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Want To Look Your Best For Valentine’s Day? Here’s How:

Monday, February 7th, 2022

Preparing Your Skin For Valentine’s Day:

Naturally, Valentine’s Day is a day when we want to present our best selves. Not too mention it’s a valid excuse for us make up enthusiasts to go all out. Whether it’s a subtle, natural, bold or seductive look you desire, to achieve your ideal look, you must first start by making sure your skin is a smooth, fresh, blemish free canvas for which you can create your make up masterpiece. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and harsh winter elements in full swing here in central Illinois, you might find you skin is needing a little tender loving care before the big night.  Here are a few tips that can help assure your skin is fresh, smooth and supple:

Assess and Address Any Skincare Concerns Now

Don’t wait until the day before Valentine’s Day, hoping for a miracle from your new facial mask or skincare product. Stay faithful to your skincare regimen, especially when it comes to nightly cleansing and moisturizing.  If you haven’t already established a consistent skincare regimen then just focus on the following basic skincare needs for the short term to assure your skin looks its best for your  special Valentine’s Date.

 

 

THE BASICS:

  1. CLEANSE
  • Cleanse both in the morning and before bed. Do not skip your night-time cleansing. Going to bed without removing your make-up can clog pores, create blackheads, acne break outs, inflammation, and textural issues. While you are fast asleep, your skin is regenerating, rejuvenating & renewing itself!  Cleansing your skin improves cell turnover and even stimulates circulation. Even if you do not wear make-up, it’s one dirty world out there.  By day’s end, your skin’s surface contains dirt, grime, debris, bacteria.  You need to cleanse away the day’s collection and allow your skincare products to effectively penetrate and do their intended jobs.
  1. TREAT TEXTURE / BLEMISHES
  • Exfoliation will help improve rough texture, fine lines, wrinkles and clarity. Exfoliation is often needed to keep aging skin looking fresh and smooth because as we age, dead skin cells to do not slough off as rapidly as they once did. This can result in dull, rough texture and more apparent lines and wrinkles. A build up of dead cells not only makes it difficult to achieve a flawless make-up application but dead cell build up also reduces the effectiveness of your skincare products and steals your radiance!  During dry winter months, try to avoid harsh scrub type exfoliants if you have acne-prone skin or if your skin is dry.   Exfoliating with gritty facial scrubs or buff puffs when your skin is already extra dry from dried winter weather conditions or inflamed with an acne breakout will compromise your protective barrier, creating further dryness and skin irritation. Instead for dry, dull skin tones select a pumpkin enzyme exfoliating mask to exfoliate, brighten and hydrate or seek a professional, light glycolic acid application at your cosmetic surgeon’s office.
  • Stay proactive if you are prone to acne breakouts. Clear Skin Pads like those from Castillo MD Skin Science containing a 5% glycolic, 2% Salicylic Acid (for exfolation) & lactic acid (for hydration) can be particularly helpful in preventing new breakouts and decreasing cellular build-up without irritations caused by more abrasive options.
  1. MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE
  • Whether your goal is a flawless make up application or a natural, radiant, no make-up look, supple, hydrated skin is key. Dry skin leads to dull, flaky skin, and increases the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and skin texture.  Remember to pay extra attention to the skin around your eyes. The eye area needs moisture formulated specifically for that delicate eye area. Radiant skin and a flawless makeup application is dependent on well hydrated skin.

4. PROTECT

  • Apply a medical-grade, UVA/UVB physical sunscreen every day. If you are new to my blog, you might be thinking, sunscreen… in the winter? What sun?? Is that really necessary? Don’t fool yourself. I assure you, UVA (the aging ray, you know the one responsible for lines, wrinkles, sagging, unwanted pigment…) is just as prevalent in the winter as in the summer so be sure to continue to protect your skin each day throughout the year.

Wishing you a Valentine’s Day full of love, laughter and luminous skin!

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

 

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Expert Advice: When Should I Actually Clear Out And Replace My Make-Up?

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019

How Can I tell When It’s Time To Purge My Make-Up?

They say “all good things must come to an end,” and unfortunately, the shelf-life of your make-up is no exception. At some point, they expire either from age or contamination and it’s time to purge and replace. So how is one supposed to know how long to expect their make up to last?

Look on the product box or label for the PAO (“period after opening”) symbol on your cosmetic. This symbol will tell you how long the product will last once you have opened it. The symbol is a cosmetic jar with an open lid. You will see a number and letter inside (6M, 12M, 24M) indicating whether it is good for 6 months, 12 months, 24 months etc.

