Gommage: all links so far

gommage

• A Quick Tip for using Yonka’s Gommage (upcoming)

• Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!

• Gommage in the shower?

• Gommage Q & A (upcoming)

• GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305)—Soft Peel Miracle (new!)

• Q & A: How to use Yonka’s Gommage (this is very helpful information!)

• Thoughts on GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305) (new!)

• What IS Gommage?

Discontinued Gommage products

• GOMMAGE 303—DISCONTINUED!!!

• GOMMAGE 305—DISCONTINUED/Rebranded

• 

Thoughts on GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305)

GOMMAGE YONKA is essentially just a rebranding of the “old” Gommage 305. As you may know Gommage 303 (the wonderful citrus version of gommage) was discontinued in 2017.

For the professional me this was a disappointment. I have many clients who don’t love the more pungent, camphor forward scent of Gommage 305. Having 303 made it easier for me to get as many people using this wonderful exfoliant as possible. The 303 version contained orange, sweet lime, and lemon essential oils; all that citrus was usually—uniformly—loved by most people.

Personally I loved having the availability of having both gommages to choose from. I liked switching back and forth and I encouraged my clients to do the same if they had the kind of skin that could do that. Variety is the spice of life. If I had clients who could use both, if they were open to using these exfoliators alternately, I would sell them 303, then next time 305. And for the most ambitious of clients: they would purchase both gommages and alternate them at home as they saw fit.

People with sensitive skin of any type could not and definitely should not have use Gommage 303 due to its heavy citrus content. The acid nature of this gommage was too much for anyone sensitive to citrus or acid compounds like AHAs and topical vitamin C, for instance. Therefore it makes sense that Yonka kept the gommage that would in essence be OK for any and all skin types to use. Still, the aromatic of borneol, which has a camphor-like aroma, is not widely loved by many of my clients.

Another change with the gommage, albeit several years back, is the action (how it worked on the skin) did change when Yonka took all parabens out of their products. Both 303 and 305 were still around but in my facials and on my own skin at home I noticed it was harder to get the gel to gommage—to whisk off the skin. This was a huge disappointment since for practically 30 years prior it worked smoothly every time. I needed to add more product and for sure do at least 2 gommages in one session.

In a facial, I always did two full gommages. This gave my clients the benefit of a lot more exfoliation that many aestheticians give using this same product. Plus there is more massage involved, so again the client benefits. With the new, non-paraben formulation, I found it difficult to get a good exfoliation with 303, which was a crime! This was always such a wonderful product. The 305 worked a bit better and more like its former self.

Now with all the changes, I have to say Yonka’s gommage product is not the same, does not gommage or exfoliate the same, and for that I am so sad. This was always my go-to product, personally and professionally. I still recommend it for sure, but you will just have to use a bit more, and do a bit extra when it comes to getting a decent exfoliation. I suppose I should be thankful there is still a gommage in the lineup. Hopefully it will always be around.

I have written extensively not only about how to use Yonka’s gommage (now called Gommage Yonka) but also about how wonderful and essential I think it is. If you have used Gommage and can’t get it to work, or if something didn’t seem right when you Gommage, read the instructional and Q&A articles to get more information on this wonderful and important component in your healthy skin care routine.

For more information, see:

• Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!
• Q & A: How to use Yonka’s Gommage (this is very helpful information!)
• GOMMAGE 303—DISCONTINUED!!! for details on the history of the gommage and for more thoughts on the changes with this wonderful product

GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305)—Soft Peel Miracle

UPDATE:

Hold on to your hats and get used to yet another new name for an old product. Yonka rebranded Gommage 305 and it is now called GOMMAGE YONKA. I have been told by the company these two products are identical, so read all about Gommage 305 below knowing it is the same information for what you might have now, Gommage Yonka.

In most cases I have changed the following information away from “Gommage 305” to “Gommage Yonka.” Is some cases I needed to add a few extra words of explanation after the older information; I am trying to keep all these changes as easy to read about as is possible. Without further ado, presenting: Gommage Yonka! 

