Yonka Masks: all links so far

yonka masks

• Age Exception EXCELLENCE CODE MASQUE

• HYDRA Nº1 MASQUE (formerly Masque N°1—my FAVORITE Yonka product) (new!)

• MASQUE 103—Detoxifying Clay Mask for normal to oily and problem skin

• MASQUE 105—Detoxifying Clay Mask for true-dry and sensitive skin

• SENSITIVE MASQUE from Yonka-Paris (replaces Creme 11 moisturizing cream)

Also see

• Excellence Code Masque: mask or moisturizer? (new!)

• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions

• Hydrating Your Skin with a Mask (coming soon!)

• Questions about Yonka’s Hydra N°1 products & hydrating masks (new!)

Questions about Yonka’s Hydra N°1 products & hydrating masks

Hi Carolyn, I have a question about the Hydra N°1 Creme I ordered. Can this also be used as a mask? The aesthetician I go to sometimes uses either Hydra N°1 or maybe the Masque N°1 when my skin is dehydrated—I’m not sure. For a daily moisturizer, the Hydra N°1 Creme is sometimes too moisturizing for my (still!) oily skin that (still!) occasionally breaks out. What are your thoughts?

Actually any moisturizer can be used as a mask. The two main types of masks are clay (my favorite) and hydrating or moisturizing types. As you can read in other hydrating masks articles here, I’m not a fan of moisture masks. I don’t think you really need to purchase a separate hydrating facial mask, instead just you a thick layer of your day or nighttime cream. 

Some people may balk at that recommendation, but I give it knowing that skin care products can be and are expensive and I would much rather have someone spend money on their everyday products (The Basics: cleanser, toner, moisturizer) than on a completely separate product, which would simply be a thick cream, marketed as a hydrating mask.

I do not like this kind of policy

For any of you with red, irritated skin, I think either Sensitive Creme or Sensitive Masque might be  good products to use as a mask especially when your skin is acting up. As with any and all products when you have sensitive skin, you may have to go through some trial and error. When I was a working aesthetician with a salon and clients, I always (always) sampled as many products as I could whenever I could. I let the products do the selling, because if you came to my salon—you got samples, and that was how I sold this product line.

If possible, get a sample of the Hydra products or any other cream or mask you think might work for your skin. And if you have to purchase in order to try it, be sure you understand the salon or store’s return policy. If it doesn’t work your skin and you can’t return it, opt for another place to purchase your products. And be sure and get a receipt!

In the end, if you want to have a separate product to use as a hydrating mask—go for it! But to consolidate and save money at the same time, I stand by my recommendation to use your moisturizing cream as a hydrating mask if you feel you need the extra moisture. If the Hydra products work for your skin, great. Then use one of those as a mask when you want to.

If, as you mentioned, the Hydra Nº1 is too much for your sometimes oily skin, then use another creme that isn’t so emollient as your hydrating mask of choice. A cream is a cream and even a product for an oilier skin if sitting on the surface for 15-20 as a mask will still hydrate the skin underneath. (But you know what I really recommend: gommage!)

For more information, see:

• Are facial masks worthwhile?
• HYDRA N°1 products:  CREME, FLUID, & SERUM 
• Excellence Code Masque: mask or moisturizer?

SENSITIVE MASQUE from Yonka-Paris (replaces Creme 11 moisturizing cream)

SENSITIVE MASQUE from Yonka-Paris is another unfortunate rebranding disaster from Yonka-Paris. There have been so many changes to this line in the past few years it is almost an entirely new product. I have used Yonka for my entire career—almost 33 years. It has only been in the past 10 years and more specifically the last 5 years that all of the changes have taken place.

The fiasco, in my humble opinion, is with this particular product (among others). Here is what I mean: Creme 11 was a wonderful anti-redness creme that enjoyed being in the Yonka lineup for over 3 decades. Because keeping older formulations is not in the Yonka playbook, Creme 11 was destined to leave. Why, I simply can’t understand!

