Teens For Safe Cosmetics

The Summit is hosted and facilitated by teen campaign members inviting teens from across the country to participate. The goal is to teach participants about the campaign so they can return to their respective schools and start their own chapters of the Teens for Safe Cosmetics effort moving the momentum into a national forum. Teens attend panel dialogues led by experts including green business owners, non profit and political leaders and representatives from broadcast and print media to learn about the strategies for building an effective advocacy campaign. Visiting teens work together to create a blueprint for actions and next steps that will be implemented as the campaign grows and expands.

“As the morning unraveled, I found myself on the edge of my seat, hanging on to every word of green gurus that have written exposing, life changing books, have passed bills to ban toxins, have created green companies and so much more. As they passionately talked about phthalates and organic cotton, European Union health standards and buytlated hydroxytoluene, I became mesmerized. I looked around the room and saw smiling, excited faces and I felt the energy of motivated and determined teens and adults alike. We got caught up in a moment where we felt like we could do anything and hearing of the dreams our panelists turned into realities, we realized that we could do anything we set our minds to as well. It was really an exciting moment. How often is it that a 15-year-old girl feels like she has the power to be able to make a real difference? It was a positively empowering moment.”

“I sat in awe and wonder as comments buzzed around the packed room, at the Teens for Safe Cosmetics Summit, this past weekend. We were brainstorming ideas for events, outreach, and anything else that could further the cause we were congregated to discuss. After listening to two hours of inspirational, educational, and magical panel dialog, we were now putting our heads together to create a series of next-steps. It was an amazing atmosphere, this mix of teens and professionals, all working together with unparalleled passion.. A passion so great, you could feel it reverberating throughout the room.”

“The most significant aspect of the Teen Summit, for me, was watching Annie Leonard's "Story of Stuff" (storyofstuff.com).
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
Her movie made me realize that the Teens for Safe Cosmetics campaign is about more than just clean products, but visioning a just world and looking at the life cycle of everything that we use ,and the impact and implications on our global health and well-being. It really put into perspective all that we stand for. Aside from the film, the speakers were amazing, particularly Josh Onysko, founder of Pangea. His ideas and innovations are profound in the realm of green and sustainable products. I only wished the Summit was even longer. I feel blessed to be a part of such a powerful movement.”

Teens welcomed the attendees to the event on Friday night which featured speakers: Olowo-n’djo Tchala Founder, Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care, Stacy Malkan, Author, Not Just a Pretty Face, Founding Member National Campaign for Safe Cosmetics,and we had a Special Presentation by Film Maker Annie Leonard: The Story of Stuff. Everyone needs to see this video. It is very powerful.

Panel One: The Question of Science Tracey Woodruff, UCSF Director of Reproductive Health and the Environment, Renee Sharp, Senior Scientist, Environmental Working Group (EWG),Charlotte Brody, Executive Director, Commonweal, and Dr. Maggie Louie, Professor, Scientist, Dominican University

Panel Two: Changing the World Stacy Malkan, Author, Not Just a Pretty Face, Founding Member National Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Dan Jacobson, Executive Director, Environment California,Jeremiah McElwee, Global Whole Body Coordinator, Whole Foods Market, and Jared Huffman, State Assembly Member 6th District

Panel Three: Spreading the Word Zem Joaquin, Founder Ecofabulous.com, Wendy MacNaughton, Campaign Director, Underground Advertising, Lynda Fassa, Founder, Green Babies, Author, Green Babies, Sage Moms, Mark Schapiro, Editorial Director, Center for Investigative Reporting & Author, Exposed, and Sue Kwon, Consumer Watch Reporter, CBS5 Eyewitness News

Panel 4: Turned Green Sue Kastensen Director Marketing Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, Josh Onysko, Founder, Pangea Organics, Susan Black, Founder, EO Products, Olowo-n’djo Tchala Founder, Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care

The Green Spa: Teens got makeovers and had mini-facials to experience green beauty first hand. The Green spa featured: Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Pangea Organics, Pomega5, Weleda, and Dr. Bronner’s.

Teens tested products for our Top Teen Picks. The girls tried on masks, washed with cleansers, and put on lotions and then wrote a product review.

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