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How many times have you heard me say, “If I could only use one product from Yonka on my face, it would be Gommage”? Well, I say that because it’s true, and here’s why. Everybody can benefit from exfoliation. (Exfoliation means to slough off the dead cell buildup on the surface of your skin.) If you accumulate too much buildup, your skin starts to look dull and lifeless, it doesn’t reflect light well, and your makeup (if you wear any) won’t go on smoothly. In essence when you don’t exfoliate on a regular basis, your skin suffers both from how it feels and also how it looks. The solution: Gommage! I call it a soft peel miracle because it really can be magical in how good it makes your skin look.

The Gommage is what I term an active exfoliator vs. passive exfoliators like AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) that just sit on your skin. With Yonka’s Gommage you are actively yet gently removing several layers of dead skin, which in turn helps step up circulation (blood feeds and nourishes all cells), and refines the texture of your skin (makes it feel smoother).

Gommage has a carob bean gum base, which gives it a lasting hydrating quality on your skin. If you haven’t tried Yonka’s Gommage and you want great-looking skin—isn’t it about time?

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GOMMAGE YONKA. When I first started using Yonka back in the mid-80s, there were 3 gommages: 300, 303, and 305. Gommage 300 was for dry and sensitive skin; 303 was for normal to oily skin; 305 was for problem and acne skin. Imagine my surprise when they discontinued Gommage 300!

Yonka renamed 305 for “dry or sensitive skin” siting that problem, acne skin was sensitive and that was how I was to sell it to my clients. That wasn’t an issue, since 305 has always been for problem skin, and many times problem skin is sensitive skin. But because the words on the label had changed, explaining this and convincing new clients or current clients who had true-dry skin (not problem skin) was a bit time consuming, to say the least. And now, all these years later, I still find myself having to go into a somewhat lengthy explanation of the different gommages to assure my clients I am indeed giving them the correct product for their skin type. 

I supposed one benefit of the rebranding of Gommage 305 into Gommage Yonka is not needing to explain why I’m recommending it to a skin type that the product doesn’t say it is for. Now with Gommage Yonka, there is no skin type it is labeled for. In other words, this rebranded product is for any and all skin types.

I used to label Gommage 305 for sensitive and problem skin. If you have red, sensitive skin, and especially if you have rosacea, you would probably have found Gommage 303 (now discontinued) irritating due to all the citrus it contained. Not so with 305/Gommage Yonka. Problem, infected, or acne skin tends to be sensitive, so Gommage Yonka is the best one for those skin conditions. And since all skin types need exfoliation, including irritated skin, this might be the one for you (and it is actually the only one available!). I have many clients with true rosacea who are able to use Yonka Gommage successfully, which is very important since a skin with rosacea certainly also needs exfoliation.

With all that said, with this new rebranded gommage any skin type can use it: true-dry (oil-dry), combination, normal to oily, oily, acne, rosacea, sensitive skin—everyone! I can’t say enough about this wonderful product and how important it is for the ongoing heath (and happiness) of your skin.

Essential ingredients:  

• Carob, brown algae derivatives—exfoliating, hydrating
• White nettle—soothing
• Essential oil of lime and bornéol—purifying, clearing
• Plant glycerin—hydrating

Directions for use:  

• Please please see the important instructions in the links below. They may be different than how you’re used to using gommage, but these directions will give you the best experience with this amazing exfoliator

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I cannot overemphasize how important Yonka’s Gommage is to your healthy skin care routine. So many people who have tried and failed to use it correctly have missed out on this amazing exfoliator. Please click on the Q & A article link below to read a first-hand account of one of my client’s experience with Gommage—before she met me and after I gave her proper instructions.

For more information, see:

• Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!
• Q & A: How to use Yonka’s Gommage (this is very helpful information!) 
• All About Exfoliation

Q & A: How to use Yonka’s Gommage (this is very helpful information!)

Over the (many) years I have used Yonka products, several facial clients haven’t been able to get the gommage to “work.” This is preciously why I give samples and detailed instructions, knowing that not everyone will use it successfully the first few times. I also hope the instructions I’ve provided in the article listed at the bottom of this post helps anyone who I may not see in my salon but who has not really known exactly how to use this very important product.

