Yonka Toners: all links so far

Yonka toners

• EMULSION PURE—Toner and blemish spot treatment 

• LOTION PNG—Spray toner for normal to oily skin

• LOTION PS—Spray toner for true-dry skin

also see

• Does my toner need to dry before applying cream?

• If you use Yonka’s spray toners, please read this for a helpful tip!

• TONERS 101: WHAT is a toner and WHY use one? Also HOW & WHEN to use a toner? (new!)

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use?

TONERS 101: WHAT is a toner and WHY use one? Also HOW & WHEN to use a toner?

WHAT is a toner? 

Toner (also called freshener, astringent, clarifying lotion, etc.) is a water-based liquid designed to superficially hydrate and lower the pH of the skin. Almost all product lines have toners.

Technically, toners reacidify the epidermis and prepare the skin for moisturizer. To reacidify means to replace the skin’s naturally low (acidic) pH, which is disrupted somewhat even with gentle cleansers. Epidermis is just another word for your outer, dead skin, the skin you can touch. So toners help replace the natural acidic state of your skin. Toners are primarily water, so they also superficially hydrate the outer skin. After cleansing and toning, you are ready for Step 3: Moisturizing.

What a toner is not: A toner is not a product that should strip your skin of all the oil and water on the surface (this causes dehydration). A toner is not a product that should contain alcohol (the bad kind). And a toner is not a cleanser!

WHY use a toner? 

Toners are an important yet misunderstood step in your daily program. You may have heard they are the second step in cleansing: “Wipe your face with a cotton ball soaked in toner and look at all the dirt it picks up.” If the cotton is showing dirt, what that really means is you didn’t get your skin clean, so it’s back to Step 1: Cleansing for you. Cleansers cleanse, toners tone or prepare the skin. Toners are not cleansers. 

Some of you may be using toners thinking you are tightening or even shrinking your pores. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is physiologically impossible to shrink the pores. Toners that have alcohol or other drying agents in them cause your skin to swell slightly, giving you the feeling of tightening. But actually these drying agents (especially alcohol) will strip the skin and eventually cause dehydration—making your skin feel dry. Toners prepare the skin for moisturizing, they do not alter the structure of the skin.

HOW to use a toner?

Most likely you have always put toner on a cotton pad and gone over your face with it. Or you may have been splashing it on like an aftershave. I recommend spraying toner on your face as the optimum way of applying it. This method is quick, economical, and the most effective way to apply toner evenly onto your face. It feels refreshing as well, and you don’t need to keep cotton around.

If your toner doesn’t already come in a spray bottle (Yonka toners do), empty spray bottles are easy to find at any beauty supply or grocery store. So just purchase one, pour your toner in it, and spray away. You’ll be so happy you did! It’s a quick and easy way to apply your toner, and it also is a refreshing blast of hydration for your face. For men, this spray method will eliminate the use of cotton that tends to stick in the beard.

WHEN to use a toner?

Always use a toner after washing your face. Because you have slightly disrupted the pH of your skin while cleansing, you want to reacidify the surface (get it back to its natural acid state). Using toner after cleansing sets up the right environment for your skin to be balanced and then prepared for hydration (moisturizing). Your toner should be gentle enough that you can spray it throughout the day.

Whenever I go into my bathroom, I grab my toner and enjoy a refreshing spray mist. It’s a wonderful little treat for my face. In general, however, after you have thoroughly washed your face and neck (morning and evening) and patted your skin dry with a towel, use your toner. After cleansing and toning, your skin is ready for your third and final step, moisturizing.

For more information, see:

• Astringents and your skin
• TONER: What to use and what NOT to use
• Do I really need to use a toner?

Does my toner need to dry before applying cream?

The following came from one of my favorite clients: my mom! I think a lot of people have the same question, so I thought I’d share this one with you: 

I still have that [Yonka] toner you gave me, but I need a question answered. As you know, I use the dry skin cream but do I use the pink spray toner in between cream during the day? Also do I use the spray before or after the cream?

