Tiny Beads, Big Problem: Why Exfoliating Microbeads May be Banned

Are microbeads in facial scrubs and body washes hurting our lakes?

When you think about threats to our environment, what comes to mind? Maybe you picture large factories with smokestacks. Or maybe you picture bulldozers and far-reaching oil spills. Chances are you probably don't think of the plastic exfoliating microbeads found in many facial scrubs and body washes. It hard to imagine how something so tiny could pose a threat, but NPR recently published an article exploring why lawmakers in several states are taking steps to ban these beads from personal care products. The article discusses why these beads are bad for our lakes. Not only is the concentration of small plastic particles in the Great Lakes surprisingly high, but environmental advocates are concerned because the microbeads resemble fish eggs. That means that they are being mistakenly consumed by fish and other animals, and toxins from harmful plastics are making their way into the food chain. The article suggests using products with 100% natural exfoliants in place of products that advertise "exfoliating microbeads" and we agree! There are plenty of natural ingredients that work as exfoliants. Our Feng Shea Facial Scrub contains walnut shell powder, for example, which is a gentle but effective natural exfoliant. So check out the article and keep in mind that ingredients matter! Plastic particles, no matter how small, have to go somewhere, and unfortunately they're turning up in greater numbers in the lakes we love.  

Affiliate Spotlight: Lauren of Empowered Sustenance

Lauren Geertsen Talks Holistic Nutrition, Healing and Honey

This week we caught up with Morrocco Method affiliate, Lauren Geertsen of Empowered Sustenance. On her website, Lauren shares her advice on nutrition and healing naturally. We love her grain free recipes!

What inspired you to start Empowered Sustenance?

I began Empowered Sustenance to share my experience with the healing power of nutrition. I wanted to empower others with the same factor that changed my life: food! All throughout high school, I struggled with a severe form of ulcerative colitis, a type of autoimmune disease. The condition continued to worsen and refused to respond to medications. After starting my first semester at college, I was devastated when doctors told me that my only option was the partial removal of my colon. Determined to avoid surgery, I threw myself wholeheartedly into using nutrition and mind-body medicine to address the disease. My symptoms responded immediately to the drastic dietary and lifestyle changes I implemented. I was medication free and feeling better than I had in years! Eager to help others who weren't finding answers with Western Medicine, I began sharing my recipes and tips on Empowered Sustenance.

 You are a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Can you tell us more about that?

In my book, food is medicine, so I'm passionate about giving others the tools they need to get well through nutrition. As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I help clients reach optimal health through dietary and lifestyle changes. If it's appropriate for their situation, I will I also work closely with my clients to develop a finely-tuned supplement protocol. I use different types of diagnostic tools, including lab tests and biofeedback, to understand the root of the symptoms. Unlike conventional medicine, I focus on the addressing the underlying problems instead of simply masking symptoms.

If you could give someone one piece of wellness advice, what would it be?

Although it may sound esoteric, unconditional love is the most powerful healing agent. Even if you are unhappy with your health or parts of your body, mindfully send loving energy to your body. For example, if you experience hair loss, don't wallow in angry emotions when you are brushing your hair. Instead, send love and gratitude to each of your hair follicles.

You discuss natural beauty on your blog. Why is natural beauty important to you?

[caption id="attachment_9200" align="alignleft" width="345"] Lauren recommends using raw honey as a facial cleanser![/caption]  Like many women, I've been challenged with health issues that have manifested in issues such as acne and brittle nails. Years ago, I didn't understand that these were symptoms of health problems and I used chemical-laden products in a futile attempt to fix the problems. Now, I know that these are only symptoms of health imbalances and I aim to help women address the health imbalances with nutrition. With that said, these symptoms need to be addressed naturally while the underlying causes are being resolved. I believe that nature provides the best answers. For example, raw honey is the best natural facial cleanser for all skin types - and it's completely chemical free! In the same way, Morrocco Method products have been a key part of my healthy hair journey. I know that I am improving the health of my scalp and hair when I use MM, instead of polluting my body with toxins such as parabens and sulfates.

We're so glad you like Morrocco Method. What's your favorite product?

My love affair with Morrocco Method is rekindled each time I wash or style my hair. But if I had to pick a favorite product, it would be the Volumizer Mist. It provides soft, bouncy volume at my roots without weighing my hair down. Additionally, the light herbal fragrance lifts my spirit every time I use it.

Thanks Lauren! Be sure to check out her 5 Tips for Holistic Hair Care and see what else she has to say about her favorite hair care line.

How to Treat Cradle Cap Naturally

Hey Mom (or Dad)!

When you are a new parent, any change in your baby's skin or hair can cause concern. You want to know exactly what's going on in your baby's world, and we don't blame you! There is a lot of information to sort through on your baby's health, and if you're like most Morrocco Method moms and dads, you want only only safe, 100% natural products for your baby. Today we'd like to talk about a harmless infant scalp condition that can be treated naturally at home. It's called Cradle Cap, and it is common in infants, especially in the first three months of life.

What is Cradle Cap?

Cradle Cap is seborrhea of the scalp in infants. It commonly manifests as flaky, crusting, or scaling skin on a baby's scalp. It may be oily and accompanied by redness. The symptoms of Cradle Cap can be somewhat alarming. Rest assured, Cradle Cap does not usually cause discomfort for your baby, although it may itch in some cases. It is not contagious.

Why does my baby have Cradle Cap?

Cradle Cap is not related to any illness, and it does not mean you have not been taking proper care of your baby. It is generally believed to be a result of hyperactive sebaceous glands in your baby's scalp. Infant sebaceous glands may be hyperactive as a natural result of the influx of hormones right before birth. It may also be that new skin cells are growing faster than the old ones can fall off.

