Several discontinued items from Yonka-Paris

The following products are no longer available. In some cases they do have replacements. See links (at bottom) to find out more.

Lait Solaire. I have to say, I am so upset about this one. I love this sunscreen, and perhaps so do you. The “replacement” product is Yonka’s SPF 20. It’s not quite the same, but it is more of a milky consistency like Lait Solaire is/was vs. a heavier cream texture. Milky equates to a thinner lotion—better for a normal to oily or oily complexion vs. a cream, which tends to be thicker and a drier skin type can handle better. Give SPF 20 a try and see if you don't love it too. (See link below.)

All Dermols (replaced by HYDRALIA). Originally, there was Dermol 1, Dermol 2, Dermol 3. Each one was made to suit different skin types: D1 was for normal to oily skin, D2 was for true-dry (oil-dry) skin, and D3 was for red, couperouse, sensitive, rosacea skin. Now all 3 are wrapped up into one formulation: Hydralia. For more information on this still important product, see link below.

Mesonium 1 & 2 (replaced by SERUM VITAL). Out of all the discontinued/replaced items, the new Serum Vital is the most consistent to how Mesonium felt and made the skin look. The only real difference is now the two, separate bottles are combined into one. The only thing to remember is to shake before use! See link below for more detailed information on this wonderful product.

Hydratant 60. This was a hydrating mask that I almost never recommended. Not because it wasn’t effective—it was. But most people who need extra hydration need to at least exfoliate first to get rid of excess dead skin cells that can inhibit proper hydration. So if I had a client who was feeling excessively “dry,” it was Gommage or a scrub that I’d recommend, not this mask. No matter, it’s gone now.

Halo 70—“Instant glow concentrate.” Good riddance. I never even carried this product.

 
Kirogel, which is kind of gommage for hands and feet. As an aesthetician I have to say it is hard enough getting my clients to gommage their faces—let alone other body parts. This just wasn’t a big seller for me and apparently not for Yonka in general. Although Kirogel is gone, I do recommend my clients use Gommage on their legs before they shave if they are having difficulty with dry, flaky skin. It works wonders!

Men’s Mask. This clay mask can easily be replaced by using MASQUE 103 or 105, which are both clay-based. 


For more information and to find out the Yonka’s replacement products, see:

• Yonka-Paris goes PARABEN-FREE, The New Face of Yonka—along with other news
• SPF 20 (replacing Lait Solaire) 
• Hydralia (replaces all 3 Dermols)
• Serum Vital aka Elixir Vital (Mesonium’s replacement) 
• MASQUE 103 and 105

 

Yonka-Paris goes PARABEN-FREE, The New Face of Yonka—along with other news

GREETINGS ALL!

There are changes coming—starting this month!

• Yonka unveils new product packaging
• Yonka goes PARABEN-FREE
• New products from Yonka
  
• The end of a few Yonka products

Read on to find out the whole scoop!

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The New Face of Yonka

I have used Yonka products personally and professionally since the mid-80s. In all that time, this is only the 2nd outer package change the line has gone through. I loved how the product was originally presented back then and I am very excited about this new packaging they are unveiling. It harkens back to the original production: it’s sleek and more sophisticated than the past look, which I believe better represents the elegance, efficacy, and quality of this product line. Kudos, Yonka!

Here is just one example of the change. On the left is the “old” packaging for the Advanced Optimizer Duo; on the right is the new, sleeker look.

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Yonka goes 100% paraben-free

Although some of you may not know this, many Yonka products have always been free of parabens. This is due to the concentrations of essential oils in many of the products, mainly the concentrates and liquids in this line. Regardless, soon (by the end of 2014) all the products will be paraben-free. These ingredient changes will not change the wonderful aromatics and feel of this luxurious, natural skin care line. Yonka truly is the best! As a side note, did you know that 70% of the line has 90% or higher ingredients of natural origin?

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NEW Yonka Products
The following descriptions are from Yonka headquarters:

HYDRALIA replaces all Dermols (1, 2 and 3)

Hydralia is what Yonka calls “customized hydration.” This intensive formula renews the skin’s healthy, youthful glow. By adding a few drops of Hydralia to your daily moisturizer, it will restore suppleness and hydration to your skin’s surface. This will also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin feels smooth and refreshed just like it did by using the Dermols.

SERUM VITAL replaces Mesonium 1 & 2

From Yonka headquarters:

• Boosts the vitality & brightness of skin
• Advanced formulation infused with 24 amino acids
• Establishes wellness from within for a healthy natural glow
• Softens the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
• Vital nutrient care for aging skin, pre- & post-op care, post-acne care
• Paraben-free
• Women experienced 88% visibly revitalized & 83% smoother skin

CREME TEINTEE replaces Creme 410 Teintee (2018—discontinued)

Yonka says: This sheer formula nourishes, moisturizes, and protects the skin from daily UV exposure. For added anti-aging protection, super antioxidant vitamins control free-radical damage. The natural pigments impart an immediate golden hue so the complexion looks healthy and radiant all year long. *Can be used to replace day creams and foundations.



UPDATE:
I have posted articles for each one of these products. For more information, see:

• HYDRALIA: For Extra Hydration—without adding oil
• SERUM VITAL—regenerating, restorative complex

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A few discontinued items

Please see Several discontinued items from Yonka-Paris to get the scoop on all of the products Yonka is taking out of their lineup along with some items that will act as replacements.

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THANK YOU for your continued support of my business and for letting me help you have healthy skin—for a lifetime.

The Truth About SPF

There are so many myths and misconceptions about SPF, sunscreen, and how to protect your skin when having fun outside. This will be one of many posts on the subject of the sun and your skin. The bottom line with all of this information is you need to protect your skin when in the sun—period! When talking with my clients I find the most common misunderstanding is what SPF is and what you can expect from (any) sunscreen. Read on, and check back in for more information on all things sun.

