Now that you know a bit about my overall approach on life, let's delve into the good stuff: beauty, body, fashion, self. That was my entry point into the depths of a green lifestyle because honestly, what more does a girl need in life? (Well, a lot... but you catch my superficial drift...) If what you put on your body 24/7 could be potentially harmful, why do it? I aim to live my life by a simple precautionary principle -- why risk my wellbeing when I do not have to? Ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products have links to cancer, birth defect, and reproductive harm; 89 percent of the more than six thousand chemicals in those products have NEVER been tested for safety; in the U.S.A. there is no regulatory body overseeing the beauty industry that is not within the FDA's jurisdiction and reporting ingredients and adverse reactions is done on a voluntary basis. In Canada, The Food and Drugs Act and Cosmetic Regulations from Health Canada does supply a Hot List for ingredients banned from cosmetics (which Health Canada says is not complete) and disclosure is "proactive". One of its guidelines for manufacturers states: "If a cosmetic contains an ingredient which appears on the Hotlist, the manufacturer may be advised to reduce the concentration of the ingredient to an acceptable level" Those facts do not equate for me. I want to be absolutely positive that what I am using on my body has been proven safe. Period. There are so many risk factors in the world today that I as an individual can't control, but by choosing to know what I am putting on my skin and into my bloodstream, I can reduce the burden on my body. And thus, I came together with my peers to found Teens for Safe Cosmetics and began my quest for the most fabulous greenest versions of everything on earth.