Shampoo, Shampoo Everywhere -- But Which One's Right for Your Hair?

Hey readers! This isn't the entire article, but it's the most valuable portion:

By Liesa Goins
WebMD the Magazine - Feature
Reviewed by Karyn Grossman, MD
......
But understanding shampoo-speak can help you stop pouring money down the drain. Here's a guide to the ingredients you'll find on the bottle:
Surfactants: alkyl monoglyceride, alkyl sulfosuccinate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl, cocamide DEA or MEA or TEA, cocamidopropyl betaine, distearyldimonium chloride, lauramide DEA, olealkonium chloride, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate, tetrasodium EDTA
These are the cleaning power in shampoos. Often derived from coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or soybean oil, these cleansers lift the dirt, styling products, and scalp flakes that tend to stick to the sebum your scalp produces. Their unique molecular structure allows surfactants to surround oily substances so they can be rinsed away by water, Wilson explains.
Conditioners and moisturizers: amine oxide, citric acid, fatty alcohols (cetyl, oleyl, or stearyl alcohol), glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, lanolin, panthenol, polyquaternium, silicones, sodium dihydroxide, stearalkonium chloride
If surfactants are the workhorses, conditioners are the show ponies. These agents stay behind on strands. Some flatten the hair cuticle so hair feels smoother. Others deposit a lightweight coating for a silky texture, which aids in detangling.
Preservatives: DMDM hydantoin, guar, imidazolidinyl urea, iodopropynyl, isothiazolinone, sodium benzoate
"You need preservatives unless you want your shampoo to eventually walk out of the bathroom on its own, Wilson says. Many ingredients in the bottle are organic and can grow mold, fungus, yeast, and bacteria.
Other shampoo ingredients: alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidants, natural oils, proteins, vitamins
Hair is a dead fiber, so ingredients that work on skin won't have any prolonged benefit to your strands, Wilson says. Proteins will act as effective conditioners, but the benefits only last till your next shampoo -- they won't repair or restore hair.

What's the Best Shampoo for You?
Want to know the shampoo that will work best for your hair type? Here's what to look for on the label.
Oily hair: Astringents like tea tree oil, citrus oil, rosemary, sage, stinging nettle, and chamomile will help soak up oil in the follicle. Clear shampoos are often a better choice because they contain fewer conditioners that can leave a greasy residue.
Fine hair: Look for panthenol and other volumizing ingredients that help swell the hair shaft and proteins that adhere to individual strands to make them thicker.
Dry hair: The thick, opaque formulas are usually higher in rich moisturizers including nut oils, shea butter, and wheat germ oil that are especially good at bonding to parched strands.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/shampoo-shampoo-everywhere-but-which-ones-right-for-your-hair_?ecd=wnl_wmh_083109

Read more »

Dove Skin Vitalizer

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to tell you about a product that I wanted to try. While shopping at Kmart, I came across the Dove Skin Vitalizer. It's a battery operated face cleanser/vibrator. Something like that lol.

Anyways, I attempted to look up the product online, and I came across a coupon. YEEAAA!!!! lol But, it's only valid for August, I believe; check it out if you're interested!

http://content.dove.us/dimensions/offers.aspx?utm_source=DOVECOM

Read more »

Dating: Biblical Resources

Relationships
http://www.biblestudy.org/ychoice/how-to-build-strong-relationships.html

A site about dating:
http://www.biblestudy.org/question/what-is-correct-way-to-date-courtship.html

Sites about marriage:
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/are-couples-living-together-married-before-god.html
http://www.biblestudy.org/question/can-husband-rape-wife.html

Read more »

Weight Loss: Eight Keys to Success

Weight Loss: Eight Keys to Success Dana Sullivan CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE
Below: • 1. Make a commitment. • 2. Set realistic goals. • 3. Stay conscious. • 4. Plan for success. • 5. Get moving. • 6. Eat healthfully. • 7. Track your success. • 8. Bounce back.
Is it really possible to lose weight and keep it off? Absolutely. Almost everyone who is a bit overweight can safely maintain a 10- to 20- pound weight loss, and some obese people can trim hundreds of pounds. In fact, in a recent study of successful "losers" -- people who lost an average of 66 pounds and kept the weight off for at least five years - researchers found that even people with the most stubborn weight problems, including yo-yo dieters and those who had been fat since childhood, were able to slim down.
What's the secret? It's no secret, really. Everyone knows what to do : To lose weight, you just have to burn more calories each day than you take in. What's exciting is that both researchers and successful dieters are beginning to figure out how to do it. Here's how you can, too:

1. Make a commitment.
Making a firm commitment is a critical first step toward successful weight loss, says Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., associate chief of the human physiology laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and author of the best-selling book Strong Women Stay Slim. Take advantage of the interest you have in losing weight today, she says. Don't say, "I'll start after the holidays," or "One of these days I'll be ready." Buy new exercise shoes and weights, take a walk, plan this week's meals and make a shopping list today.

