I am always on the lookout for great new hair products.  The problem is that finding good hair products that are also organic can be very challenging.  It doesn’t help that my hair is fine and tends to get frizzy when it is humid.  Oh, and I’m going gray which is making my hair drier than ever. (Yet somehow my scalp can still get oily.)

That is why when I ran across Modern Organic Products, I knew I had to give them a try.

Modern Organic Products are a line of beauty products owned my American Crew, Inc.  They may organic shampoo, conditioner, detangler’s and styling products.  MOP hair even has products for toddlers.  (Ok, I don’t exactly need that because no matter how hard I try my four year old has officially left his toddler years.)

According to their website they are striving to maintain a high standard and provide salon quality products that still respect the earth.  The idea behind MOP hair products is that you should feed your hair in the same way that you feed your body.   They don’t do animal testing and they promote recycling.

I decided to try the MOP C System, and here is my experience.

Mop C System Hydrating Shampoo

The Modern Organic Products hydrating shampoo is sulfate free, color safe and PH balanced.  It offers antioxidants and a rich blend of vitamins.  I am a sucker for things that smell good and the smell is simply divine!  It is a citrus scent comes from essential oils and is not at all overpowering.  I color my hair and I found that my hair color stayed great when I used this product.  If your hair is like mine – fine, frizzy, dry at the ends, oily at the scalp – this is the right product for you.  My hair was very manageable!

Since it is sulfate free, it doesn’t lather like all shampoos.  To me, this is a small sacrifice for my health.  It also means that if your hair is dry this shampoo will not strip your scalp like many others.  The glycerin in this shampoo left my hair shiny.

MOP C System Hydrating Conditioner

This is Modern Organic Products best selling conditioner.  Because I have such a weird combination of an oily scalp and dry frizzy ends, I have a really hard time finding a conditioner that I like.  This one was great!  Oh- and it smells great too!

MOP C System Firm Finish Hair Spray

My husband actually stole this hair spray from me.  I had to buy another one because I got tired of searching for MY hair spray every time I needed it.  He even used in on our preschool boys, who didn’t even complain.  Not only does it smell great, the hold is fabulous.  This is my favorite MOP hair product.

Modern Organic Products Leave In Conditioner

Because I blow dry my hair every time I wash, I like to alternative using a regular conditioner one day and a leave in conditioner next.  This conditioner has Certified organic carrot puree (which surprised me) as well as Echinacea and Dandelion.  Surprisingly, it left me frizz free and my hair was not weighted down.  I actually like it better than the Aveda leave in conditioner that I have been using.

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Blending essential oils has been a major part in soap and cosmetic making. Not only can blending essential oils take years to learn adequately, it often remains a trial and error process, which, for some, means a little frustration. Major companies usually spend millions on their scents, developing and improving them, usually involving many different people with expert knowledge of these oils and their properties. While this has made these companies a lot of money, it is not necessary to be an expert to blend essential oils. It is important that you use caution and follow all safety and dosage requirements.

Safety is critical when using essential oils, as many can cause unwanted side effects if used incorrectly. A list of best practices when using each type of oil is usually readily available from your manufacturer when you request, or buy a product from them, and much of this information is now available on the manufacturer’s websites as well. It is important that you read all these instructions for each oil and follow them correctly.

While the above may scare you off from essential oils at first, once you start using these oils you will find it’s not hard, and can be quite fun to make unique blends of your own to use in any of your natural beauty products.

The process of blending essential oils can be broken down for beginners by using different categories for each oil. These categories consist of resin, earthy, spicy, medicinal, floral, and herbaceous. Each oil will fall into one of these categories and by using general rules you can easily start blending your natural beauty concoctions. For instance, floral oils are typically the easiest to start with because they usually blend well together and with many of the other categories, in particular citrus, woodsy, and spicy essential oils. Woodsy oils are also easy to work with, and blend well with most categories. Citrus and Earthy essential oils are also good to blend with. Medicinal oils shouldn’t be mixed into any concoction too heavily, as they are pretty strong. In addition, using too much spicy oils and citrus oils together will not result in very favorable scents either.

In addition to these aroma categories, essential oils can be put into 3 different “note” categories. Top, Middle, Bottom/Base Notes.  When using these notes you can start by using them in ratios. 1/3 for the Top Notes, about 1/2 for the Middle Notes, and 1/4 for the Bottom or Base Notes.

The last thing you should know before starting to blend essential oils is that you will always needs to use a carrier oil. The desired ratio of each essential oil can vary, but a general rule of thumb is 2 to 5 drops of essential oil for each tablespoon of carrier oil.

