Dr. Magro’s primary focus throughout her medical career has been the histomorphologic diagnosis of skin diseases, alongside her role as a mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows over three decades. She has guided many of them in achieving their goals of becoming dermatologists or dermatopathologists.

Dr. Magro views the skin as a critical window into the principles and pathophysiology of medicine. She uses clinical cases as a teaching tool, including many instructive cases that have formed the basis of lectures and subjects for student and resident papers.

While her medical practice and academic career are devoted to diagnostic medicine and teaching, Dr. Magro has always maintained a keen interest in skincare. She began developing her skin cream in the early 2000s, focusing on specific botanical extracts with historical roots in beauty care and modern scientific support for their efficacy as anti-aging tools and promoters of healthy skin. She aimed to create a cream that would be easily accessible and not require a prescription. The name Collesta was chosen to reflect its theoretical benefits on the dermal connective tissue matrix, particularly collagen and elastic tissue.

The highly selective ingredients include boswellic acid, curcumin, red ginseng, rose oil, rice jasmine pedicle, sea buckthorn, viola tricolor extract, and white peony extract. Additionally, the rejuvenating and natural whitening effects of niacinamide (vitamin B3) were incorporated.

Dr. Magro initially made the cream herself at home in her lab, which functioned as an apothecary for her botanical creations. She used the cream for many years, as did a few of her close friends and colleagues. Due to the positive feedback she received, she decided to make the cream available globally. To achieve this, she collaborated with Happy Farm Botanicals, an established and reputable USA-based cosmetic laboratory, to perfect the cream. They developed a blend that preserved the integrity of Dr. Magro’s creation while ensuring its suitability for the global market, further enhancing the formula to create a true luxury face cream. The cream transitions seamlessly from day to night and is suitable for the entire face, including the eye and neck areas.

The Future of Collesta

Dr. Cynthia Magro is now channeling her passion and expertise into developing new products under the Collesta brand. With a continued focus on natural, scientifically-backed ingredients, she is dedicated to expanding the product line to address various skincare needs. Upcoming releases will feature innovative formulations that maintain Collesta’s commitment to quality and efficacy. As Collesta grows, Dr. Magro remains at the forefront, ensuring that each product embodies the same principles of excellence and natural care that define the brand.