The replacement recommendation for Creme 11 is this product: Sensitive Masque. Now, if the product works—great. But why oh why couldn’t they have called it something else. Or simply reformulated Creme 11 and kept the recognizable name? Yonka never asks me for my opinion and I never have any say so in their corporate decisions. Going from calling something you use daily from a cream to a mask I think is a huge marketing mistake. They also came out with Sensitive Creme and Sensitive Anti-Redness Creme—why did Creme 11 (an anti-redness cream) get stuck with the title mask?

I suppose I just need to get over it and hope Sensitive Masque works the same—perhaps better, if possible—as Creme 11. Fingers crossed! All of the new sensitive skin products came out just as I was closing up shop in Boulder. I did give retail sizes of this to several clients who were regular users of Creme 11.

One client who used and loved Creme 11 tried both Sensitive Creme as well as Creme 11’s replacement: Sensitive Masque. She wasn’t able to articulate why she liked the Creme better than the Masque, but she liked the way Sensitive Creme felt on her skin and that’s really all the information you need. If something feels good (or better than something else) you’ll use it easily.

Because Yonka recommends Sensitive Masque be used in place of Creme 11, I’d start there. If you can get samples of both Sensitive Anti-Redness Creme and Sensitive Creme, then you’ll be able to try all 3 sensitive skin products and can discern which one works the best for your sensitive skin.

For more information, see:

• SENSITIVE CREME ANTI-RED
• SENSITIVE CREME (replaces Creme 83)
• Sensitive Skin: all links so far

Excellence Code Masque: mask or moisturizer?

I am not a huge fan of using moisturizing masks. First, I think it’s a waste of product—especially an expensive product like Excellence Code Mask. Second, if your skin feels like it needs extra moisture, you are most likely dehydrated and the best and most effective solution for that is exfoliation. There is no better exfoliatior than Yonka’s Gommage. It is hands down the best way to get rid of dead skin on the surface of your face.

If your skin is dehydrated, it has too many dead cells built up on the surface. To then simply put a thick moisturizer (aka moisturizing mask) on all of that dead skin, it is an ineffective way to hydrate the surface. Exfoliate—get rid of some of that buildup then add moisture to your face.

Because I simply can’t apply a product with wonderful ingredients, leave for 15 minutes, then remove (unless the mask you are using is clay-based—something you wouldn’t leave on much longer than that), I decided to try this mask as a nighttime moisturizer. And not “in a thin layer” as recommended below. I used Excellence Code Masque as my moisturizer at night for one week. The results: Wow—this is a great cream! And yet another “mask” that I will recommend as a regular moisturizer.

Another way to use this mask is to apply a thin layer under your regular moisturizer to give your skin that extra hydration boost it may need. There are several Yonka products made for this very purpose, but if you already have the Code mask, you could try this as another way to utilize its wonderful hydrating abilities.

As you can see by the ingredients, Excellence Code Masque has a lot of bells and whistles—truly wonderful and advanced anti-aging components. It feels great going on and has a lovely aromatic (aka: it smells good!). My skin was not only more than sufficiently hydrated but it did take on a certain “glow”—what I would prefer calling a healthy look and feel.

Caution: if you do not have true-dry (oil-dry) skin, this “cream” is probably going to be too much for you. This particular mask—used as a moisturizer—really does require a dry skin type (not simply dehydration).

Some of you may love using moisture masks to hydrate your skin. Used as a mask, Excellence Code Masque will probably be fine for all skin types; be sure to monitor your skin with this or any new product you’re using. It is a wonderful hydrating product, no matter my preference for its use. TRY IT—you will love it!

For more information, see:

• Yonka’s Age Exception EXCELLENCE CODE MASQUE
• GOMMAGE YONKA—Soft Peel Miracle
• Yonka’s MASQUE N°1—it’s not a mask, it’s the Best Moisturizer—ever! Although this product has been rebranded with a new name (Hydra Nº1 Masque), I include this original article for you to read about how even though it is called masque it was always meant to be a hydrating moisturizer for day and/or night.