If you don’t know the PAO of a product, here are a few signs that it’s time to pitch a cosmetic:

  • It smells wonky
  • If it looks bumpy or chunky instead of smooth after you apply it.
  • If small, shiny or shimmery areas appear on the top of your powders (pressed powers, blush, eye shadows); this means oils from your skin, fingers, make-up brushes etc. have been transferred onto the surface of your powder. You can try to gently scrape it off but if it has penetrated very deep, it’s time to pitch it. It will be difficult to get a good application, as your makeup brushes will have a hard time picking up the makeup from its compact and distributing it evenly.
  • If you have had an eye infection or a cold sore.

There are a few keys to preserving most cosmetic items:

  1. Do not share your make up – with ANYONE. Seriously. No really, don’t do it. Sharing your makeup means sharing the millions of micro-organisms present on your skin! Ewe! Someone else’s micro-bacterial bits transferred to your skin (or vice versa) isn’t exactly a beauty booster and take it from someone who spent the last few days of her freshman year in an eye patch trying to pass her final exams half blind, an eye infection is no joke!
  2. Keep your finger out of them. Oils, debris and bacteria from your fingers can contaminate your makeup and shorten its shelf-life.
  3. Always use a clean brush. Avoid double-dipping your makeup brush once it has touched your skin. Cross-contamination from your make up brush into your makeup compact or container can cause you to have to pitch your product.
  • When applying liquid foundations, concealers or cream makeup, use spatula to remove the amount your will need and dab it on the back of your hand like a palette. You can double-dip your brush or use your finger as often as you like at that point.
  • I also recommend an anti-bacterial brush spritzer after each use. Then once a week, soak them in a glass of water with Shampoo (for brushes made of real hair) or gentle anti-bacterial soap for synthetic brushes. Then rub them with a little hair conditioner, rinse and let them dry.

The typical shelf-life times for most cosmetics:

3-4 months range-

  • Mascara / liquid eyeliner:

These are first on my list for good reason. You want to stick pretty close to the shelf-life dates these ones. They will go bad and are easily contaminated. When oxygen gets in the tubes, it dries out the product so try not to “pump” the wand, instead just rotate it. This will help you make it to the 3-4 month mark. In the event that you have any type of eye irritation or infection, conjunctivitis / sty, then boom! It goes straight in the trash! It’s contaminated and could re-infect you.

6 – 12 month range-

  • Cream blush, cream eye shadows:

Expect them to last 6-12 month unless you are dipping into these creams with your fingers, which can transplant the oils, debris and bacteria living on your skin into your makeup and shorten their shelf life.

12 -18 Month range-

  • Liquid Foundations & Concealers:
  • Pressed Powder
  • Lipsticks, Lip Liners,  Lip Gloss
  • Eye Liner Pencils

12 -24 Month range-

  • Powder Blush
  • Powder Eye Shadow

Happy Purging!

Sincerely,

Your Skincare Specialist

 

Roxanne Grace

G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY http://www.cosmeticplasticsurgery.com

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HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT QUALITY MAKE-UP BRUSH: OUR INFORMATIVE REVIEW OF EACH MAKE UP BRUSH

Monday, September 10th, 2018

Selecting the right eye make-up brushes to achieve the look you want, shouldn’t strain your brain but sometimes it can feel like it! There are so many options for such a tiny space (eyelids), it’s hard to know which ones you really need. Choosing the right brushes to complete your look can really make a different in whether your eyes look tired and aged or bright and uplifted.

 

Dual-Fiber Eye Brush:

This is my FAVORITE eye brush! Super versatile! It makes applying and blending light layers of shadow a cinch. As we get older, the words light layers and blending could not become more important to maintaining a youthful looking eye. So I think this brush is must have. It can also really decrease the frustrations of trying to discreetly conceal any under-eye area flaws. It’s easy to lay down very thin layers of concealer with its wispy, feather like bristles. Very lightly dampen the ends of the bristles and lightly whisk the brush across your problem areas for thin, flawless coverage. The trick to using this brush successfully is to relinquish all control. Instead of holding it near the Ferrule (metal part), move as far back on the handle as you can. This will make a huge difference in your application.

 

Eye Base Brush:

This is a pretty basic, user-friendly brush. In fact, it is my go to brush for all-over applications, but works just as well for specific placement of color before moving on to a blender brush.