How is Cradle Cap treated?

Most cases of Cradle Cap will have disappeared by your baby's first birthday. However, in the meantime, most sources recommend a natural oil treatment and regular (though not necessarily daily) gentle shampooing to reduce symptoms. We agree! Anthony's recommendation for balancing your baby's scalp and addressing Cradle Cap symptoms is as follows:

• Alternate Morrocco Method's Sea Essence Shampoo, Pine Shale Shampoo, and Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo.
• Shampoo twice. For the first washing, simply massage the shampoo in and rinse out. For the second shampoo, spend a brief amount of time gently massaging your baby's scalp before you rinse. Rinse thoroughly.
• After shampooing, towel dry, and apply a few drops of our Euro Oil to your baby's scalp, massage, and leave in. This will help soften and rebuild the scalp.

Does my baby need to go to the doctor?

Treating Cradle Cap rarely requires medical intervention, but it can require patience. You can expect to see your baby's symptoms lessen with time and proper care; however, if your baby's symptoms persist or worsen, it's always a good idea to get them checked by your pediatrician.  

Sources:

1. Dr. Allen Greene. http://www.drgreene.com/articles/cradle-cap/ 2. Baby Center. http://www.babycenter.com/0_cradle-cap_80.bc 3. WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/cradle-cap-topic-overview

Should Beautify Be Your Lunar Hair Cutting Goal?

Last month we talked about root work. Now it's May, and there's no better time to cut your hair if your lunar goal is beautifying. That's because this month's beautifying dates (the 13th and 14th) happen to fall on the full moon.

Not sure what all this lunar hair cutting talk is about? Click here for an intro!

Why Cut to Beautify?

Maybe you're thinking, "Of course I want beautiful hair. That's why I'm here." It's important to understand what exactly we mean when we refer to the lunar goal of beautifying. "Beautiful" can be widely interpreted, but when it comes to lunar cutting, we're talking about balanced texture, enhanced shine and an overall improvement in the look and feel of the hair. The beautify goal is by no means a quick-fix; it is ideal for those that have already achieved healthy hair and scalp and want to take their hair to the next level. Just as April showers bring May flowers, healthy hair lays the foundation for beautiful hair. It may not be time to focus on beautifying if you haven't addressed the basic needs of your body and hair. That being said, if you're ready to beautify, then by all means, beautify!

OK, I'm Ready to Beautify!

Okay then! Start by taking advantage of this month's beautify cutting dates, which carry extra power due to the full moon. If you are committed to this goal, check out our Lunar Beautify Package, which includes our Heavenly Chi Shampoo and our Pearl Essence Crème Rinse. We designed this package to help optimize your lunar cut. The Heavenly Chi Shampoo energizes and conditions the hair and scalp, providing shine and luster, and our crème rinse conditions the hair while adding volume and essential moisturizing agents

Some Thoughts on "Beautiful" from the MM Team

"Beauty is subjective. Health isn't. Being healthy physically, spiritually and mentally should be the end goal, and the beauty that comes with it a pleasant side effect."

-Katelyn

"Kindness and sincerity are beautiful. The loveliest people I know are kind."

-Erin

"Beauty is whatever you make it. But it always begins with beautiful thoughts, beautiful words, and beautiful feelings."

-Colin

Blonde Henna Gets a Makeover: Try it for Free

At Morrocco Method, we are constantly looking for opportunities to improve our products. We're not only interested in what works; we're interested in what works best. We know you love our Blonde Henna, and in an effort to make it even better, we are experimenting with new ratios of 100% natural Blonde Henna ingredients: chamomile, calendula, and cassia. We mix our henna in-house so that we can be sure that only the finest ingredients have been used. After several weeks of testing, we've all but perfected the mixture. Several MM team members have even tested the henna and with fabulous results, but there's only so many heads of hair in the office. Now we want to see the results of our hard work on MM's most valuable heads of hair: our customers! MM loves all hair types, and we want to know:

Would you like to try our Blonde Henna? 

When it comes to your hair, it's personal, and that's why we're always interested to know what you think. If you've been thinking about trying out our henna, this may be the perfect opportunity. We're happy to supply it to you free of charge. All we ask is that you submit a "Before" and "After" photo for our reference. We will select as many participants as we can, but we aren't able to promise samples to everyone, as we may already have several participants with a similar hair type. So send your "Before" photos to support@mmhair.com ASAP! Please attach photos and do not embed them in your e-mail. Once we get them, we'll send you the henna, free of charge, along with detailed instructions. Keep in mind that you should treat your hair twice for best results, so treat it twice, and then send us those "After" photos. We're looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

Soothe Sunburned Skin with Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel

Our Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel is not only great for conditioning and styling. . .

Spring is in full swing, and it's hard to resist spending more time in the sun. Of course, spending time outside is great for our bodies and minds, but as many of us are already aware, too much exposure to the sun can be harmful to our skin. To avoid premature aging of the skin and to decrease your risk for skin cancer, take the necessary steps to protect your skin. Wear sunscreen and bring shade with you in the form of a hat (which will also protect your hair) or umbrella.

That being said, sometimes sunburn happens.

And that's where the Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel can help. Among its 100% natural ingredients is the skin-soothing super hero of the succulent plant world: whole leaf Aloe vera. This and the other ingredients that help our styling gel heal split ends, encourage hair rejuvenation, and soothe irritated scalps can also help to soothe sunburned areas of the skin. Simply apply all over the affected area for instant relief.  For more mulit-use information about the styling gel, click here. Our Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel is also available to our friends in the UK. It qualifies for free shipping through morroccomethod.co.uk! The climate may differ, but sunburn happens everywhere.