What is SPF? 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor or as I call it, Sunburn Protection Factor. The SPF number on any given sun product is telling you how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning, compared to not wearing sunscreen at all. For example, if your skin burns after two minutes in the sun without sunscreen, an SPF 15 will allow you to avoid sunburn for 30 minutes (2 minutes x SPF 15). I picked a small number (two minutes) because once you start using larger amounts of time, say 30 minutes to burn without sunscreen, you can see how ridiculous the protection factor gets. For instance, 30 minutes x SPF 15 = 450 minutes or seven 1/2 hours in the sun without burning. I don’t think so! This is by far not a foolproof system and SPF is more of a guideline than anything else. I don’t advise anyone to stay in the sun for very long without reapplying sunscreen. 

Regarding sunscreens and SPFs, I have many clients who come in and say with surprise, “I wore a sunscreen yesterday and still got a tan.” Unless you are wearing what would amount to a suit of armor, if your skin is exposed to the sun, you will get sun. Anytime you’re in direct light, you will probably get some color. I wish I could tell you sunscreen is enough, but it’s not. However, while it may not be total protection, sunscreen is protection nonetheless.

In Australia, they are very sun-conscious. Because the ozone layer in that part of the world has holes in it, the sun’s rays (especially UVB, the burning ray) are a huge concern. I have read that manufacturers of sunscreen products are not allowed to advertise SPFs higher than 30. The reasoning is higher SPFs suggest greater protection, and the government doesn’t want to confuse the consumer into thinking that SPFs higher than 30 are really arming them against extended exposure. This philosophy is not followed in other parts of the world. There is a tendency to think SPF 30+ makes the skin impervious to the harmful effects of the sun.

When the SPF gets higher and higher, so do the concentrations of sunscreen chemicals. The higher the percentage of chemicals in a given product, the greater the chances for allergic reactions and intolerance to the product. Not only can really high SPFs potentially cause skin reactions, they can also make you feel invincible in the sun. The truth is sunscreen needs to be reapplied regardless of the SPF rating. Sunscreen is not a panacea for skin protection. It’s just not as simple as that.

Super high protection (SPF 30 or above) really becomes a matter of diminishing returns. An SPF 30 might give you twice as much protection as an SPF 15, however an SPF 60 does not give you twice as much protection as an SPF 30. In fact, the difference is surprisingly minimal. There are currently some sunscreens that offer SPF 60 and even 100! The FDA is reviewing a proposed regulation that would limit the maximum SPF value on sunscreen labeling to SPF 50+ for those high SPF products.
*UPDATE: SPFs higher than 50 are no longer allowed to be sold in the US.

Remember, how your skin ages is genetic, the care you take of your skin, and lifetime sun exposure. Be smart and wear sunscreen! Your skin will thank you for the added protection.

For more information, see:

• The Best Self-Tanner 
• Sunless Tanning with a Cream
• Top 10 reasons for not wearing sunscreen: What’s your excuse?

Do sunless tanning creams really work?

The first time I put on shorts a few days ago, I couldn’t believe how white and washed out my skin had gotten. I think we forget about tanned legs when we are faced with snow and below zero temperatures. Throughout the country, record highs are being experienced even though it is just mid-March, but there are still cold days ahead as we move into spring.

During these warm to hot days, I prefer to have a bit of color on my legs vs. facing the world with these 2 white sticks! This is where self-tanners come into play. Of course I use Yonka’s sunless tanning products, and my absolute favorite is Lait Auto-Bronzant.

No matter which self-tanning product you use, here are some guidelines to follow that will hopefully help you get a good-looking fake tan without incurring the added sun damage of a real tan.

• I like to apply the tanning product right after a shower. I always use a body lotion after baths and showers (to help keep my body skin soft), so I just substitute the self-tanner for my normal lotion.
• When using a self-tanner, you do need to be careful where you apply it as well as making sure you get it on evenly to avoid blotchiness. Watch out for bony areas like ankles, elbows, and wrists. These places can appear darker if you apply too much product.
• After applying, it is best to not put on clothing for a little while. I like to give the product at least 10-15 minutes to soak in. Otherwise you run the risk of it coming off on your clothes and getting uneven color on your skin.

I do this process 2 days in a row. Why? I have found one day is not enough and 3 days in a row is too much—the color starts to look self-tannery (aka fake). Then I’ll wait 3-4 days before reapplying. This schedule seems to work best for me and my coloring. You may need different timing depending on your skin tone.

I personally never apply self-tanners to my face, but you absolutely can. For me, since I don’t wear any makeup, it feels—well, like I have put makeup on. So I just go with the natural coloring of my face. There really isn’t anywhere you can’t apply this type of product.

I’m including a funny story to show how well these sunless tanning products work. The following happened while I was living in Chicago several years ago.

Being the eternal experimenter, I wanted to see how well the Auto-Bronzant worked, so I put it on one leg only over 2 days (two applications). It warmed up in Chicago and my now ex-boyfriend and I went to play golf. Of course I was wearing shorts.

While we were walking to the clubhouse, I got ahead of him. The next thing I heard was, “What is going on with your legs?! They are different colors!” Oppsie.

I had to laugh. I had completely forgotten about my self-tanner experiment! The good news is my “tan” leg looked great—very naturally tanned. The other leg got a tan right after my golf game—but beforehand it really did look lily white from a long Chicagoland winter!

For more information, see:

• Sunless Tanning with a Cream (for more detailed instructions on applying self tanners)
• Yonka’s Prolongateur de Bronzage—tan prolonger
• The BEST Self-Tanner! Lait Auto-Bronzant