You should know have the resources you need to start blending. Just remember to be patient, and blend using small amounts to avoid waste. It also may be helpful to take detailed notes while blending so you can remember what you have done and how each blend worked (or didn’t work).

As I have gotten older, keeping my weight in check has gotten more and more difficult.  Although I generally enjoy healthy organic food, my tastes to tend to run towards the gourmet.  To make matters worse, my children are so busy I find that I am eating on the run all too often.

I hate feeling deprived when I am trying to drop weight and because of this, I am always looking for ways to make it easier.  So, when I read that green tea could help you lose weight I decided to give it a try.

Is Green Tea Weight Loss Just a Myth?

Now, I am all for anything natural that can help me control my weight. But the truth is that I am pretty skeptical about anything having to do with weight loss.  There is so much hype out there and it can be difficult to determine if it is for real or just another scam.  Still, green tea taste good and is not all that expensive, so I decided it was worth a shot!   So, I got online and placed an order for some Loose Leaf Green Tea .

Read on for my experience with green tea and weight loss!

My Story

When the green tea arrived, I initially tried to drink 4 or 5 cups of hot green tea a day.  I found this a little hard to get down, so I brewed the tea normally and then turned it into iced tea.  Since I normally drink iced tea all day long, simply switching to green tea was no big deal.  It tasted great and the only change I noticed is that I seemed to have a little more energy.  Nothing major mind you – just enough to help me work out a little harder and get a little more house work done.  (Hubby was happy )

My results were subtle, but they were there. I didn’t have a serious diet plan, but I did make an effort to eat more healthy. I also started working out with the WiiFit at least three times a week. Over the course of the next two months, I dropped around 12 pounds. Because my weight had been steady for the prior two years, I was really excited!  Obviously there was something to using green tea for weight loss.

The Science Behind Green Tea and Weight Loss

Once I had my own success, I was determined to figure out what it was about drinking green tea that helped me drop the pounds.  I thought it was probably just the caffeine but this didn’t really make since since I drink plenty of coffee and that has never helped me shed weight. (Sadly…)  So, off to Google to study green tea extract weight loss research.

As it turns out, it is the presence of Catechins in green tea are responsible for blocking fat absorption and buring calories  This is the key to how green tea benefits weight loss.

Catechins account for 30% of green tea, and they have been clinically shown to help with weight loss.  They decrease the absorption of fat and increase thermogensis.  It is estimated that drinking green tea helps the average person burn about an additional 80 calories a day.  (So, it wasn’t enough to account for all of my weight loss.)

I think while the extra 80 calories was great, I was also able to eat less while maintaining my energy levels.  Still, 80 calories a day could account for an 8 pound difference over a years time.  (I’ll take 8 pounds a year!  It’s amazing to me that their aren’t more Green Tea Weight Loss programs out there!)

Green Tea Weight Loss: Can Green Tea Really Help You Lose “Inches a Week”?

If you are searching for green tea on the web, you may have read something that said that you could lose inches a week just by drinking green tea.  I wish I could tell you that this was the case (I wish I could tell myself that this was the case!) but the truth is that it is not.  Yes, green tea does help you lose weight more quickly, but it must be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and preferably exercise to see results.

The worse part about these sites that make ridiculous claims is that they lure you in and then offer you an inferior product.  To see results, you need to make sure that you purchase your green tea from a reputable source.  One of my favorites is the Emerald Spring Blend at Adagio Teas, which is a blend of three quality green teas. Try it today and have your own success with green tea weight loss!

There are so many terrible products available today, sometimes it just makes you want to make your own! Fortunately today there are quite a few organic hair products out there that really are all natural and good for your hair. The organic hair movement is getting bigger, and people are demanding more and more that their lives be as chemical free as possible. If you are one of them, take a look at some of the cooler things I was able to find on the market, and maybe a recipe for your own shampoo that you can make at home.

Great Organic Options for You to Buy

You can now actually buy organic hair dye, how is that for organic hair products? I never would have thought they were any good, but the really are, especially the darker shades. Many are actually really good at moisturizing your hair as well. There are many brands out there that are pretty good, even henna products that will make your hair look amazing. Shea butter root stimulator can keep your long hair from having problems, and being all natural you can trust it against your skin. Organic hair products are making their way into more and more stores nationwide and finding one in your area shouldn’t be too hard, especially if you make your residence on the west coast.

