Two (WONDERFUL) NEW Yonka Products!

NEW Nutri-Protect Hand Cream

1.73 oz tube $33

REPAIRING * COMFORTING HAND CREAM with Shea Butter

This ultra-comforting hand cream is a treasure trove when it comes to repairing the driest and most damaged skin. Rich in ingredients renowned for their restructuring, nourishing, and hydrating properties, NUTRI-PROTECT helps preserve the youthful appearance of your hands. It ensures their protection against harsh environmental factors (water, wind, cold, dry air, etc.). Quickly absorbed, it leaves your skin soft, supple, smooth and silky.

I've been putting this cream on the hands of all my facial clients, and everyone loves this product! Plus - it smells great!   

CLICK HERE to be taken directly to this product's shopping page! 

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NEW Guarana Facial Scrub

1.87 oz tube $48

DETOXIFYING * EXFOLIATING SCRUB with Microbeads

This exfoliating cream gently cleanses and purifies the epidermis, revealing new, fresh and radiant skin. Guarana Scrub removes dead cells and impurities that slow down the natural renewal of the outer skin (epidermis). Your skin will feel silky with a smooth, refined texture.

I have always said that using Gommage is more effective at eliminating dead skin than a scrub will be. With that said, some of you don't use, don't like, won't use Gommage. So this is your product! And for those of you who use the gommage religiously, having a wonderful scrub to use a few times a week is a great addition to any skin care routine. Try this, I know you will like it!

CLICK HERE to be taken directly to this product's shopping page!

The NEW FACE of YONKA is Here!

Greetings ALL! 

There are changes coming - starting this month!

• Yonka unveils new product packaging
• New Yonka products
• The end of a few Yonka products
• Yonka goes PARABEN-FREE  
• One credit card change
• And more!

Read on to find out the whole scoop!

NEW Yonka Products:

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

• Boost of vitality & brightness
• Advanced formulations 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

This sheer formula nourishes, moisturizes, & 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.

A few discontinued items:

CLICK on the name to be taken to the shopping page. IF I am out of stock of a particular product, when you try to buy it, it will NOT show up in your shopping cart. In other words, you're too late. All discontinued items are on sale! 

• Lait Solaire. I have to say, I am so upset about this one. I love this sunscreen, and perhaps so do you. I have several in stock and Yonka still has some in stock, but not for long. And then it will be over. So order NOW if you love this sunscreen!
• All Dermols (being replaced by HYDRALIA)
• Mesonium 1&2 (replaced with Serum Vital)
• Hydratant 60 (I have one in stock)
• Halo 70 (I don't have any in stock) 
• Kirogel (kind of gommage for hands and feet). I have about 6 of these in stock and they are on sale
• Men's Mask. This can easily be replaced by using Masque 103 or 105

Price Increase 

Along with the new packaging, improved anti-aging ingredients, and the elimination of parabens in all the products, there will be a slight price increase as well.

The new pricing will be for the new products; I will keep the "old" prices for any and all stock I have of the "old" packaging. Yonka hasn't started shipping the new products yet, but that will start in the month of May. As soon as I run out of my current stock, it will be replaced with the new products with the new packaging and the new prices.

Feel free to see the new look by perusing my website shopping area. The new products are there but I don't have them yet (!) and in most cases there isn't any information on the web pages - just photos.

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

 

BE WELL,

:+) Carolyn.

www.carolynash.com

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.

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.

The Best Self-Tanner

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. There are still cold days ahead as we move into spring, but during these warm to hot days and if you’re like me, I prefer to have a bit of color on my legs vs. facing the world with these 2 white sticks! That is where self-tanners come in very handy.

Of course, I use Yonka’s sunless tanning products and my absolute favorite is AutoBronzant, their self tanner. Truly, I think it is the best one on the market. No matter what self tanning product you use, here are my guidelines to follow that will hopefully have you looking tan without the added sun damage from a real tan.

I like to apply the tanning product right after a shower. I always use lotion after baths and showers (to help keep my body skin soft), so I just substitute the self tanner for my normal lotion. When applying, you do need to be careful where you are applying and to get as even a coating as possible. Watch out for the bony areas, like ankles, elbows and wrists. These areas can appear darker if you apply too much product. After applying, it is best to not put clothing on 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 an uneven color.

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. 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 never apply it 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 a few years ago.

Being the eternal experimenter, I wanted to see how well the AutoBronzant 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!

Check out AutoBronzant on my website, click here.

Moving Through Loss

We have all experienced loss at one time or another in our lives. Whether it be the loss of a job, a home, our youth, or the loss of a living (now resting in peace) being. Loss and the accompanying grief can be difficult and ever-changing emotions to maneuver through.

Many of you know I put my beloved cat, Archer, to sleep just a week ago today. A sweet boy who was with me for over 16 1/2 years. This has been a huge loss for me as well as for my almost 18 year old cat and dog of 3 years. Yesterday I picked up Archer's ashes from my vet and upon arriving home, sank down in the middle of my entry way and sobbed uncontrollably. Although having his ashes gave me a sense of relief and connection, having the ashes in a box in my hands also brought back a whole new level of loss and grief that literally brought me to my knees.