HYDRA Nº1 MASQUE (formerly Masque N°1—my FAVORITE Yonka product)

HYDRA Nº1 MASQUE is the replacement for my very favorite Yonka moisturizer, MASQUE Nº1. As many of you know, I love(d) Masque Nº1. For clients with true-dry skin, this was my go-to recommendation. And I used it myself with terrific hydrating results.

     

As per Yonka’s corporate education department: The Parent Company did not announce any significant formula change to the Hydra Nº1 Masque and we can confirm that the ingredients are the same, with a few ingredients appearing in different order. The features, benefits, and actions on the skin remain unchanged, and both you and your clients can expect the same long-lasting results with Hydra Nº1 Masque. As a reminder slight color and texture variances are normal when formulating with natural ingredients.

To me, these creams seem different vs. what Yonka says above—that the ingredients are the same. The two products have very different aromatics. I actually love Hydra Nº1 Masque’s jasmine scent. Masque Nº1 has a somewhat similar aroma but it is not at all as distinct and powerful as Hydra Masque. And since they said there was only a shift in order of certain ingredients, I just had to see for myself!

After looking at every single ingredient (and there are many) these two creams are virtually the same. For me, they have different aromatics, but I do love them both (even if I’ll always love Masque 1 just a bit more).

With all the changes Yonka has brought to all of us aestheticians and sales people, and also users of their products, I do think I can live with this one. Some of the other cream replacements aren’t so identical so I consider myself lucky since I have loved and used Masque 1 since it came out years ago and really wasn’t up for making a big change with my personal skin care. And I feel confident recommending Hydra Masque to those who have used Masque 1. Whew!

From Yonka headquarters:
Savor the intense, time-releasing hydration of this bestselling mask with anti-aging effects. Infused with imperata cylindrica grass, aloe vera, and rose, jasmine, and shiu essential oils, this natural bouquet imparts both immediate and long-lasting hydration. With a gel-cream texture and a beautiful floral scent, it reduces the appearance of fine lines and soothes all types of damaged skin. This weekly hydrating cream mask* is great for use during travel and may be left on overnight for a powerfully curing treatment.
*As was true for Mask 1, this is best used as a daily moisturizer in my opinion. It is how Mask 1 was recommended and I follow that advice with this similar product. Using it as a mask is fine, but to me this makes for a wonderful daily hydrating product.

Essential ingredients:

• Imperata cylindrica, aloe vera, PCA, plant glycerin—hydrating 
• Silicon derivative—regenerating 
• Vitamin A—regenerating
• Jojoba, sandalwood, phellodendron, barley—anti-dehydrating, repairing
• Bacopa monniera—antioxidant
• Vitamins C and E—antioxidants
• Bisabolol, vitamin B5—soothing
• Essential oils of rose, jasmine, shiu—relaxing

Directions for use:

In the morning and/or evening:

• Cleanse then pat skin dry
• Spray on Yonka Lotion toner
• Apply HYDRA Nº1 MASQUE to your face and neck
• Use your favorite Yonka eye treatment

For an extra hydrating benefit, if you aren’t using this cream as your daily/nightly moisturizer but need some additional moisture in your skin, before hopping into bed apply a thin layer of Hydra Nº1 Masque over your cream (no matter your skin type) and allow it to sink in while you sleep. It will give intense hydration to even the most sensitive skins, and you’ll wake up with smoother, softer, fuller-looking skin.

For more information, see:

• MASQUE N°1—it’s not a mask, it’s the Best Moisturizer—ever! Even though this is “old” news, it still has pertinent information for those changing over to Hydra Nº1 Masque since these two creams are basically the same.
• Yonka—Discontinued: All links so far
• Why you want to use a moisturizer

Yonka’s Age Exception EXCELLENCE CODE MASQUE

Below is the link to an article, Excellence Code Masque: mask or moisturizer?, that gives an account of my experience with this masque that you’ll want to read. In short: I loved it, but as a moisturizer vs. using it as a mask. Read the post to get all the information!