Many salons and most aestheticians use the gommage as Yonka is now instructing them to. I was trained, originally, back in 1985 when things were done a bit differently. In fact Gommage was then called Desincrustant—not a great name, so I was happy about that change. Back then there were actually three gommage products, today there are just two.

Usually a client is told to apply Gommage, let it sit on the face for a few minutes, then use the fingertips to gommage or flake the product off. This isn’t a terrible way to use it, but you truly will get a better gommage—a better exfoliation—if you massage the product in the whole time it is on your face. Without this added massage, you simply don’t get the best exfoliation. Plus your skin benefits from the added circulation from the manual manipulation. (Please refer to my instructions in the link below.)

Why can’t I get the gommage to peel off? I feel like I have to rub my skin raw, and that can’t be good—right?

This is probably the most common occurrence when using the gommage and it’s simply do to not using enough product. Because the gommage is a somewhat loose gel, when squeezing it out of the tube you may initial think you are pouring out enough product. But without using at the least a quarter-size dollop and more likely needing a half-dollar sized application, you probably aren’t using enough product. This isn’t the end of the world, but without enough product to come off, the gommage will basically act more like a moisturizer and soak into your skin. Again, not the end of the world, but not the result you are ultimately looking for.

If you feel you are “rubbing your skin raw,” you now know you probably aren’t using enough product. I recommend not removing what you have applied but do add more product—about half the amount you began with—massage that in over your first application and soon the gommage flakes should appear without any trouble. 

When I used the gommage last night, I felt like I couldn’t get it to dry off. Am I using too much? How should I apply it next time?

This, too, happens from time to time—even to me! Sometimes in the treatment room, I’ll accidentally squeeze too much product onto my hand and as I apply it to the client’s face, I can tell it will take forever to start to gommage. Rarely, but on occasion when this happens, I do take a tissue and take off a bit of the product. Again, not the worst thing to have happen, but without the proper amount of gommage, this process won’t work the best it can.

If you find you have applied too much gommage (you’ll know because you will massage and massage and the product just doesn’t sink into your skin), you could sit under a ceiling fan if you have one in your home; you could simply fan your face for a few seconds; you could tissue the excess off but I don’t wholeheartedly recommend that. You may take too much off and then you’re back to square one: needing more product. The gommage process from start to finish takes about 5 minutes. If you are massaging for a lot long than that, you’ve probably applied too much product.

Believe me, after using the gommage a few times, you will understand how much you ideally need to use. My point in detailing these instructions is not to scare you away from using it—quite the contrary. I want to give you as much information as possible to help you through any hiccups you have when first starting out using gommage.

Gommage is such an important step in your weekly skin care Extras program, I wanted to include a client comment for any of you who have had issues using this particular product. This client had received a sample of gommage from another Yonka salon in my area, but didn’t have the correct instructions (or any instructions?) as to how to use it.

Hi Carolyn,

I thought I’d try the Gommage the night after my facial with you. Your instructions were perfect! At first I did have slightly too much of the product to start with and it wasn’t working, so I blotted a bit off of my face and started massaging it gently, and it was exactly as your blog explained—pencil eraser texture sloughed off in the sink. I also used it on my hands because my hands are so dry right now, and I basically had the exact same results. I am very happy I made the purchase of Gommage. It is DIVINE! My skin feels SO great! Thank you for your great advice.

Using Yonka’s Gommage is paramount to your healthy skin care program. Please don’t let the somewhat complexity of it turn you off. Once you get this product to work, it will work wonders for your skin. If you haven’t tried it yet, please do! And if you have tried Gommage in the past but just couldn’t get it to work on your skin, it is my hope that with all the instructions I provide here (and in my salon) that you will give it a go—one more time. It really is worth the extra effort!

For more information, see:

• Yonka’s Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!
• Gommage in the shower?
• The Extras—Do more to have healthy skin

What IS Gommage?

   

What is gommage? 

