Spotlight: Yarok Hair

I fell in love with Yarok Hair the first time I used it. I've had hair "issues" the past decade including suffering from alopecia. I also had product buildup, but mostly I wanted to feed my scalp and hair natural ingredients.

Yarok, which means Green in Hebrew was founded by renowned stylist, Mordechai Alvow and features a botanically-based line of restorative hair care. Mordechai splits his time between NYC, Miami, London, Chicago and Israel and works with a number of celebrity clients including Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Naomi Watts and Vanessa Minnillo to name a few. He has worked with scores of designers, advertisers, photographers and celebrities, his work and products grace the pages of Allure, ELLE, InSTYLE, Marie Claire, New York Magazine and VOGUE. Essentials sat down with Mordechai to find out why he went the green direction and how to get a fabulous blow out.

---

Q&A with Mordechai Alvow, Founder of Yarok Hair

---

Q. What motivated you to start Yarok?

A. My motivation came from love and passion for the Earth as well as the need for changing the chemically driven beauty industry. I believe its important to use a healthier ingredients that benefits both mental and physical health for both stylist and clients and is safe for the environment.

Q. What is the number one reason clients should switch from conventional hair care to a natural and organic hair care regimen?

A.  Simply keeping healthy lifestyle and living responsibly. For the past 15 years I've seen a shift in the world. Until the past decade or so there was nothing safe in the beauty industry for clients and hair stylist to use. Now through lab testing, we all now know that using unnatural ingredients can cause various illness and disease, as well as harm the environment.

Q. What is your favorite Yarok product?

A. Feed Your Youth Treatment Serum is where Yarok started; it's our signature product. It detoxifies the scalp and removes product build up, adds nourishment and vitamins and penetrates the hair and scalp and to maintain younger, healthier, and shinier hair.

Q. What is the best styling tip you give to your celebrity clients?

A. You need three products each time you style. First product for the roots (Feed Your Roots Mousse), second product for the ends (Feed Your Ends Leave-in Conditioner) and third product to keep your style (Feed Your Hold Hairspray). You know your good once you completed these three steps.

Q. What made you choose the Pachamama Alliance non-profit to give back?

A. The Pachamama Alliance goes along with Yarok's mission to change the universe for a better world. It empowers the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest. I believe somethings should be kept as is, especially if its what the indigenous people want. I have a lot of respect for preserving nature. These are all values that I share with the Pachamama Alliance.



Love,
Jennifer

New Year, New Me

Now that we're a few weeks into the new year, I like to really think about what I would like to accomplish in 2013. As a busy working Mom to 2 wonderful boys, for me it's all about balance. I took the first week to clean out my fridge and pantry, and I've re-energized my exercise plan. I also just jotted down a few things that I will keep in my mind, hopefully every day.

• Try to avoid processed foods and sugar. Try new recipes with fruits, vegetables, beans. Make at least one dinner a week free from animal proteins. Use more seasonal foods especially the fruits and veggies.
• Continue to drink water and green tea. And sneak in a glass of red wine!
• Jump in the steam room at least once a week to get all those toxins out of my system
• Get plenty of sleep, at least 7 hours each night
• Schedule "me" time. Stress causes a majority of problems. Take time to reconnect with friends, go for a walk, get a massage. This time is invaluable and makes such a difference in my outlook and positivity.

Love,
Jennifer

Here's to a More Natural and Clean 2013!

This time of the year is about reflection and setting goals for the new year. As I look back at the first few months after launching Essentials, I can only smile about the positive response from clients and the support from the amazing brands Essentials carries. We have been able to make donations in honor of our clients to Locks for Love, Girls Inc., Bright Pink, Women for Women and The Pachamama Alliance each touching the lives in life-changing ways. I thank you for an incredible 2013 and can't wait to bring you more in 2013. Here's to a more natural and clean 2013! Here's to you!

Love,
Jennifer

Spotlight: VERED Organic Botanicals

About a year ago, I bought VERED Organic Botanicals Anti-Aging Face Treatment Oil. I fell in love with how soft and improved the texture of my skin became. It was pricier than other products I have used, but I found that a little goes a long way. Vered founder, Vered Black, uses high-quality, herb infused oils that aren't watered down. Once I open a bottle you enhale the amazing scents and it's truly luxury in a bottle. What I think is more amazing than the products is Vered's story.