I get asked these same questions frequently. And the answers are very simply, really. First, you can use the spray toner as often as you want throughout any given day. But generally, on a daily basis (AM & PM), you want to:

1. Clean your skin, towel dry
2. Spray the pink toner
3. Apply your moisturizing cream

In addition to the above, you can use the spray toner whenever you want to. For instance, you might feel like spraying it on in the middle of the day, just because. And that is fine! Your skin will love the hydrating quality of the Yonka pink toner (it contains glycerin, a hydrating ingredient), so feel free to spray away whenever you want as long as you do use it after cleansing and before moisturizing in your twice daily (morning and evening) skin care routine.

OK, then I guess you let the toner dry before applying the moisturizing cream?

Actually, you don’t need to let the spray of toner dry on your skin before putting your moisturizer on over it. I’d just spray the toner, then put your cream on when your skin is moist from the spray. This way your cream will glide easier over your skin and you aren’t waiting for the toner to dry. In general, applying your moisturizer over your just-sprayed toner is the way to do it.

Caution: there is a possibility you may not feel as hydrated if you apply your moisturizer on an over-saturated face where you’ve perhaps used too much toner. (If you’ve used too much, your toner will literally be dripping down your face.) And because of all that liquid, your cream might not “stick” to the skin like it would with a light coating of the spray toner. Generally, and with the Yonka toner specifically, the spray is a very fine mist, so you really don’t have to be concerned with overdoing it. Dripping will be an indicator! 

For more information, see:

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care
• TONERS 101: WHAT is a toner and WHY use one? Also HOW & WHEN to use a toner?
• TONER: What to use and what NOT to use

Yonka-Paris LOTION PNG—Spray toner for normal to oily skin

LOTION PNG is the Yonka toner for normal to oily skin types. This aromatic mist will immediately soothe your soul. With essential oils of thyme, lavender, geranium, cypress, and rosemary your mind will be entranced and your skin will be pH balanced. Used after cleansing, these wonderful aromatic toners can be used throughout the day—whenever you want to have the Yonka Quintessence experience!

This white spray toner has a higher concentration of essential oils than does Lotion PS (for normal to true-dry skin). This makes Lotion PNG better for helping with excess oil production as well as blackheads and breakout. (PNG translates to pour normale à grasse in French; for normal to oil in English.)

This toner is acidic on the pH scale, helping to rebalance your skin after cleansing. Bacteria can’t thrive in an acid environment; your skin is naturally acidic on the pH scale. Using LOTION helps to keep bacteria away while maintaining balance for the oil glands.

Essential ingredients:

• Yonka’s “Quintessence” (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)

• Thyme (Spain)—antiseptic 
• Lavender (Provence)—healing, soothing, stimulates cell metabolism
• Cypress (France)—clarifying
• Geranium (Egypt)—balances oil production
• Rosemary (Morocco)—detoxifying

Directions for use:

After cleansing:

• Spray LOTION over face and neck
• Use your favorite Yonka moisturizer
• Then apply eye cream

Other than using twice daily (after cleansing), this wonderful aromatic toner can be used as often as desired. LOTION makes an excellent aftershave for men; it is very soothing.

Both Yonka spray toners (Lotion PS and Lotion PNG) are truly wonderful. If you are not currently using one, I highly recommend incorporating one of these aromatic spritz toners into your daily Basics routine.

Not sure what toner to use? Please read: 

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use?
• If you use Yonka’s spray toner, please read this for a helpful tip!

For important information on pH and how to test your toner or any skin care product, see:

• Proper pH & your skin care products  
• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care

Yonka’s LOTION PS—Spray toner for true-dry skin

The aromatic mist of Yonka’s LOTION PS will immediately soothe your soul. With essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary your mind will be entranced and your skin will be pH balanced. Used after cleansing, this hydrating aromatic toner can also be used throughout the day—whenever you want to have the Yonka Quintessence experience!

The pink toner (Lotion PS) is for true-dry, oil-dry skin and employs glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, helping to hydrate skin. If you have an oilier skin type, you would not want to use the dry skin toner. It will cause more oil and possible breakout. The pink toner, however, is essential for a true-dry (oil-dry) skin. (PS translates to pour sèches in French; for dry in English.) 

This toner is acidic on the pH scale, helping to rebalance your skin after cleansing. Bacteria can’t thrive in an acid environment; your skin is naturally acidic on the pH scale. Using LOTION helps to keep bacteria away while maintaining balance for the oil glands.