The following is from Yonka headquarters: Yon-Ka Paris has proudly completed the Age Exception collection with the launch on EXCELLENCE CODE MASQUE and Excellence Code Contours eye treatment. These two new, high performance products are well suited for the multi-dimensional needs of mature, hormonally imbalanced skin.

As an innovator in anti-aging expert care, Yon-Ka counters all the signs of aging with its new and exceptional face mask, Excellence Code Masque, which doubles as an over-night sleep mask. Packed with potent active ingredients including its star ingredient, Nutgrass, strengthens the papillary dermis and maintains the skin’s youthful bounce and volume.

It also provides mature skin types with an astonishing radiance boost due to Red Algae, a patented ingredient used for its brightening powers. Skin is visibly younger; signs of fatigue fade away and your complexion instantly recovers its glow and freshness. 

92% of natural ingredients - 2 Patents -   Paraben-free
Multi-tasking, Versatile Product with Proven Efficacy:
Lifting Effect: +25% after first application, +61% after second application (Comparison was made between day 0 and day 3)

• Radiance:  +65% then +95%
• Wrinkles are smoothed: 100%
• Skin is visibly younger: 100%

Don’t get me started—I don’t even know where to begin to explain what these percentage really mean. But as you can see, it is Yonka’s new way of describing the benefits of their products. For me as an aesthetician—or just for me as an individual—these descriptions (“Skin is visibly younger: 100%”) border on the ridiculous.

Essential ingredients:

• Sweet almond proteins, nutgrass—instant lifting effect, firmness and bounce
• Lemon, orange, sugar cane, maple and bilberry with AHAs (fruit acids), marine collagen—anti-wrinkle, smoothing effect, exfoliating
• Hyaluronic acid with high molecular weight, vegetable glycerin, grape seed oil, allantoin, vitamins PP and B5—hydrating, nourishing, repairing
• Red algae—clear and even complexion
• Vitamins A, C, E—anti-oxidizing, regenerating
• Essential oils of bergamot, lemon, mandarin, rose, tonka bean and guaiac wood, Quintessence Yonka (thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary essential oils)—invigorating, relaxing

Directions for use from Yonka:

1 to 2 times per week:

• After cleansing, apply EXCELLENCE CODE MASQUE generously to the face and neck
• Let mask sit on your skin for 15 minutes
• After rinsing the masque off thoroughly
• Spray Yonka lotion several times to energize the complexion
• As an additional treatment option, apply a thin layer of Excellence Code Masque as an overnight treatment

For more information, see:

• Excellence Code Masque: mask or moisturizer?
• Excellence Code Creme for mature skin
• Excellence Code Eye & Lip Contour

Yonka’s MASQUE 105—Detoxifying Clay Mask for true-dry and sensitive skin

YONKA CLAY MASK is a great at-home treatment for breakout as well as for all-around clean, healthy skin. Clay absorbs oil and draws impurities to the surface while calming and reducing inflammation. Clay also stimulates blood circulation, getting oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which makes a clay-based mask good for all skin, no matter what “type.” 

Masque 105 is best for true-dry and sensitive skin and is perfect for cleaning out the pores of even the most sensitive skin. Even if you have true-dry (oil-dry) skin, you can always use a good deep cleaning. And all skin types can benefit from the circulatory acceleration that comes from using a clay mask. (Masque 103 is best for normal to oily or problem, acneic skin. This version has a higher concentration of clay making it more detoxifying and clearing.)

  Masque 105 can be used in several ways:

• As a mask, covering the entire face and left on for 15 minutes, once to several times per week. Remember to keep the mask moist by spraying with water or toner.
• For a spot treatment dotted on the blemish at night before bed and left on while you sleep. If the spot is medium to small without a lot of infection, this dotting method can really reduce its size overnight.
• For an extra-strength cleanser, mix equal parts clay mask with your cleansing milk, gel, or wash creme and cleanse as you normally do (apply/massage/rinse). See Advanced Steps for Cleansing (link below).

