"Beauty is not superficial. Beauty is not outside, e. It is subjective. It depends on every person, who has a different concept of beauty. I have a different concept of beauty. Relative siya, what may be beautiful for a person may be not beautiful to another person. So depende siya dun sa nakakakita nung beauty. For me, beauty is something more—it's your confidence and your attitude. It's more than your looks and your physical attributes. Beauty is from within."

One might think the line was uttered by a candidate during a pageant's question and answer portion. But those were the words of Carla Abellana, the latest Pond's girl.

She gave a wide smile when PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) mentioned her latest endorsement. "I've been a loyal user, e," she said. Her TV commercial began airing yesterday, April 11, and featured the White Beauty range.

HER TAKE ON THE WHITEN-YOUR-SKIN WAGON. Whitening products have been the rage among the Filipinas for about a decade now. Carla said she sees nothing wrong with it so long as it makes the Pinays feel good about themselves.

The Kapuso actress elaborated, "Ako, okay lang, if it'll make you happy. Number one, if it's going to make you feel more confident, no problem. Number two, if it's really what you want, go ahead."

But her word of caution: Do not overdo it nor overspend. The 23-year-old daughter of Rey "Pj" Abellana is more practical than vain.

Her long explanation, "'Wag naman to the extent na harmful na siya or masama na sa 'yo or masyado mo nang pinipilit, di ba?

"There are really safe ways to do it naman. Kasi, we all know that there are procedures now, cosmetic alterations na puwedeng gawin to enhance your beauty o para magpaputi. May mga harmful products, may mga mahal.

"But there's really just, you know, cheaper, safer alternative to whitening. Like with Pond's, it's natural—there's lycopene, it has vitamin B3, and SPF [Sun Protection Factor] already so protected ka pa. Walang harmful anything na magpapa-peel or magbu-burn ng skin mo.

"Basta importante, you're doing it a safe way. Hindi siya yung tipong katulad nung sinasabi ko sa 'yo na ngayon ang dami nagpapaputi 'tapos para naman silang Geisha na masyadong maputi. Halatang pilit at very unnatural!

"Dapat it has natural ingredients to give you that natural glow na lumalabas. At dapat, hindi siya mahal, my goodness!"

HER BEAUTY REGIMEN. The lady's skin is inherently beautiful, so she didn't have to prepare much for her TV commercial. "Wala akong pinagdaanang kahit anong facial or any procedure. Salamat naman..."

The young actress considers herself lucky because her beauty regimen is "sobrang simple lang talaga." The Pinay Rosalinda continued: "I don't even go to the dermatologist or [don't do] kahit anong procedure. Walang anything, any expensive and harmful products...I keep it basic ever since high school..."

"Basic" for her means:

1. "Washing you face, making sure that you don't have makeup left at the end of the day. Bago matulog, kailangan mo hugasan talaga nang maige."
2. Pag-alis ng bahay, kailangan mag-moisturize ka with SPF
3. Drink lots of water. 
4. Get the right amount of sleep.