Essential ingredients:

• Yonka’s “Quintessence” (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, rosemary, and geranium)—balancing, revitalizing, purifying
• Plant glycerin—hydrating
  

Directions for use:

After cleansing:

• Spray LOTION over face and neck before moisturizing
• Use your favorite Yonka moisturizer
• Then apply eye cream

Other than using twice daily (after cleansing), this wonderful aromatic toner can be used as often as desired. LOTION makes an excellent aftershave for men; it is very soothing.

Both Yonka spray toners (Lotion PS and Lotion PNG) are truly wonderful. If you are not currently using one, I highly recommend incorporating one of these aromatic spritz toners into your daily Basics routine.

Not sure what toner to use? Please read: 

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use?
• If you use Yonka’s spray toner, please read this for a helpful tip!

For important information on pH and how to test your toner or any skin care product, see:

• Proper pH & your skin care products  
• The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care

Yonka’s EMULSION PURE—Toner and blemish spot treatment

EMULSION PURE is the third toner from Yonka-Paris and is best for problem skin and acne. It does not spray like the other toners: Lotion PS and PNG.

Pure contains the highest the concentration of essential oils of all the toners, giving it a better effect on inflammation and infections (essential oils have strong antibacterial properties). In a more diluted form, like in Lotion PS (the lowest concentration of essential oils of the three products), essential oils are more soothing for sensitivities yet still have the beneficial properties of stimulating circulation, helping with cellular respiration.
 
Emulsion Pure is an excellent spot treatment when used as a compress on a specific blemish. It can also be used over your entire face as an extra-strength toner. This concentrate of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary essential oils starts the healing process by helping to calm infections and reduce inflammation.

From Yonka headquarters:
Address the unique needs of your skin with this purifying and regenerating treatment emulsion that is essential for those who suffer from chronic breakouts. With a potent concentration of Yon-Ka Quintessence, this multi-action medicine cabinet in a bottle can be used before and after waxing, on sunburn, on insect bites, and on old scars for purifying, soothing, and regenerating effects.

Essential ingredients:

• Yonka “Quintessence” 4.3% (essential oils of thyme, lavender, cypress, geranium, and rosemary)—purifying, regenerating 
  • Thyme—antiseptic 
  • Lavender—healing, soothing, stimulates cell metabolism 
  • Cypress—vasotonic, clarifying
  • Geranium—normalizes sebaceous secretions
  • Rosemary—regulates lymphatic circulation 
• Botanical emulsifier—stabilizing

Directions for use:

To use Pure as a compress: 

• Take a piece of cotton 2-3x the size of the spot (in other words: use a small piece)
• Soak in PURE
• Compress (press) onto the blemish 
• Keep it there at least 5 minutes, no more than 15 minutes

You can compress while watching TV, reading, or talking on the phone; whenever you have 5 minutes to sit still and give the compress the time needed to do its magic.

To use Pure as a toner: 

• After cleansing
• *Splash PURE over face and neck or
• Use **cotton soaked in PURE and go over face and neck
• Then apply your moisturizer
• You can also mix PURE  into your cremes

*I’m not a fan of using the cotton method. Why not? First you waste a lot of product as it soaks into the cotton. Also, you simply don’t get much or enough product on your skin. For best results, use the splashing method (**pour Pure into your palm, rub hands together, then apply to face and neck.)

Not sure what toner to use? Please read: 

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use? 

And for more spot remover ideas, see:

• JUVENIL—purifying concentrate and spot treatment
• Geranium (or lavender) essential oil—spot remover for breakouts: How to use it and how NOT to use it
• Blemish Help Quick Tip

If you use Yonka’s spray toners, please read this for a helpful tip!

