Cheryl Cotton is the Lead Esthetician and Founder of Soulé Skincare in Woodland Hills, CA. She has devoted her life to skincare and beauty and has over ten years of experience as a certified professional in the industry.
We talked to Cheryl about how skincare became a passion for her. Along with her tips on how to best take care of your skin for a long-term glow, she also shared what trends and technology we will begin to see in skincare in a world post-Covid-19.
What is your favorite thing about skincare, and how has it evolved throughout your career?
I love so many things about skincare, but what I love most is watching my clients leave with a glow and a smile – it’s very rewarding. I love when clients tell me that I have changed their life, or given them more confidence.
Knowing that I have impacted their life in such a positive way validates why I’ve chosen this career path and keeps me inspired to continue growing, so I can continue to provide the best possible service and treatments to them.
It’s truly a career that gives back. When you smile, I smile. That’s what I tell my clients. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident in their skin. I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to contribute in some measure to their happiness.
Since I started my career in 2012, I’ve seen so many advancements and breakthroughs in both consumer products and professional treatments.
When I started this journey, facials were still considered a luxury, feel-good service, and we were trained to create relaxing, pampering experiences in the treatment room.
Advanced treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion were usually referred out to a dermatologist or medical professional. With the demand and growth for more non-invasive services, our training and education have evolved to include these types of clinical treatments, which allows us to address more skincare concerns.
I love that the industry is moving away from one size fits all skincare to more targeted skincare for all skin types, including acne and skin of color.
What are some of your suggested tips to people who want to take good care of their skin and currently don’t have access to a professional esthetician?
Getting the glow at home is absolutely possible with the right products and the proper routine. Establish a daily skincare routine for yourself. Keep it simple and be consistent; however, using the right products in your routine will be crucial to the outcome.
With so many skincare products on the market today, trying to figure out what will work best for your skin might feel a little daunting. Determining your skin type will narrow down those options and eliminate some of the confusion.
The good news is you won’t need many products to achieve great skin at home – just a few good ones.
There are many different skin types, with the most common ones being dry, oily, combination, sensitive, aging, and breakout-prone.
A basic skincare routine should include a good cleanser, toner, corrective or treatment serum, moisturizer, and mineral sunscreen.
Here are a few suggestions based on skin type:
DRY SKIN
Use a creamy cleanser or cleansing lotion, hydrating toner, Vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid, retinol oil (nighttime only), and a moisturizer with squalane to help repair your skin’s moisture barrier.
OILY SKIN
A mandelic acid cleanser, lactic acid toner, AHA serum, retinol serum (nighttime only), a clay mask with camphor (once a week), and an oil-free moisturizer.
AGING SKIN
A glycolic cleanser or cleansing balm if your skin is sensitive; hydrating toner; Vitamin A, C, & E serum; peptide serum (morning and night); and a moisturizer with retinol.
ALL SKIN TYPES
Always use a mineral sunscreen of SPF 30 or above.
What services do you offer at Soulé Skincare that set you apart from other similar businesses?
At Soulé Skincare, we specialize in acne and ethnic skin tones, including but not limited to African American, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latinx.
I chose to specialize in these two areas after seeing a vast void in the market for the services, especially in my local area.
Melanin-rich skin and acne-prone skin both require personalized attention and unique techniques and treatments.
Unfortunately, many estheticians aren’t trained or experienced in either of these areas, leaving this select group of individuals with minimal options. I want to create a shift in the industry by bringing awareness and respect to this area of skincare.
I’ve created a special place where people of color can receive safe and effective treatments, and those struggling with acne can get clear. We provide services for acne scarring and even texture razor bumps and hyperpigmentation.
Our treatments include chemical peels, microdermabrasion, LED light therapy, microcurrent, and oxygen treatments. What sets us apart is our quality of service and commitment to each client. The moment you walk through the door, you become part of our family, and we become partners on your skincare journey.
Being an esthetician is not just about providing facials and selling products. It’s about changing lives, inspiring confidence, and empowering self-love.
What are some future trends in skincare products and technology that we’re going to see in 2021 and beyond?
Well, it’s hard to talk about 2021 without talking about 2020, right, LOL? The global pandemic has changed the way we do everything, including how we care for our skin.
After all, personal care services have been shut down since the onset of the pandemic, and we have no idea when we will go back to business as usual. So having less access to professional skincare services is driving a lot of new trends we’ll see in 2021.
One major trend we’ll see is at-home chemical peels – although medical offices are open, not everyone is comfortable with in-office treatments just yet. So people are looking for ways to get similar results from the comfort of their own homes.
At-home, chemical peels are pretty safe – they are gentler on the skin than professional peels but still effectively address sun damage, fine lines, acne, discoloration, and uneven skin tone.
Another trend we’ll see is “Maskne” Treatments – With face masks here to stay, mask-related breakouts are on the rise. Many people who have never had problems with their skin, including myself, notice increased breakouts and skin irritation from daily mask usage.
Skincare brands and esthetic professionals note this surge and are developing products and treatments to address this concern specifically.
Another is CBD skincare – Much like masks, CBD isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
In fact, the CBD industry is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2025. CBD-infused skincare products are very healing for the skin. These products have been proven safe and effective for many skin conditions like acne, dry skin, inflammation, sensitivity, and eczema.
Liquid Facelifts – A liquid facelift is a procedure that uses a combination of fillers and Botox to achieve facial contours, restore lost volume, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and lift sagging brows. This procedure can offer many benefits of a traditional facelift without having to go under the knife.
Also, Blue Light Skincare – Blue light protection will become increasingly important as we continue to spend a majority of time working from home on computer screens, cell phones, and tablets.
These tech devices emit high-energy visible light, known as HCV light. HCV light can cause premature aging and hyperpigmentation. Blue light is also emitted from the sun. Some blue light blockers in skincare include iron oxide, zinc oxide, and niacinamide.
And lastly, Microneedling – Microneedling has grown in popularity and for a good reason. This treatment yields some pretty impressive results. People are looking for non-invasive treatments that will give them a bigger bang for their buck.
Microneedling does just that. It can be done as a standalone treatment or paired with other treatments like laser and radiofrequency. It is highly effective for pitted acne scars, stretch marks, enlarged pores, hair loss, aging skin, and hyperpigmentation.
Stay Social with Cheryl Cotton
For more information on Cheryl Cotton and Soulé Skincare, visit www.soulespa.com.
Instagram @souleskincare
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