CHERRY CREEK FASHION — The Summer Skincare Guide by Esthetician Sameera Ahmed

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDY BONURA

MODEL: MEGAN CRONIN

Sameera Ahmed is a professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician with over 15 years of experience in the beauty and skincare industry. Through her career working with numerous skincare lines as a lead esthetician and educator, she has created a unique approach focused on skin health; building it up rather than breaking it down. In 2020, she founded Signal Skin Beauty Science, bringing her integrative approach to clients in Denver’s uptown neighborhood. By selecting products and treatments she knows how to get results, Sameera has created a menu of facial services which offer the latest clinical skin therapies in customized, high-touch treatments tailored to each individual.

3 MUST-HAVE SUMMER FACIALS

Summers in Colorado guarantee one thing: sunshine, and lots of it. There is no shortage of outdoor spaces in which to get our sweat on, or outdoor lounges perfect for cooling down and sipping a refreshing beverage. All of this time spent in the warm sun elevates moods but can take a toll on the skin. To make sure you don’t end summer looking worse for the wear, it’s important to boost the skin’s defenses against sun, sweat, salt, and pollution.

It’s time to switch your skincare strategy away from aggressive treatments like peels or lasers, which leave the skin more vulnerable to damage. It’s facial season! Facials offer a ton of benefits, from deep cleaning to boosting hydration and soothing overheated skin. Not to mention some good old relaxation. Here are some of the types of facials you should look for to keep your skin healthy and glowing this summer:

1. Deep Cleansing

Even if you’re not acne-prone, summer heat, sun, sweat, and SPF can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. To help, a deep cleansing facial focused on extractions will help keep pores clear and minimize the risk of acne. Ingredients like clay and papaya enzymes will help soften and draw impurities out of pores for glowing, smooth skin. Try Signal’s Acne Treatment, a customized deep cleansing facial focused on extractions and minimizing acne-causing bacteria and inflammation with high frequency and blue light therapy. $115 for 60 minutes.

2. Skin Brightening

For skin that’s looking a little dull and uneven, a renewing facial can help brighten while minimizing UV damage and boosting protection. Gentle exfoliation with enzymes, dermaplane, and/or hydrodermabrasion will help remove dull, damaged cells while antioxidant-rich serums will infuse skin with ingredients like Vitamin C, daisy flower extract, and Kojic and tranexamic acids to prevent UV-induced pigmentation. Cooling masks will further help reduce inflammation and boost hydration.

Try Signal’s Rejuvenating Treatment, a fully customized facial that gently exfoliates away damaged cells and infuses skin with hydration and antioxidants. With additional skin-boosting modalities chosen by your esthetician (like Ultrasonic infusion, Microcurrent, and LED) your skin will look firm, hydrated, and glowing. From $135 for 60 minutes

3. De-Stress and De-Puff

Feeling stressed? Over-indulged? A Gua Sha facial can help. With a stone board gently scraped across the face in specific motions, this facial treatment reduces puffiness and muscle tension by promoting detoxification and lymphatic drainage. It also boosts blood circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the skin and lifting the contours of the face. After one treatment you’ll walk out looking glowing, relaxed, and refreshed.

Try Signal’s Gua She Treatment, using a traditional Chinese methodology and the first-ever patented jade stone board from Dr. Ping Zhang. Includes Microcurrent to re-educate facial muscles and LED for complete facial renewal. $175 for 90 minutes

SAMEERA’S TOP 3 SUMMER SKINCARE ESSENTIALS

1. iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

A good cleanser is one of the most important products for any skincare routine and iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex is simply the best. It’s a lightweight, pH-balanced gel that works into a gentle lather. Its blend of gentle exfoliants and antioxidants retexture skin while soothing, making it perfect for any and every skin type.

2. Epicutis Lipid Serum

This serum features patented ingredients that help block UV damage and overall inflammation while boosting antioxidant protection and protecting healthy collagen. With only 7 ingredients, this serum’s cooling, gel-like texture disappears into the skin, perfect for all skin types to layer under SPF.

3. Sweat Cosmetics Translucent Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 30

By now, we’re all pretty savvy to the fact that we need to wear SPF every day. But what most have a hard time with is reapplying SPF, which is critical to staying protected. This translucent powder by Sweat Cosmetics makes it a breeze. With a breathable formula and undetectable finish, you can keep layering this on to boost sun protection without disturbing makeup or feeling weighed down. It comes in a refillable, washable brush so you’re reducing plastic waste too!

Sameera Ahmed: @makeupsammy

Signal Beauty: @signalbeauty // signalskinbeautyscience.com