The Basics 1-2-3 Program for proper skin care

You mention the 1-2-3 program a lot. What exactly is that?

In my first book, Timeless Skin: Healthy Skin for a Lifetime, I came up with what I term The Basics and The Extras for everyone’s daily and weekly skin care programs. (Everyone includes women and men.)

The Basics 1-2-3 Program is just that: the basic steps you need to do twice daily—every day—in order to have clean, healthy, hydrated skin. These three steps consist of:

1. Cleansing the face with a gentle milk cleanser or face wash
2. Toning, using a spray toner
3. Moisturizing with your day and night hydrating treatment creams (you may be using one cream for day and night, which is fine). Included in the hydration step is using an eye cream to moisturize that specific area

Any and all products you use on your face must be pH balanced (or acid on the pH scale). Please read the article listed below to determine the proper pH of your skin care products. (This is very important!)

Also, always use your skin care products on your neck as well as your face. Although the tissue on your neck is different (fewer oil glands, thinner skin), it still responds to care and will show signs of neglect. So include your neck in everything you do.

Skin care doesn’t have to be complicated. It also doesn’t require a lot of time. The best results will be found by being consistent. So your basic daily routine consists of the aforementioned cleansing, toning, and moisturizing; every day, twice a day. You can get by just doing The Basics, but there are a few additional steps I highly recommend, called The Extras.

For more information, see:

• The Extras—Do more to have healthy skin 
• Skin care is not rocket science—Back to The Basics
• Proper pH & your skin care products

Celebrating 20 years!

Carolyn Ash Skin Care is 20 years old today!

THANK YOU ALL 

for supporting my work for all these years, 

almost 30 in the industry so far.

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?