The other day I was spraying the very last bits of my wonderful (favorite) Lotion PS. The spray on this toner is very fine and hits my face so lightly and evenly. The next time I sprayed I used a brand new bottle I had just opened. The toner is still wonderful, but the spray just wasn’t up to the standard of the last bottle. This reminded me of something I usually forget to tell my clients: If you have a bottle of toner with a sprayer you love, keep it! Here’s what to do:

• Once your toner runs out, take the sprayer out
• Toss the glass bottle in your recycling bin
• Spray whatever remains in the sprayer (there will be a small amount left in there)
• Let it dry completely, maybe for a day or two, somewhere out of the way
• Then put the dried out plastic sprayer in a sealed baggie for possible future use. I put mine in the cabinet under my bathroom sink
• If your next bottle of toner has, like mine did, a sprayer that is OK but not as wonderful as you’ve had before, pop the old sprayer into the new bottle and once again you can say, “Ahhhhhh!”

Luckily, I hadn’t yet tossed out my old, empty toner bottle, so I will be able to do as I’ve just instructed. Now when I go to spray my face, I’ll get to feel the fine spray that I have loved for the past 6 months (about how long a bottle of toner lasts).

A bit of an update!: I just tried to open the older toner bottle to get the sprayer out without much luck. So I just popped off the little white, plastic spray top (without the full spray straw attached) and popped it on the new bottle of toner. Voilà. That is a whole lot easier than the aforementioned method. However, either way will do; choose one and enjoy endless hours of spraying your yummy Yonka toner!

If you’re not sure which toner you should be using, along with other toner information, see:

• Yonka toners: Which one should I use?
• Do I really need to use a toner?
• Does my toner need to dry before applying cream?

Yonka toners: Which one should I use?

Lotion PS

Even though I have oily skin, should I use the pink toner [Yonka’s Lotion PS] since I have redness from capillary damage?

In a word: No! The pink toner is wonderful—for true-dry skin—skin that does not emit enough oil on its own. If you have normal, normal to oily, or oily skin and especially if you have problems with breakout, you want to use the white toner, Lotion PNG.

Lotion PNG

Even though you have some capillary damage, using the pink toner will only increase the oily feel of your skin. The main difference between the two toners is glycerin. Glycerin is a great moisturizing, hydrating ingredient and is contained in the Lotion PS and not in the Lotion PNG. The glycerin in Lotion PS would be way too much for an oily skin; too much of a good thing.

Regardless of the redness in your skin, which can be addressed by using other Yonka products, if you have an oilier skin type stick to Lotion PNG. It has a higher concentration of essential oils (thyme, lavender, rosemary, geranium, and cypress), which helps to regulate oil and congestion—obviously beneficial for an oilier skin type.

Both of these products are wonderful. If you are not currently using one, I highly recommend incorporating one of these aromatic spritz toners into your daily Basics routine. 

Emulsion Pure

Yonka has a third product that can be used as a toner. Emulsion Pure does not spray. It has the highest concentration of essential oils, which makes it most effective for problem skin as well as inflammation from acne and infections. If you read Problem Skin Helpers: Yonka + more (see link below), it explains how to use Pure as a compress, something that works wonders for “spot” treatments.

Pure can be use over the entire face as a toner or even mixed into your creams and applied that way. It really is best for problem skin and acne. The higher the concentration of essential oils, the better the effect on inflammation and infections (essential oils have strong antibacterial properties). In a more diluted form, like in Lotion PS (the lowest concentration of essential oils of the three products), essential oils are more soothing for sensitivities yet still have the beneficial properties of stimulating circulation, helping with cellular respiration.

Here’s another client question to further explain:

I was wondering about the difference between the pink toner [Yonka’s Lotion PS] (which I have been using) and the Emulsion Pure?  

The pink toner has the lowest concentration of essential oils of the three toners:

• Emulsion Pure = highest concentration, best for problem skin and blemishes
• Lotion PNG (white) = medium concentration for normal to oily skin
• Lotion PS (the pink one) = lowest concentration, best for oil-dry, true-dry skin

The pink toner has glycerin in it, the other two do not. Glycerin is a humectant, helping to hydrate skin. If you have an oilier skin type, you would not want to use the dry skin toner. It will cause more oil and possible breakout. The pink toner, however, is essential for a true-dry (oil-dry) skin. 

Because of the essential oil content of these wonderful Yonka toners, they are an integral part of your Basics 1-2-3 Program.

For more detailed information, see:

• The Basics 1-2-3 Program 
• Problem Skin Helpers: Yonka + more 
• Do I really need to use a toner?