Essential ingredients:

• 3 clays: 
• Montmorillonite (France)—detoxifies, oxygenates
• Bentonite (France)—purifying, clearing
• Kaolin (China)—balances oil secretions, purifying, clearing
• Savory extract—calms, soothes redness, clarifies
• Essential oil of lemon—tones, brightens
• Yonka “Quintessence” (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)—purifying, balancing

Directions for use:

Use this clay mask once a week for normal to dry or true-dry skin. If you have sensitive skin plus oily to problem or acne skin, use this mask once to several times per week to keep your skin clean and to help with inflammation. Although it might seem counterintuitive, in many cases clay can actually help reduce redness even in the most sensitive and red skin.

• Apply this aromatic cleansing mask in a thick layer to the entire face after cleansing or after using Gommage
• Leave on about 15 minutes*

*The mask needs to stay moist the entire time it’s on your skin. If you let this (or anything) dry on your skin, it will just dry out the skin’s surface. One step forward, two steps back. This is what I recommend:

• Apply mask and immediately spray your toner liberally over entire face
• After 5 minutes or so, you will need to spray again and can either use the toner or get a spray bottle and fill with filtered (clean) water
• Keep mask moist until you remove it
• After 15 minutes, remove mask with tepid water
• Spray the toner and apply your moisturizer

For more information, see:

• Help For Breakouts
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions This has important information and more detailed instructions on how best to use Masque 105 or any clay-based mask.
• Advanced Steps for Cleansing
  (This has important information and more detailed instructions on how best to use Masque 103 (or any clay-based mask) - See more at: http://agelessbeautyblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/yonkas-masque-103detoxifying-clay-mask.html#sthash.90hPy4yN.dpuf

Yonka’s MASQUE 103—Detoxifying Clay Mask for normal to oily and problem skin

MASQUE 103, a clay-based mask from Yonka-Paris, is a great at-home treatment for breakout as well as for all-around clean, healthy skin. Clay absorbs oil and draws impurities to the surface while calming and reducing inflammation. Clay also stimulates blood circulation, getting oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which makes a clay-based mask good for all skin, no matter what “type.” 

Masque 103 is best for normal to oily or problem, acneic skin. This version has a higher concentration of clay making it more detoxifying and clearing. (Masque 105 is better for true-dry and sensitive skin. With a lesser concentration of clay, it is perfect for cleaning out the pores of even the most sensitive skin. Even if you have true-dry (oil-dry) skin, you can always use a good deep cleaning.) All skin types can benefit from the circulatory acceleration that comes from using a clay mask.

 Masque 103 can be used in several ways:

• As a mask, covering the entire face and left on for 15 minutes, once to several times per week. *Remember to keep the mask moist by spraying with water or toner. See link to How to use a Clay Mask below.

• As a spot treatment, dotted on the blemish at night before bed and left on while you sleep. If the spot is medium to small without a lot of infection, this dotting method can really reduce its size overnight.

• For an extra-strength cleanser, mix equal parts clay mask with your cleansing milk, gel, or wash creme and cleanse as you normally do (apply/massage/rinse).

Essential ingredients:

• 3 clays: 
• Montmorillonite (France)—detoxifies, oxygenates
• Bentonite (France)—purifying, clearing
• Kaolin (China)—balances oil secretions, purifying, clearing
• Borneol—purifying, clearing
• Sage—detoxifies, antisepticizes
• Essential oil of orange—astringent, antisepticizes 
• Wild thyme extract—decongests, antisepticizes
• Essential oils of lemon and lime—astringent, toning
• Yonka “Quintessence” (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)—purifying, balancing 

Directions for use:

Use clay once a week. If you have a lot of breakout, mask 2-3x per week.