Many of you know how important exfoliation is and that I recommend something called gommage. You also may have discovered that gommage is not an easy thing to find. For many reasons, I generally don’t talk about brand name products in my books, but here on this blog I freely write about Yonka products, which I have used professionally for nearly 30 years. 

“The Gommage” is a Yonka product that is a gel-type peel. Although it has no abrasive particles, it does a great job of exfoliating the outer surface of your skin. Due to its gel nature, the product essentially sticks to your skin and grabs onto the dead cells. Gommage is gentle yet effective, making it perfect for all skin types—especially sensitive or acneic skin. Sensitive and problem skin types cannot and should not use scrubs. So now, finally, through the use of Gommage, these skin types can safely exfoliate their skin and receive all the benefits, too.

Used on clean, dry skin, this gooey, gel-like substance is massaged gently into the skin until it dries and starts to slough off, like pencil eraser flakes. After thorough elimination of the dead skin, the residue is rinsed off. Toner and moisturizer are then applied. This one procedure can really help make your skin look and feel smooth and hydrated, with a truly healthy glow.

Here is a comment from one of my clients:

I have mild to moderate rosacea, and exfoliation is challenging. The only product that works and doesn’t irritate or cause my rosacea to flare is Yonka’s Gommage. I love it! It actually can calm down an irritation. Sometimes my rosacea can be exacerbated by the buildup of dead skin cells, and Gommage helps keep my skin clean and clear.

Gommage is not for everyone. Some people either can’t get the gommage to work correctly on their skin, or they just don’t like doing it. It takes a bit longer start to finish than simply scrubbing or using AHAs, but to me the time is worth the results. Give Gommage a try and see for yourself the benefits you can experience from this preeminent way to exfoliate.

For more details and important tips on how to use this product and other ways to exfoliate, see: 

• Yonka’s Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!
• Exfoliation: Thoughts on BufPufs, Gommage, Washcloths and more!
• GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305)—Soft Peel Miracle

Gommage in the shower?

Can I use the gommage in the shower?

Let me be brief: No!

Yonka’s Gommage is a wonderful exfoliator that should not be used if your face is wet, whether in the shower or bath or steam room. Why not? Gommage is in a gel base and needs to dry (through massaging it into the skin) in order to grab onto dead skin cells that are later rubbed off. If your skin is wet, even with simple humidity in the room (like after a shower), the gommage won’t slough off.

The following are my instructions for using Gommage to the fullest. These instructions basically duplicate a previous post: Yonka’s Gommage Instructions (see link below). As you will read at the bottom of this post, these—“my”—instructions are actually the way Yonka used to instruct clients (and aestheticians) to use Gommage back in the ’80s. Regardless how you use it, the following tips are going to be helpful.

This is very important: Your skin and the air around you needs to be DRY (no moisture in the air, no moisture on your skin). In other words—you cannot do the gommage while taking a shower—or a bath!

• Use a quarter to a half dollar-sized dollop
• Warm Gommage in your hands 
• Apply to DRY face and neck
• Gommage starts out as a sticky gooey gel
• Massage in using light, circular movements
• After a minute or two, it will start absorbing into the skin
• Keep massaging, but do not rub your face raw! (If you feel you have to rub hard, you didn’t begin with enough product or you are really dehydrated. Don’t remove what you’ve got on your face, but apply a bit more—around half the amount you began with—then continue massaging in.)
• You will start to notice pencil eraser-type flakes appearing as Gommage dries
• Get over a sink, and use brisk movements to eliminate the impurities off your face
• When complete, no more flakes will appear
• Rinse the residue off with tepid water (not hot or cold)
• Pat your skin dry with a towel
• Spray your Yonka Lotion toner
• Finally, apply your favorite Yonka day or nighttime moisturizer
• Your skin will feel extremely soft and look very clear and healthy
• Your makeup will go on smoothly

In order to have a complete, healthy skin care routine, I highly recommend using this excellent product at least once to several times per week. As I’ve said many times, exfoliation is paramount to healthy skin. I have many favorites in the Yonka-Paris skin care line, but Gommage is in my top 3 for sure.

