While sitting in a small room in a Champaign office recently, I over-heard an elated young lady boasting about the beautiful diamond she received over the holiday. Her gushing excitement was infectious. I found myself feeling almost as excited as she, yet I couldn’t even see the diamond!
I then began to wonder “what it is that makes diamonds or other precious gems for that matter generate that type of admiration.” I would guess most of us regard diamonds as a thing of beauty… but why? What specifically is it that makes girls go gaga over diamonds? Is it the number of carats? Could it be the shape of the stone that is so enchanting?
To me, it is the clarity and color of the stone. I would much prefer a petite diamond with such superior color and clarity that it shimmers and dances in the light, and highlights every curve and contour, to a cloudy, three carat diamond that lacks life and luster. Would you agree? Now, don’t get me wrong. I am absolutely a fan of big rocks. I’m not trying to fool anyone here. Size does matter! It just falls short without superior color and clarity.
So why am I even talking about diamonds in a skincare blog?
Well, the characteristics that make a diamond sparkle and radiate beauty are very similar to the characteristics of beautiful skin. I mean is there anyone out there who would not be flattered to have their skin compared to a radiant, flawless diamond? Just as clarity and color are mandatory characteristics of a beautiful diamond, clarity and color are also key factors in creating beautiful skin.
Achieving superior skin color means that your skin is free of brown spots, freckles, redness, broken vessels and melasma. Skin clarity refers to skin that is free of rough texture, flakes, dull skin, large pores, acne, keratoses and moles. Superior color and clarity can be achieved through treatments such as traditional CO2 Full Face Laser Resurfacing , CO2 Micro-Fractional Laser Resurfacing, IPL, medical grade bleaching agents such as Castillo MD Skin Science Advanced Skin Lightening Complex or Spot Light, medical microdermabrasion, chemical peels and medical grade skincare products.
I would say that most people who are bothered by facial aging are focused on wrinkles. When they look in the mirror, they see an aging face with a custom set of lines and wrinkles that have formed after years of abuse, mainly by sun exposure, and other factors. However, most often, removing wrinkles is only half the battle. It is the brown spots, broken vessels, rough texture and dull, flaking skin that create a less youthful appearance.
The concept of color and clarity is an important concept to understand. One must realize that if you treat only the lines and wrinkles of an aging face whether it be though a facelift, forehead lift, fat grafting, Botox or dermal filler such as Restylane Lift, you are likely to find yourself feeling more like cubic zirconium than the real thing.
Here’s to wishing you the kind of admiration only superior color and clarity can generate.
Roxanne Grace
Skincare and Laser Specialist
G. D. Castillo, M.D.
COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
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