Good genes and healthy lifestyle choices.
These were cited by celebrity host Bianca Gonzalez as perhaps the reasons behind her enduring youthful look
Bianca turned 40 on March 11, 2023, and she marked the milestone by posting on Instagram a series of photos of her without makeup.
The pictures, taken by fashion photographer BJ Pascual, drew comments from netizens about her looking ageless.
So what's the secret to Bianca's "hindi tumatanda" look?
She told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), “I drink a lot of water. I eat quite healthy. I mean I eat junk [food] din naman, but I love eating gulay kasi."
And then, smiling, she thanked her parents, “Thank you to the genes of my parents.
"My mom kasi looks very young as well. Siguro all those factors together kaya nairaos."
PEP.ph interviewed Bianca at the event promoting #LoveMoreWithEveryTouch campaign of Johnson’s Baby, which highlighted the importance of touch in nurturing love and care between parents and babies.
BIANCA GONZALEZ'S BEAUTY TIP: LESS IS MORE
Lately, after experiencing acne breakouts at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bianca has pared down to bare minimum the products she uses daily to take care of her skin.
She recalled her post on Instagram in November 2020 her struggles against acne, “What I posted was, ‘I know there are much bigger problems in the world right now, but to anyone suffering from acne, know that you are not alone.’
“I guess I wanted to share this with those in the same situation who might be reading this.”
Bianca told PEP.ph, looking back, “Ako pa naman pag nag-acne talagang malaki.
“I think aside from stress, yun yung wala tayong magawa sa bahay, nagta-try tayo ng kung ano-anong bago, mga bagong regimen."
According to her, the acne episode made her realize that "less is more," meaning she didn't need to do anything more than her normal skin-care rituals.
She said, "So I really stick to just a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a light cream—yun lang naman, my only [beauty] regimen.
“I think pag may nahanap ka na very basic, na hiyang ka, just do that.”
BIANCA'S HYGIENE TIPS TO HER DAUGHTERS
Bianca is married to former Ateneo Blue Eagles standout and retired professional basketball player, JC Intal.
Being a mom to their two young girls—Carmen, 7, and Lucia, 4—Bianca has been instilling valuable hygiene habits.
She said, “I’m particular about their routine. So for bath time, for example, shampoo, conditioner, and then body wash.
“We use our body wash with a washcloth as well, and then lotion.
“Importante sa akin ang lotion after [their bath] to moisturize the skin.
“So I guess at this early age, beauty routine na yun.
“Saka ako, lotion ko, hindi lang legs and arms kundi body. Kasi parang you have to moisturize the whole thing talaga.”
Bianca also emphasized to her kids the importance of brushing their teeth, washing their faces, and combing their hair.
“I think yun naman ang age-appropriate [beauty routine] for them.
“Ang interesting is whenever I do my nightly skin care, nanonood sila, ‘Mommy, what’s that?’ ‘Mommy, what’s that?’
“So parang they’re aware that I do it and then I’ll say, ‘When you’re older also probably you’ll use things like these.
"'But right now, you don’t need it because your skin is so beautiful. Your skin is so healthy.
“'But mama, because I’m older I need more of these things to help take care of my skin.’
“Even when I put make-up, naku tuwang-tuwa sila so I just always say, ‘Yeah, probably when you’re older.’”
So far, she said the girls seemed to have been spared from the usual skin problems that occur during the harsh summer season in this tropical country.
"Thankfully, wala naman [silang summer skin problems]. Ang pinakamalaking problem lang honestly is kagat ng lamok sa school, yun talaga.
“But aside from that, wala naman.”
Bianca added, “Aside probably genes or genetics, na hindi kami ng husband ko maselan sa skin, it’s also that their [Carmen and Lucia] skin uses a lot of products that allow the skin to breathe lalo na in a hot country."
NO MAKE-UP PICTORIAL
Going back to her recent photo shoot sans make-up to mark her 40th birthday, Bianca gave credit to BJ Pascual's talent behind the camera to achieve the desired outcome.
This was Bianca's post on Instagram recalling her conversation with BJ that led to the photo shoot: "‘Beej, I turn 40 this March and I wanna shoot a portrait that’s very raw, no makeup or styling, literally ‘this is me’ ang peg.
"I’ve been modeling since I was 17 years old and so every professional photo I’ve had has me in full makeup, hair, and styling," wrote Bianca.
"I loved doing all that, yes!
"But I've long wanted to have a very RAW portrait of me — like those I’d see in Richard Avedon’s work — and I was never really sure if I could pull it off.
"Baka mamaya, I’d set up this fancy shoot, only to have photos I’m not happy with."
Needless to say, Bianca was very happy with how the photos turned out, with BJ perfectly capturing what she envisioned right from the get-go.
Bianca told PEP.ph, “Ang galing mag-ilaw ni BJ Pascual.
“Kasi people come up to me and say, ‘I want to do that as well,’ and I was like it is crucial who will you get as a photographer coz it’s easy to shoot like that.
“Kapag hindi nailawan ng tama magmumukhang dugyot rather na maaliwalas.
"But because BJ lights well, and I went to him exactly because of that, yun, maganda yung kinalabasan."