The instructions for the gommage have changed over the years—and I’m not sure why. I think the older way is also a bit more time-consuming and labor-intensive, however I believe it works massively better than the newer instructions in your box of Gommage. Those directions will tell you to apply the gel, leave it to dry for 10 minutes or so, then start to rub it in and off your face. It may seem like a minor difference, but I believe if you work it in vs. let it sit on your skin, you will ultimately get a better gommage or peel.

Here is an excerpt from a new client’s email. She had always been told the “new” way to gommage and I sent her instructions for the “old” way. Here are her comments:

Wow! Thanks, Carolyn! I was, indeed, using the gommage incorrectly. I was applying the correct amount, but I was told to leave it on after I applied it for about ten minutes, then use my fingers to sweep downwards on the skin to get the “pencil eraser” flakes to come off. I tried it your way last night. It worked brilliantly!

Whichever way you prefer to apply this product—just do it—you’ll be happy you did. Yonka’s Gommage can and will make a huge difference in the healthy look and smooth feel of your skin.

For more information, see:

• What IS Gommage?
• Yonka’s Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!
• Is your face in need of extra hydration? 

Yonka’s Gommage Instructions—This is Very Important Information!

The instructions inside the box of Gommage are slightly different than those listed below. Based on results, the following is the most effective way to use the this product. The instructions I’m giving you here, by the way, are the originals from when Gommage was called Desincrustant back in the 80s.
 
Exfoliation is paramount to healthy skin, therefore Gommage is one of the most important in your routine. Gommage needs to be used at least once per week, however it can be used as often as every day. Twice per week would be great. The gommage process takes about five minutes start to finish, but due to how your skin will look and feel afterward, it’s worth every second! 

Note: When sampling this product, USE ONE WHOLE SAMPLE per application (one sample = one application—only!). In others words, use the whole sample! If you don’t, you will not get a proper gommage. Using the sample will give you an idea of how much to use.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: Your skin and the air around you needs to be DRY—no moisture in the air (for instance if the shower is on or you’re in a steam room) and no moisture on your skin (be sure after washing your face you get all the water off before applying Gommage).

• Use a quarter to a half dollar-sized dollop
• Warm Gommage between your hands and apply to DRY face and neck

The gommage starts out as a sticky gooey gel. After massaging into your skin using light, circular movements for a minute or two, the product will start absorbing into your skin:

• When it starts absorbing, it gets a bit sticky and you’ll lose the easy gliding ability. Keep massaging, but do not rub your face raw!

• If you feel you have to rub hard, you didn’t begin with enough product. Don’t remove what you’ve got on your face, but apply a bit more, then continue...

• You will start to notice pencil eraser-type flakes appearing as the gommage dries

• Get over a sink and use brisk movements to eliminate the impurities. When complete, no more flakes will appear

• Rinse the residue off with tepid water, and you’re done!

• After rinsing, pat your skin dry, use your Yonka spray toner, then use your favorite Yonka moisturizer.

Your skin will feel extremely soft and look very clear and healthy. If you wear makeup, it will go on smoothly. Whenever someone comes in for a facial, I always tell them they will be amazed at how soft their skin feels the next time they go to cleanse. Many times after a facial the client won’t have touched their skin since the last time they washed it. 

QUICK TIP:
In a hurry and need to gommage? Before your shower, apply Gommage. Massage until the flaking begins, step into DRY shower, and flake off completely. Start water, and rinse residue off as you shower.

• Gommage when you can’t come in for facials
  
• Gommage when your coloring looks dull
  
• Gommage when your skin looks flaky
  

When in doubt—GOMMAGE! It is essential to your healthy skin program! 

For more information, see:

• What IS Gommage?
• Gommage in the shower? helps you understand why your skin needs to be dry before gommaging 
• Q & A: How to use Yonka’s Gommage (this is very helpful information!)
• GOMMAGE YONKA (formerly Gommage 305)—Soft Peel Miracle 

Remember—don’t rub too hard