She is a master esthecian and herbalist that began integrating holistic methods to her profession. Like me, Vered faced challenging health issues. She had come down with an undiagnosed illness, which had sent her to some of the best doctors conventional medicine had to offer. A year later, and several expensive tests behind her, she was still no closer to a diagnosis. The doctors dismissed her and suggested anti-acids for her chronic stomach pain. She turned to her own herbal remedies and applied her knowledge into taking control of her own health. Almost immediately, she started to experience the positive effects  of her remedies and felt immediately empowered. She not only started to regain back life-force energy, but also some of the pounds that she had lost during her illness. Vered is a beautiful person inside and out and her products are a testimony to her story. They are incredible, 85-100% organic products where you will see positive differences in your appearance. I know, because I have.

Love,
Jennifer

For My Boys

When I was growing up, I suffered from eczema. It was worse in the summer since I lived in a hot and humid climate, and I would get rashes on the inside of my elbows and the backs of my knees. I was prescribed steroidal creams and told to bath in tepid water since eczema didn't like hot water. These recommendations provided temporary improvements, at the least. One thing I did notice was as I continued to have stomach problems, I continued to have eczema. As I started to change my diet and products, the severity lessened and eventually went away. And it's never been back. For any of you suffering from eczema or have a child or friend suffering, I suggest taking a look at both your bath and skin products and your intake of packaged foods, non-organic lunch meat and dairy.

I have two precious boys and when I was pregnant I changed all my skin and bath products to organic. When they were babies, I never wanted to put anything unnatural on their bodies. Even products that claimed to be natural still contained chemicals. I love using Little Twig Baby Wash and Lotion and BABYBEARSHOP Cheeky Baby Butter. Both brands use organic ingredients and are perfect for sensitive to normal skin. Cheeky Baby Butter is excellent for dry skin and healing to skin with eczema or atopic dermatitis. It sounds like a product for kids, but I love to use it too!

Love,
Jennifer

Essentials Supports Pink!

October spotlights breast cancer awareness, and as pink products are all around us, it's a great time to stop and think about our own health. I've been through difficult times with my health and seen a bevy of doctors from coast to coast, but I've been fortunate that none of my problems have been life-threatening. My journey to rid myself of harmful chemicals and toxins has always been to find an alternate cure for my current health issues, but also to try and prevent any future more serious problems. I also wanted to give back to amazing non-profit organizations that provide incredible support to those in need. One of those organizations is Bright Pink.

Bright Pink is a national non-profit organization focusing on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals. I am lucky to have an incredible supportive community of family and friends around me and that's what Bright Pink gives plus resources to help with prevention. We are all at risk and there are things we can do today such as maintaining a low-fat diet, regular exercise that can help reduce our risk.

How can you help Bright Pink achieve their mission? For every bottle of ACURE Organics Argan Oil, $1 will be donated to Bright Pink. Argan Oil helps fight lines, repair imperfections, minimize scars + stretch marks, restore texture, elasticity and tone, and reduce inflammation. Do something good for you while supporting an amazing charity!

Love,
Jennifer

Introducing VERED Oragnic Botanicals

I am so excited to introduce VERED organic botanicals! VERED organic botanicals is an organic skin and body care line integrating therapeutic botanical essential oils that are 100% chemical and preservative free. Creator Vered is a master esthetician and herbalist who brings 23 years of combined experience to VERED organic botanicals - integrating holistic modalities such as phytotherapy, medicinal plant research, skilled esthetician expertise, extensive bodywork and aromatherapy - to develop and share these high quality 85%-100% organic products for face and body.

Essential oils are subtle volatile liquids distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, and seeds. They are oxygenating and help transport nutrients to the cells of our bodies and maintain our health and skin. They are highly concentrated. The distillation of an entire plant may produce only a single drop of an essential oil. Essential oils are extremely different than vegetable oils, they are not greasy and do not clog the pores.

The fragrance of essential oils can directly effect your emotional state and your lifespan because the limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control our emotions, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance.

It takes 60,000 rose blossoms to produce one ounce of rose oil. It's definitely luxury in a bottle.

I use VERED organic botanical anti-aging face treatment oil every night. Just a couple drops goes a long way to softening and balancing my skin. The body oils are wonderful to add a couple drops to a soothing bath or to pat on right when you get out of the shower. Using these products is the best way to start and end your day, leaving your skin soothed, hydrated and balanced.

Love,
Jennifer