 

Eye Blender Brush:

You guessed it! This brush is for blending, the most important part of your eye shadow application. This is a versatile, fluffier, long-bristle, domed brush. It can be used to apply a light color wash or to soften the edges of multiple colors, blending them into a seamless transition. Swirl in a circulation motion to blend shadow into the crease of your eye. Just like the Dual Fiber eye brush, hold this brush near the end of handle. The less control you have the better.

 

Mini Eye Crease Shader:

If you are beginning to feel like its time to stop wearing eye shadow because it makes your eyes look older rather than younger… go get this brush! Crease shaders in general are meant to contour the eye to give dimension. The “mini” crease shader has a smaller end with a bit of a point. Use it like a stylus or pencil to draw on color to create shape and definition. This brush will become your best friend if the outside portion of your upper lid is turning downward which happens to most of us as we age. Rather than following the crease line of your upper lid when applying shadow, try defining your upper lid shape by drawing on a medium dark shade of shadow from the lateral end of your lower lid up to your brow bone, then medially, mid-way across the brow bone, creating a bit of right angle or sideways “v” depending on your lid shape to lift the eye shape back up to a more youthful shape. Then shade and blend, blend, blend as you normally would, adding lighter and dark colors; medium -dark on the edges, lighter inside.

 

Angled Eye Contour Brush:

Create contour of your eyelid by applying and blending shadows into the crease of your eye until they become seamless. Now if your eyelids “maturing”, I recommend that you avoid placing dark or heavy shadow in the crease of your eyelids.  This will only create a more tired appearance. Instead, as discussed above, use the mini-shader to draw a line from the outside corner of your upper lid to the brow bone to help draw the eye upward, then blend.

 

Smudge Brush:

Looking for a little drama? This brush can be used to apply eyeliner or eye shadow near the lash line. Then blend to soften the line to create the sultry, smoky eye.

 

Brow Brush: Thinly shaped, angled bristles used to re-shape or fill in sparse eyebrows.

 

Warmly,

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)



800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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HERE IS THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO OUR BEST SELLING MAKE-UP BRUSHES

Monday, September 3rd, 2018

Figuring out which make-up brushes you really need can be over-whelming whether you are a professional make-artist, or purchasing your first set of brushes. My first bit of advice is to splurge a little and invest in quality brushes.  So, I have put together a  comprehensive guide to all the make-up brushes available here at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center to help you figure out which brushes your just can’t live without. Check out my blog on A Comprehensive Guide To Our Best Selling Make-Up Brushes For Eyes for an in-depth explanation on eye brushes.

FOUNDATION:

Flat Top Kabuki:

The design of this brush allows for applications of both pressed mineral powder foundation or liquid foundations (though you should have one dedicated to each product rather than one brush for both products so that you do not transfer unwanted ingredients into your powder). It’s expertly designed “flat-top” as apposed to a rounded top, is perfect for buffing (in circular motion) mineral powder into a smooth, radiant finish. It provides light to medium coverage, depending on your layering preferences.

When using this the Flat Top Kabuki to apply liquid foundation, you can expect a soft, flawless, airbrushed finish with medium to full coverage. This brush also comes in a travel-friendly version for quick touch-up and on-the-go applications. Perfect purse size!

Pro Kabuki:

This is a tightly packed, round top, mineral powder foundation brush. Choose this brush when you are looking for the full coverage of a pro! Its brush head is packed with very dense, soft bristles for a full, radiant coverage.

 

CAMOUFLAGE / CONCEALER:

 Dual Foundation / Camouflage Brush:

This is a dual-ended, double duty brush. It is suitable for both liquid and cream concealers and foundations. One end offers the precision needed when applying camouflage and other end provides the ease an expert liquid foundation application.

Full Coverage Camouflage Brush:

This is a flat-domed shape brush with a somewhat pointed tip. This brush is commonly used to cover blemishes, facial redness, brown spot etc. It is intended for cream camouflage formulations. It is easy to blend and perfect. For a more fluid application, try misting the end of the brush with setting mist or water. Blot the fibers between paper towels to remove access. Then you are ready to begin applying your camouflage.

Precision Camouflage Brush:

This is a smaller version of the full coverage camouflage brush. It works well with cream camouflage, concealers or primers for smaller, detailed areas.

 

HIGHLIGHT / CONTOUR / BLUSH / POWDERS:

Contour / Highlighter Brush:

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to make-up brushes, the right contour brush is a girl’s best power tool! It is the key to changing your look from everyday to runway!! It is a dual-head brush. One end contours while the other end highlights. The contour end is tapered with a nice apex for more precise placement. I like to pinch the bristles together to accentuate the apex ,which give me more control when shading. It’s ideal for both highlighting and shading to create dimension, chiseled jawlines, nasal narrowing and prominent cheek bones.