• Apply this aromatic cleansing mask in a thick layer to the entire face after cleansing or after using Gommage
• Leave on about 15 minutes

*The mask needs to stay moist the entire time it’s on your skin. If you let this (or anything) dry on your skin, it will just dry out the skin’s surface. One step forward, two steps back. This is what I recommend:

• Apply mask and immediately spray your toner liberally over entire face
• After 5 minutes or so (whenever you feel the clay start to dry), you will need to spray again and can either use your Yonka toner or get a spray bottle and fill with filtered (clean) water
• Keep mask moist until you remove it
• After 15-20 minutes, remove mask with tepid, room temperature water (never hot or cold)
• After pat-drying your skin, spray the toner and apply your moisturizer

For more information, see:

• Help For Breakouts
• Advanced Steps for Cleansing
• How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions This has important information and more detailed instructions on how best to use Masque 103 or any clay-based mask.

How to use a Clay Mask—Important Instructions

Although almost every container of clay mask will instruct you to apply the clay to your face and let it dry on your skin, this is not how I want you to use a clay (or any drying-type) mask—ever. The following may be news to you but believe me—you do not want to let a clay mask dry and harden on your skin! 

Here are my instructions for utilizing a clay mask for the optimal benefit of your skin:

• On clean, dry skin, apply a thick layer of clay mask over your entire face, even under the eye area. (Clay can help with puffiness due to its anti-inflammatory properties.) Thick layer means thick enough so you can’t see your skin underneath. A thin application will quickly dry on your skin.

• Unless your neck is broken out, you don’t need to put clay there. Instead, you can apply a hydrating mask or a thick layer of your moisturizer to include your neck in this treatment.

• Don’t forget to get some clay directly under your chin as well as that place between your jawbone and earlobe. I normally apply the clay right up on my earlobe. This whole little area tends to collect debris, and sometimes blackheads will form. Using a clay mask in these hard-to-reach areas will lessen the chance of congestion.

•  Leave the mask on for 15 minutes or so. If you don’t have 15 minutes but you really need the benefits of clay, keep it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Using it even for short amounts of time is better than not using it at all.

Never let a clay mask dry on your face. In fact, you don’t really want anything to dry on the skin’s surface—this will simply dry out the surface of your skin, which is never a good thing. It’s like taking one step forward, two steps back.

Clay doesn’t need to dry in order to draw impurities to itself. There are actually cleansing fasts that require you to ingest certain types of clay. Obviously the whole time the clay is in your body, it remains moist yet it still draws out toxins while it’s going through your system. Here, you’re just applying clay to your face, but the principle is the same. Clay does not need to dry on the skin in order to draw out superficial debris. Keeping the mask moist (see below) may contradict how you have always been told to use a clay mask, but hopefully this new information makes sense to you.

• After your time is up, rinse the clay off with tepid water (not hot or cold)
  
• Pat your skin dry
• Use your spray toner
• Apply your day or nighttime moisturize

When it comes time to rinse the mask off, you’ll be glad you kept it moist. A dried-on, hardened clay mask is very difficult to remove.

How to keep the mask moist. As I stated earlier, you want to keep the clay mask moist the entire time it’s on your face. If you don’t already have your toner in a spray bottle, at your local beauty supply or grocery store, purchase an empty spray bottle. Fill it with clean, filtered water. 

• Immediately after you’ve applied the mask, spray your face thoroughly with the water.

• After five minutes or so, you’ll feel the mask starting to dry (especially around the peripheries where the mask is thinner), so grab your bottle and spray your face again.

• During the 15 minutes you have the mask on, you will probably spray 3 or 4 times—whatever it takes to keep the clay moist. 

This application missed the all-important under-eye area.

Using clay is an integral part of keeping your skin clean and clear, as well as helping to stimulate blood circulation. For more of the benefits of using a clay mask, see:

• What is a clay mask and why use one?
• How NOT to apply a clay mask
• Ideas on when & where to do a clay mask