Many say that grief is like a wave. The intense feelings come and go like waves ebbing and flowing in the expanse of an ocean. This ocean, however, is E-motion and the waves can truly come crashing down at unexpected times and places and for an unspecified period of time. My father died 3 years ago and I still find tears coming to my eyes when I see a photo of him or a distinct memory comes back to me.

Archer was an indoor cat and always in my home for all those years, therefore when I'm at home, it's a constant reminder of his absence. And so the feelings come; then they disapate and go. And then again, another wave to ride. My commitment to myself is to sit with the feelings vs. trying to move away from them. Without fully grieving this huge loss, there will be feelings left unexpressed which can and probably will come out in less healthy and imbalanced ways.

My point here and my wanting to share my experience is to say to you as well as to myself - Feel the Feelings. They will come and go, but they are important to process - and feel. Gather good friends around and animals if you have them, then laugh and cry and grieve until there isn't anything left to express. Move through the grieving, feel the loss; ride the waves as they come and go. Eventually they will lessen and so will the pain. This is an individual process, which cannot be compared with anyone else's grieving journey. The important thing: Grieve. It is the healthiest thing to do after a loss.

To ALL of you who have reached out to me during this time, I am so very grateful. From your cards and flowers to emails and phone calls; whether listening to my tears and remembrances or simply offering hugs - I am forever grateful. Thank you.

With love,
Carolyn.

Grace, 1 year old; Archer 6 weeks old 1995

Brows: Wax or Tweeze?

A client recently wrote to me with this question: 

I need your advice on brow trims. Does it matter if you wax or tweeze?

Have you even been waxed? I'd be much more in favor of not waxing because it can set you up to have to do it forever. I prefer tweezing because you get only the hairs you want to remove.

However, if you are the type to “pick” instead of tweeze your brows, perhaps waxing is a better option for you. You can really do damage to your skin if you try too hard to get “that darn hair” out, and you can cause a little injury to that sensitive skin above your eyes.

Also, if you are not an artist, going to a professional may be the best option for you—even if they tweeze not wax your brows. Know yourself and if you decide you are not the person to be messing around in that area, get a referral from a friend for a great waxing salon.

Help for Hot Flashes!

Available at most health food stores and online

I want to share with you an over-the-counter product that has worked wonders and has almost completely alleviated my hot flashes: Transitions by a company called Pure Essence Labs. Note: there are actually a few products on the market called “transitions.” This one by Pure is the only one I can speak about and boy, do I want to speak about it! Here is my story:

I started full-on hot flashes on an unassuming day in July. After a few days of these constant surges, I decided to count to see how many I had in a day. The day I took note, I counted 12. I'm assuming I'd been having anywhere from 10-15 hot flashes per day. Since it was a new phenomenon for me and because I'm completely intrigued about all things that go on with this body, I didn't do anything to stop them; I just marveled at the changes taking place. If I wasn't working or driving or doing something that required my attention, I would literally sit back and just fully experience the hot surge of energy (and heat and sweat!) exploding throughout my body.

Then it got old! And cumbersome and at work, difficult. I was out with a girlfriend, who also just celebrated 50, and she told me about Transitions and how it has helped her through her own hot flashes experience. Apparently a sweet older woman at a health food store had told her about it and also added she wished she had known about this product when she was going through “the change.” It helped my friend and by golly, I was at a point that I was willing to try anything.

I want to interject that there are many products available meant to help “treat” hot flashes. Black cohosh is probably the most widely used herb for perimenopausal symptoms. This herb is most likely in any and all hot flash treatment products, and it is in Transitions (along with many other herbs). I've known clients who took straight black cohosh with little results. Many times it is herbs in combination that render the most effective results.

Back to my story. So I immediately went out and got my bottle of Pure's Transitions. I took it exactly as recommended (two capsules daily; one in the morning and one at night), and I prayed. Well, not really, but I was hopeful for sure!

My friend had told me it could take 2 weeks to feel the effects; I swear the next day my hot flashes seemed different—less than they had been. I was encouraged. But it wasn't until almost exactly 2 weeks after I started taking Transitions that I noticed the most powerful results: my hot flashes, one day, had all but stopped! I would say they had gone down to warm flashes or really just a warm sensation, not really a flash at all. And now, 4 weeks after taking this product, I go through the day and don't notice any heat at all. And if I do, it is 98% less than what I had been feeling with the real hot flashes.

So, I had to pass this information about my experience along to you. Herbs work differently on different people so I cannot guarantee this particular product will work for you, but why not try it? Take as directed, and see if you too don't have a complete eradication or at least a big reduction in your hot flash activity. As I mentioned above, at first I was intrigued by the flashes, but really—who needs them?!?

Please post your results here on the blog for others to read, and good luck! We perimenopausal gals gotta stick together!

(Thank you, Nancy! You saved me with this tidbit!!!)