Powder Brush:

Typically an extra full, soft, rounded brush designed for translucent powders, bronzers, finishing powders. Distributes sheer to medium coverage. Tap off any access powder before using a circular motion to buff the product on the skin.

Tapered Powder Brush:

A tapered powder brush is typically a soft brush with a pointed end for delicate placement of setting or finishing powders.

Powder Blush Brush:

These brushes can be rounded or angled and intended to apply blush, bronzers or highlight powders.

Dual-Fiber Blush Brush (a.k.a – Texture Brush):

I must own 4-5 of this brush. They are made from a blend of synthetic, soft, flowing fibers, which makes for a luxurious experience. The feathery, flat-top head delivers a light-weight applications of powders, shimmers, and cream blush. Perfect for layering and building.

 

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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Protecting Your Children From The Sun

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Researchers estimate over ONE MILLION NEW CASES of skin cancer will be reports this year alone!

Did you know research has shown two or more sunburns during childhood significantly increases the chance of developing skin cancer during your child’s life time? By taking time to learn more about sun-safety, you will be able to teach your family safe-sun habits that will last them a lifetime. You could even save a life!

Invasive melanoma is malignant, often fatal form of skin cancer.

According to the research of Brooke Rutledge Seckel, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, in 1935, Americans had a 1 in 1,500 chance of developing invasive melanoma, by the 1980, the rate increased to 1 in 250 and 1 in 74 by 2001. That number is estimated to be 1 in every 50 Americans by 2010!

Sun rays are ionizing radiation, no different than the radiation of an atomic blast or a cobalt 60 therapy found in cancer treatment centers. The sun is the number one cause of skin cancer (melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) in the United States. Even though most people who are diagnosed with skin cancer are adults, skin cancer affects children as well. The sun is also responsible for reducing immune responses and many long-lasting aging effects such as lines, wrinkles, loss of collagen & elasticity, brown spots, freckles & broken spider veins.

Using sun protection any time your child may be exposed to the sun is a must. It will prevent sun damage and reduce the risk of skin cancers and premature aging. Sunburns hurt. They can cause fever, swelling, blisters and pigmentation changes. Sunscreens are meant to be used as a source of protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun for a longer period of time.   Sunscreens are not just for those with pale skin who burn in the sun. Sun protection is a must no matter what color your skin is. Remember, tanned skin is damaged skin!

Later this week we will talk about sunblock and how Cosmetic Plastic Surgery can help you in the fight against sun damage.

 

 

 

Roxanne, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Skin Restoration and Laser Institute

Roxanne  Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

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GLO FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

It looks the like crisp, cool weather is settling in for the holidays.  For many of us this means significant changes in the suppleness of our skin.   The winter elements can quickly create a dry, dehydrated look to your skin.   Dehydrated skin not only looks dull, tired and flaky but is very difficult to hide under cosmetics.

Here a few easy tips from Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center to ensure your skin exudes a fabulous, dewy glow for all of your upcoming holiday events.

1.      Depending on how the winter elements affect your skin, you may need to consider switching from GLO Mineral pressed power base (foundation) to GLO Mineral Satin II Finish Liquid base (foundation).   The Satin II Finish will provide more protection and hydration during the harsh climate changes.  You may find your complexion is getting lighter now that days are getting shorter. This will call for a slightly lighter shade of foundation during the winter months.

2.     Schedule an appointment with your skincare specialist at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Skin Restoration and Laser Institute.  It is important that your skincare regimen is adjusted to combat the oncoming dry season.  It is likely that you will need to add an additional hydrating complex under your moisturizer or change to a moisturizer that is better suited for the cooler months to maintain a higher level of hydration.

3.     Increase your water intake.  Coffee, tea, soda etc. are not equal to water.

4.     Highlight your cheeks with the GLO Mineral Luster brick for added radiance.

5.     Since cool air is naturally dried than warm air, it is a good idea to keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees or less.  Keeping your home at higher temperatures removes even more moisture out of the air.

6.     Use a broad-spectrun, UVA/UVB sunscreen every day.  It is the single most important thing you can do to keep your skin to maintain youthful looking skin.

Here’s to maintaining healthy, “GLO”ing skin that will be the envy of all your holiday parties this season.

Cheers!

Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

800-252-7123 (within IL)
217-359-7508 Savoy (Champaign-Urbana)

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