With all the news and talk about the Gulf oil spill during the past two weeks, we've (unsurprisingly) been talking a lot about the science behind oil and oil production, the future of energy, and the economics behind the whole shebang. We talk about this stuff a lot anyway, but when you really think about, petroleum pervades almost every single aspect of our lives. It's what we use to power our cars and make machinery go, of course, but it's also seemingly omnipresent in thousands of unsuspecting products we use every day. And for women in particular, petroleum and petroleum-derived byproducts are hiding in some pretty sneaky places. Today, I took a walk through my house thinking just about my fashion and beauty regimen between breakfast and lunch - I consider myself pretty green, and a highly conscious consumer -- and I came up with dozens of things that are made from petroleum or petroleum byproducts. Let's be clear: petroleum in and of itself is not necessarily dangerous or evil. But if we really want to think about how we move toward a brighter green future, we better face the facts: This stuff is in nearly everything we use - even if you're using green beauty products, wearing green clothes, and eating wholesome foods, petroleum is likely lurking somewhere in or around your smart-consumer choices.

With all that in mind, I began to make a list of common fashion and beauty products most women use everyday that are either made from oil or contain petroleum byproducts. Take a look - it may surprise you. Then ask yourself, what's in my shampoo/eye shadow/underwear/etc? And could I live without it?

Petroleum is hiding in your closet in:

1. Clothing made from synthetic fibers such as acrylic, 2. nylon, and 3. polyester, or 4. coated with formaldehyde finishes (even organic cotton could fall into this category) 5. Socks 6. Buttons 7. The stretchy part of your underwear and 8. all of your bra 9. Running shoes 10. The soles of your shoes 11. Stretchy jeans and 12. shirts, etc. 13. Plastic earrings, 14. bracelets, and 15. necklaces, etc.

Petroleum is hiding in your in your bathroom in:



16. Sunscreen

17. Body lotion

18. Ibuprofen and

19. Aspirin

20. Hair conditioner

21. Shampoo

22. Hairbrush

23. Hair bands

24. Bobby pins

25. Toothbrush

26. Toothpaste

27. Soap

28. Tampons

29. Sanitary pads

Petroleum is hiding in your make-up bag in:



31. Lipstick

32. Mascara

33. Eyeliner

34. Lip plumper

35. Vaseline

36. Nail polish

37. Eye makeup remover

38. Hair gel

39. Hair spray

40. Perfume

41. Foundation

42. Face powder

43. Eye shadow

44. Concealer



Illustration: Chris Halderman via Flickr.

Petroleum is hiding in your in your purse in



45. Sunglasses

46. iPod

47 Cell phone (Let's face it, iPods and phones are basically fashion accessories)

48. Breath mints

49. Gum

50. Lip gloss

It's enough to make you wonder how we ever did without it -- and what else it's in.