2. Set realistic goals.
Losing one pound a week -- and keeping it off -- with sensible eating and exercise is probably a sensible goal. Dropping three dress or suit sizes in eight weeks isn't. One way to figure out how many calories you can eat and still lose weight is to keep a food diary for a week and figure out how many calories you're consuming now. Then create a food plan that provides about 500 calories per day less than you're eating now. As long as you're also exercising, you'll lose about one to two pounds a week -- the maximum you should shoot for. Quick weight-loss programs actually make it more difficult to lose weight, says Nelson, because they slow your metabolism.
Instead of focusing on the scale, some people find that it helps to set a more tangible goal - like fitting into a pair of jeans they can no longer wear, or simply feeling more comfortable in clothes that have gotten too tight.
And be sure to reward yourself when you reach a significant goal. Schedule a massage, buy yourself a CD you've been wanting, or treat yourself to a big bunch of fresh flowers or tickets to an event you'd enjoy.

3. Stay conscious.
Give some thought to the triggers that make you overeat. Do you eat when you're sad? Frustrated? Angry? Once you identify those food cues, you can consciously choose another way to respond to them. Maybe a phone call to a friend or a long, hot bath would do the trick. When you're ready to eat a meal, sit down at the table and focus on what you're doing -- don't read or watch TV. Making mealtimes a deliberate activity helps avoid those hurried, distracted snacks and quasi-meals we grab on the fly that result in calories consumed but not enjoyed.

4. Plan for success.
Successful weight loss requires significant changes in your lifestyle and planning ahead. Making grocery lists, stocking your pantry with healthy food, and scheduling time for workouts will make those changes easier. Think ahead about how to circumvent defeat, too. If asked to bring hors d'oeuvres to a party, make it a vegetable plate. If you have trouble keeping yourself motivated, enlist a friend as your weight-loss buddy.

5. Get moving.
Exercising not only burns calories and compensates for the slower metabolism that comes with eating less -- it makes you healthier. It can be fun, too, if you choose a sport or activity you love. A daily stroll can put you back in touch with the joy of movement. From there, try swimming, dance, skating, or anything that gets you going. Or just make small changes in your daily routine, like taking the stairs when you can instead of the elevator.
You don't have to be a super athlete in order to burn enough calories to lose weight, either. According to a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, moderate exercise can be just as effective as vigorous exercise. Women in the study were asked to reduce their calorie intake and were then given exercise programs of varying intensity. After a year, the women who exercised moderately lost about the same amount of weight as the women who worked out more vigorously and for longer periods. That's good news for people who prefer a half hour on the treadmill to an hour in a spinning class.
It's also a good idea to build strength training into your workouts. The less muscle you have, the harder it is to lose weight and keep it off. Here's why: Muscle is metabolically active; it takes energy, in the form of calories, to sustain it. Fat isn't, and it doesn't. So the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest. Two or three 30-minutes weight-lifting sessions each week will make a big difference in your body composition and, therefore, in the number of calories you burn each day. For help on planning a workout routine and sticking to it, try our fitness contract and our Working Out topic page.

6. Eat healthfully.
You can be well nourished while you're losing weight, says Nelson. In fact, eating well makes it easier to lose weight because you'll feel better, and you'll have more energy to stay active. Ideally, your daily intake of calories will break down like this: 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates, 10 to 35 percent from protein, and 20 to 35 percent from fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 7 percent of your daily calories in saturated fat, and of those, less than 1 percent in trans fat.
And make sure you load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. They'll help provide lifelong protection from a host of health problems, including cancer and heart disease. Keep in mind, too, that when you're planning your diet, you're making lifelong changes. Don't deprive yourself of foods you like or that your body needs. Just eat less of the more fattening ones (an occasional scoop of Haagen-Dazs, not a pint). For meal planning tools and ideas, try our Healthy Eating topic page.