Organic Shampoo at Home

You can make your own organic shampoo and organic hair products at home, so long as you have a good recipe. I like to take about two cups of super strong herbal tea, three tablespoons of grated castile soap, one tablespoon of glycerin, and five drops of scented oil. This is really good stuff to have around the house and will save you a ton of money over just buying it in the stores. Plus what is nice is you can use about any kind of tea to make it, and that makes it so nice smelling, add that to the fact that the scented oils will stick to your hair and you will smell great for the whole day. Find ways to have more than one kind of shampoo around and decide which one is your favorite, the hard part will most likely be finding enough empty bottles lying around to put all your creations and shampoos into when you are done. From dog shampoo to organic baby shampoo, there are many options for making your own at home.

Isn’t it funny how companies will spend millions of dollars trying to come up with a drug that mimics a naturally occurring substance that Mother Nature has given us.  This has been shown in the quest for hair loss remedies to treat male pattern baldness.  The cause of male pattern baldness is a genetic condition called Androgenic alopecia.  When a man suffers from this problem he has a natural occurring hormonal metabolite called DHT which attacks the hair follicles and causes them to stop producing keratin.  Limiting the levels of DHT seems to be the key to keeping hair growing on the heads of these men.

One of the most effective drugs for this DHT blocking is an FDA approved drug called Finasteride.  This was originally developed as a treatment for male enlarged prostate.  But an interesting thing happened.  The men who were in the trial group for the drug found that their hair loss improved.  Further study indicated that high DHT levels caused urinary tract problems in men as well as baldness.  Thus, when the enlarged prostate was treated the hair loss caused by the pattern hair loss was also treated.  The makers of the drug started marketing it as a hair loss treatment and made a lot of money.

Well, come to find out there is a natural remedy for male urinary tract problems that has been used for centuries by indigenous people in the Southeastern US.  There is a small palm bush located there that is called the saw palmetto.  The local Indians knew that if a man had certain urinary symptoms then taking the extract of this plant would treat it.  Putting two and two together, we now find that saw palmetto is also a good natural hair restoration product that apparently works as DHT blocker.

If you are interested in trying this remedy as a natural hair restorer you can find it in tablet form in most health food stores.  It has also become available online but you usually pay a premium when you purchase it this way.

For those who are looking for a more environmentally friendly approach to skin care, natural skin care recipes represent an opportunity to help the environment while keeping skin fresh and youthful.  Making your own products at home will reduce waste produced in packaging and manufacturing the synthetic ingredients used in most commercial products.  In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, you will be saving money through less costly ingredients while seeing better results.  Natural skin care recipes will yield products that are effective and aromatic, strong but non-irritating.

There are a number of natural fruits, herbs and other naturally occurring ingredients that have been shown to be effective for moisturizing, stimulating collagen production and exfoliation.  Whether you hope to make your own facial masks at home or are planning a switch to organic commercial beauty products, there are a number of ingredients that will quickly show impressive results.   Natural skin care is especially recommended for those with sensitive skin, as natural products are generally milder and less drying than lab-created chemical compounds.  Do not, however, confuse their gentleness with ineffectiveness, as many experts contend that natural beauty products will produce similar results or better for most skin types.

One thing that all the best skin care products have in common is a good moisturizer.  As a general rule, different moisturizers should be used for face and body care.  Over moisturizing the face can lead to breakouts and oily skin, while the drying soaps that most people use in the shower require a heavy-duty moisturizer.  Jojoba oil is a wonderful natural moisturizer for the face, which will penetrate deep into the skin, making skin smooth, soft and elastic.  Jojoba is a common ingredient in natural skin care recipes as well as organic facemasks that are available at most drug stores. Shea and coco butter are highly aromatic, inexpensive options for body moisturizing.

When a person gets old, the first signs of aging can be seen around his or her eyes. These signs can be dark circles, fine lines, eye bags etc. The appearance of such signs can be frustrating as well as embarrassing which is why many people want to erase and eliminate them the instance these signs of aging starts appearing. Here in this article you will find effective methods on how to get rid of eye bags, wrinkles and fine lines easily and effectively. Read on if you want to find out what they are.

For one, try to avoid squinting too much, too often. Squinting is a common expression and a lot of people have a habit of doing this. Then again, this is actually one reason why you have those crow’s feet and fine lines around your eyes. So, if you want to prevent the formation of expression lines around your eyes, try to avoid squinting.

Next, you need to acquire the right amount of sleep. Not having enough sleep and being stressed out are known culprits for fast skin aging. Learn to relax and get as much sleep as you possibly can. This is one way in order for you maintain the freshness of your skin.

You also need to lessen your alcohol intake and reduce smoking. These two can dry out and damage your skin if you are not careful. These are the ones responsible for the development of free radicals inside your system that can cause damage to your skin.

