,” said Dr. Karu. “But there are other much safer options." 

Many companies have already phased mercury out of their makeup lines, opting for more natural germ-killers and preservatives. But be warned... some products containing mercury are still on the market. The key is learning which makeup is safe for you. 

Click here to research your favorite makeup brand. 

If you have concerns about mercury exposure, ask your doctor to order a test.