7. Track your success.
Successful "losers," studies show, chart their progress. Writing it down keeps you from fooling yourself about how much you're eating and exercising. And watching those numbers drop on the scale can be a great motivator. What's more, research shows that people who keep a food diary, even if they're not consciously eating less, lose weight. "If you write it down, you know if you're eating enough fruits and vegetables or if you can eat an extra snack," says Nelson.

8. Bounce back.
One holiday blowout doesn't ruin your chances for successful weight loss. And an extra piece of cake is not a mandate to polish off the platter. Everyone gives in to temptation once in a while -- the trick is to gently guide yourself back on track. There are no "bad" foods, and there's no point in beating yourself up for succumbing to some high-calorie treat. The more consistently you make wise food choices, the better you'll feel and the quicker you'll reach your goal. Just remember that controlling your eating is not an all-or-nothing proposition. It's calling the shots for yourself every day of your life.
ReferencesStrong Women Stay Slim, Miriam Nelson, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1998Setting Goals for Weight Loss, Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/setgoals.htmExercise, An Active Lifestyle, and Obesity, Ross E. Andersen, PhD, The Physician and Sportsmedicine, Vol. 27 - No. 10, October 1, 1999, http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1999/10_01_99/andersen.htmJakicic JM, et al. Effect of Exercise Duration and Intensity on Weight Loss in Overweight, Sedentary Women. JAMA. 2003;290:1323-1330. The National Academies. Report Offers New Eating and Physical Activity Targets To Reduce Chronic Disease Risk. September 2002. http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309085373?OpenDocumentAmerican Heart Association. Association releases new diet and lifestyle recommendations. June 2006. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3040209Nemours Foundation. Figuring Out Fat and Calories. http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/fat_calories.html
Reviewed by Lisa Tartamella, MS, RD, an ambulatory nutrition specialist at the Yale-New Haven hospital in Connecticut and a contributing author to The Yale Guide to Children's Nutrition.
Our reviewers are members of Consumer Health Interactive's medical advisory board.To learn more about our writers and editors, click here.
First published December 2, 1998 Last updated November 26, 2008 Copyright © 1998 Consumer Health Interactive and OneBody, Inc.
if(m_replaceNameValue){
m_replaceNameValue("WT.ti", "Print View - Body");
}
document.title ="Weight Loss: Eight Keys to Success"+" "+'CVS Health Resources';
if(m_replaceNameValue){
m_replaceNameValue("WT.ti", 'Print View - Weight Loss: Eight Keys to Success');
}


Copyright © 2004 -
2009 CVS Caremark . All Rights Reserved.

http://www.cvshealthresources.com/submitQuickSearch.do?keywords=Eight+Keys+to+Losing+Weight&name.x=28&name.y=10

Read more »

What's In the Bottle???

I forgot the website I found this info from; this is in no way my own writing. Thus, this posting is strictly for informing viewers.

Sulfate-Free Shampoos
These shampoos, from brands like Wen, which has garnered cult status, exclude sodium laurel sulfates -- the ingredient in traditional shampoos that forms a lather or suds. Why leave it out? Because it can be damaging to hair and has sparked controversy over whether it's a possible carcinogen. L'Oreal's EverPure line of shampoos and conditioners (available in February 2009) are sulfate-free, contain UV filters and are formulated for color-treated hair. L'Oreal is the first of the big drugstore brands to make this leap; we think others will follow. And hair care brand Belegenza is taking it even further. Their products are also free of silicone, paba, parabens, phthalate, petrolatum, mineral oil, SD alcohol, sodium chloride and water (yup, it's true) -- the complete lack of water makes it very concentrated so you use less (and spend less since a bottle lasts that much longer).
A New Standard in Organic
The surge of organic and natural products won't die down in 2009. More and more organic brands are popping up and more and more established beauty brands are releasing organic lines. Plus, with the USDA certifying beauty products as organic, consumers can be more confident about what's in their products versus just trusting the words "natural" or "organic" on the label. Brands to check out: Terressentials has every ingredient in their products USDA-certified organic. Rare2B is the first 100 percent organic, 100 percent vegan skincare line. Noah's Naturals has products with 70 percent to 100 percent organic ingredients, plus it's sold at drugstores like Walmart and CVS.

http://www.totalbeauty.com/reviews

Read more »