Doing aerobics is also great for keeping your skin fresh. As you exercise, you increase the release of natural hormones that makes your skin looking smooth and glowing. This is also one good way in terms of how to lose face fat.

Another thing is that try to avoid too much exposure to the sun. UV rays emitted by the sun are also responsible for the development of free radicals. Apply a nice dose of sunscreen or use a pair of shades whenever you go out.

Did you know that everything that you put on your skin eventually gets into your blood stream…including your makeup? For most people that comes as a surprise because we rarely think about skin products as affecting anything other than our skin. However, skin products, including our creams, lotions, and make up, penetrate our skin and affect our whole bodies as their ingredients become part of our blood stream.

There are several definitions for organic cosmetics. One says that organic makeup is made from ingredients found in plant materials, implying that all plants are naturally free of pesticides and chemicals. Another definition says that organic make up may contain any organic or other natural compounds. We know neither of these is an accurate statement because plants often contain natural toxins and carcinogens which can be as harmful for us as human-made chemicals.

Definitions aside, the easiest way to be sure you’re getting organic make up is to purchase “certified organic” make up, and even then it is wise to check the ingredients to be sure that the make up does not contain carcinogens or toxins. Take extra care to look for artificial ingredients as well as any ingredients to which you might be allergic.

It is interesting and disappointing to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website states only that: “Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives.”

The answer as to whether it’s worth the bother and possible extra expense to look for and purchase organic rather than ordinary make up is to ask yourself what your health is worth. If you’re someone who believes in eating organic foods, it is likely that you would be interested in the health benefits that organic makeup provides. Just as you take care of what you eat and drink, allowing only organic products on your skin and face can have equal health advantages.

Acne normally appears during the stage of puberty wherein there is an active production of hormones in your body that causes your oil secreting glands to produce too much sebum in your skin. This stage may pass, along with the acne, but it would surely leave scars and marks that will haunt your face forever. Then again, do not think that it is the end of the world for you because there are ways in order for you to remove acne scars. However, what method to use and how long is it going to take you to eliminate them depends on the severity and mildness of the scarring. Written below are some techniques on how you can remove acne scars naturally.

What gets rid of blackheads and the scars they leave behind? Well, the answer to that is to always stay hydrated! Water is great in the prevention of acne breakouts and removal of acne scars. Make it a point that you drink at least eight glasses of water per day to help shed those dead skin cells.

It is also recommended that you make use of vitamin E capsule to clear those scars. Here you have two options; you can either apply it onto the affected area topically by punching a tiny hole in the capsule to let the oil out or you can simply take it orally.

Rosehip oil is another great remedy in order to remove acne scars. It has anti-wrinkling and anti-ageing properties that will help regenerate your skin. Simply massage the oil on the scar two times a day for best results.

A healthy and well-balanced diet may also aid you in the removal of these scars. Start eating foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. This will help build your skin cells and in return gives you that healthy glow in your skin.

Acne can be both stressful and embarrassing.

I should know. While I never had full-blown teenage acne, my adult years have been plagued by adult acne breakouts. While typically very mild, there is nothing more frustrating than waking up on the morning of a big event only to find out that my nose looks like Rudolph! Sometimes it is difficult to resist the temptation to stay home.

Part of my problem is that I refuse to use many of the over the counter acne treatments that are available today. While they may work, I am just not vain enough to load up my skin with harmful chemicals. (I’ll take acne today over cancer tomorrow, thanks!)

Never one to give up, I have searched out some of the best resources on the web for natural remedies for acne. Here they are!

Natural Home Remedies for Acne
| Bukisa.com

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Natural Ways to Get Rid of Acne Scars – Life123

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Herbal remedies are usually produced from different herbs that have good effects on the acne. This type of herbal acne remedy is prepared from natural components and therefore it is completely safe and you will not at all receive any …

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With all those pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and blemishes, acne is a real pain for countless people around the world.

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How To Get Rid Of Acne In 3 Days – A Natural Cure To Acne Everyone who gets acne wants to know how to treat… Busting Acne Myths Requires Individualized Treatment And Mor If you have acne, you know the deal- everybody has. …

Back Acne – Get Rid Back Acne – Natural Home Remedies for Back Acne- Strenuous …

This ‘athletic acne’ comes easily because most of the time your back is covered and receives a lot of physical pressure as you sit; this allows pores to easily become clogged with dirt and sweat. Pimples cannot only be unpleasant to …

Natural Home Remedies : Home Remedy for Acne

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