Frequently Asked Questions
OUR BRAND
A world of meaning is hidden in these two syllables and their call-and-response connection:
- YON: the purifying whitewater river and, phonetically, similar to ‘ion’, the energy particle.
- KA: the eternal soul in each being, from the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
Yon and Ka connect what may seem unrelated: knowledge and mystery, science and nature, movement and rest, shadow and light. Our brand comes to life at the intersection of these two syllables, becoming the symbol of continual regeneration, of harmony rediscovered, of body and mind reconnected.
Yes, while our name is quite unique (see the history of our name [link]), the brand is 100% French and family-owned. Products are formulated, manufactured, tested, and distributed by Laboratoires Multaler, located in Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris.
It’s our brand’s exclusive, iconic, 100% natural complex composed of five essential oils from the Mediterranean region, obtained by distillation:
– lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) from Haute-Provence
– geranium (Rosmarinus officinalis cineoliferum) from Egypt
– rosemary (Rusmarinus officinalis cineoliferum) from Morocco
– cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) from France
– thyme (Thymus vulgaris) from Spain
They work in synergy and are always added in careful doses for maximum safety. They bring beneficial properties to your skin. They’re included in 100% of Yon-Ka phyto-aromatic skincare treatments given at spas and institutes and in 70% of Yon-Ka’s at-home products. They enhance the efficacy of the associated active ingredients and feel like a scent sensation that relaxes or energises depending on what’s needed.
YON-KA TREATMENTS
This compound word contains the word ‘phyto’, which means ‘plant’, and the word ‘aromatic’, which is related to aroma, meaning the volatile components of certain plants or their essential oils.
All active ingredients from land or marine plants – from root to seed, bud to leaf, flower to fruit – belong to a science called ‘phytotherapy’, which also includes:
– aromatherapy, or therapy with essential oils,
– aromachology, which comes from aromatherapy and studies how odours and aromas influence human behaviour,
– gemmotherapy, or therapy using tree and shrub buds, which contain the future plant’s embryonic tissues and all its vitality.
Since we were founded in 1954, Yon-Ka has been a pioneer in using these plant resources to help skin recover its ability to regain balance and beauty, and to promote authentic well-being.
PLANTS
Our approved suppliers provide us with certificates confirming that their raw materials are GMO-free.
We use organic plant extracts whenever we can, but they aren’t always available. Our analytical tests enable us to select extracts whose active compounds are qualitatively and quantitatively characterised (titrated extracts) so that we can guarantee efficacy remains constant over time. We currently use 24 organic ingredients in 49 Yon-Ka products.
YON-KA SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Being vegan means refusing to consume or apply any products that come from animals or are produced by them. For cosmetics, this means banning collagen, elastin, silk extracts, milk proteins, lanolin, honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, etc…
All Yon-Ka are vegan except:
– Advanced Optimizer Cream, Serum, Gel Lift,
– Hand Cream, Cream 15, Cream 55, Cream 93,
– Elastin Day, Elastin Night,
– Excellence Code Mask,
– Nutri-Contour, Nutri-Cream,
– Grapefruit Dry Skin, Grapefruit Normal to Oily Skin,
– Phyto-Contour, Phyto 52, Phyto 58 Oily Skin, Phyto 58 Normal to Oily Skin, Phyto 152,
– Sensitive Mask
Yes, our products are all made in France.
All our products are 100% gluten free.
Some of our products are preservative-free when the formula permits it. When a preservative is necessary to protect the consumer from contamination risks, Yon-Ka uses the most effective and best tolerated preservative system.
We have removed all parabens from our formulas.
We have prohibited the use of this very allergy-triggering preservative for many years.
This very effective preservative is permitted by international authorities in concentrations up to 1%. It is considered non-CMR.* Some Yon-Ka products contain an average dose of less than 0.5% phenoxyethanol. When included, it appears on product labels and product sheet on our website. Even though it belongs to the glycol ethers family, international scientific authorities consider it safe for human health at the approved dose.
*CMR = carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic (CMR)
A majority of our products contain silicones in percentages mostly below 1%. Their role is to improve the product’s texture, making it smooth and soft. At the dosage used, there is no occlusive effect and skin breathing isn’t impeded. The silicones we’ve chosen have good biodegradability overall.
QUALITY/SAFETY/EFFICACY
The efficacy tests we complete involve various methods:
– in-vitro tests on cell cultures,
– ex-vivo tests on human skin explants,
– clinical evaluations (scoring of various parameters: wrinkles, radiance, non-comedogenicity, instrument measurements of hydration and exfoliating, lightening, and firming properties) under the supervision of a research doctor,
– consumer satisfaction tests.
None of these tests are conducted on animals.
Raw materials are carefully selected, analysed, and tested by our labs for maximum security.
We complete chemical and bacteriological tests internally.
The air in our manufacturing facilities is filtered according to GMP ISO 22716 standards and all our equipment is stainless steel.
All of the products we sell undergo safety testing and safety evaluations by an expert toxicologist.
Product efficacy claims are based on efficacy testing completed by independent labs under medical supervision.
YON-KA COMMITMENTS
We’re committed to protecting Nature:
– Yon-Ka will not use plants that are disappearing or whose use risks depriving indigenous peoples of food resources they need for well-being.
– Yon-Ka sponsors set-up of hives with Un Toit pour les Abeilles (A Roof for the Bees) to fight the alarming disappearance of pollinating insects.
We’re committed to sustainable development
– For some of its packaging, Yon-Ka uses cardboard made from trees sustainably managed by a Swedish company that’s one of the 100 most committed to sustainable development in the world, according to the United Nations Global Compact index.
We’re committed to social good
– Yon-Ka favours suppliers who are committed to following the regime for the protection of traditional indigenous knowledge about biological resources.
We support women with breast cancer
– For all our developments, Yon-Ka draws inspiration from women’s beauty and their needs. So it’s completely natural for our brand to support research on breast cancer through the Ruban Rose (Pink Ribbon) organisation.
ONLINE ORDERS
When your order and payment are confirmed, we’ll send you a confirmation email. If your order was confirmed, you can see a summary in the ‘My orders’ section of your account. If you don’t get this email, it’s possible your order wasn’t recorded.
Before your payment is confirmed, you can change or cancel your order on the ‘My basket’ page at the order confirmation step. In order to get your package to you as soon as possible, you cannot cancel or change your order once it’s been finalised.
We send you free samples with each order of any amount that you place online.
Regrettably, Yon-Ka does not sent samples by mail on request.
On the ‘My basket’ page, click on ‘I have a promo code’ and enter your code in the box that appears underneath this phrase. You must click on ‘Apply’ to confirm this code. Then the offer will be added to your basket.
You can pay for your purchases of any amount with a credit card (ARCA, Visa, MasterCard)
DELIVERY
Our deliveries are handled by private carrier.
- For delivery in Yerevan, the price is 1,200 AMD.
Free shipping for orders over 29,000 AMD in Yerevan.
- For delivery in the region of Ararat, Armavir, Aragatsotn and Kotayk, the price is 1,800 AMD.
Free shipping for orders over 39,000 AMD in regions mentioned above.
- For delivery in the region of Gegharkunik, Lori, Shirak, Syunik, Tavush, Vayots Dzor, the price is 2,900 AMD.
Free shipping for orders over 49,000 AMD in regions mentioned above.