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Hi, my name is Erin and I am a high school senior from Northern California. I founded Teens for Safe Cosmetics with a group of my peers because I don't think that we should have to choose between beauty and health! And now I apply a similar philosophy to all aspects of my life: why risk my well being when I don't have to? With summer's end just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about back to school. Can you believe it?! In addition to finding out about classes, teachers, schedules, and readjusting to waking up to my alarm clock, I think back to school is the perfect opportunity to embrace a more eco-conscious lifestyle. From my shampoo and mascara to my outfit for the first day of school to binders and text books, I am Turning Green! Check out these four simple tips, watch Kylie’s video tips and join us on this ever-evolving journey towards a healthy body and world. Check back throughout the month of August for more back to school tips from Teens for Safe Cosmetics. And enjoy these last few weeks of summer!! Tip 1: Look for organic and chemical free cosmetics, personal care, and body products (guys included – shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving cream, soap, etc). Visit Teens for Safe Cosmetics for a complete list of Greener Alternatives , as well asa chemicals to avoid in The Dirty Dozen . Check out the Skin Deep Report for more information and visit stores like Whole Foods Market or other green retailers for a wide selection of products. Tip 2: Incorporate green into your clothing choices for the first day of school. Cotton is among the most pesticide-laden and water-intensive crops in the world, which is why purchasing organic cotton is so vital. EcoFashion can be everything from vintage to recycled fibers like bamboo, hemp, recycled denim, and even cork for shoes! Tip 3: When shopping for school supplies, purchase recycled binders and post-consumer notebooks and dividers, like those by New Leaf Paper (made in the USA and available at Whole Foods Market). Look into refillable or recycled pens and pencils, AusPen whiteboard markers, mainstream office supply stores and companies with green initiatives, and comprehensive online eco-office supply databases . Tip 4: Save money and trees by reusing and recycling reading materials! Attend a local book swap, visit the library, research paper-free on the web, and look for used books at local or online stores. About Teens for Safe Cosmetics Teens for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition led by dynamic and passionate young women raising awareness about potentially harmful ingredients in beauty and daily use products that may be linked to cancer, reproductive harm and other health risks. Their mission is to educate the public about harmful chemicals found in cosmetics and personal care products, advocate for legislation that protects one’s right to health and to inspire teens across the nation to work together around these issues and create change within their communities. Teens for Safe Cosmetics launches Teens Turning Green Collection Teens for Safe Cosmetics has brought together phenomenal eco-conscious companies to create a line that attains Whole Foods Market’s Premium Body Care seal, the most comprehensive retail standards. Companies have used a holistic approach in the creation of these products, incorporating how age, variation in skin type, and environment can effect teenage skin. The line will launch exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide in October 2008. For the first time in history, Teens Turning Green will offer teenagers a line made specifically for their skin that is safe. Hand-selected by teenagers for safety, sustainability, and practicality, the Teens Turning Green collection is a cross-section of the best products on the market.