Tweetie de Leon Gonzalez's golden moment

Fifteen years after she formally retired from modeling, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez is once again an “it girl” — at 43. She’s the new face for Pond’s Gold Radiance the skincare brand’s most premium line to date, is the endorser for a local clothing brand, is now soliciting fashion raves for her jewelry line Ice Crystals, and is this month’s cover for a high-end men’s magazine, which proudly banners how the former supermodel and mother of four “finally gives in” to being photographed for the front page, her radiant complexion, contured cheekbones and gleaming gams on full, glorious display.

“The last quarter of 2010 was just really busy for me. It was quite unexpected,” says Tweetie in a roundtable interview. Although she never really disappeared from the endorsement scene, having lent her name and face to shampoo, makeup, milk, health food products in the last decade.

Metal physical: The new Pond’s Gold Radiance line, infused with 98.5 percent gold flakes proves that gold has a benefit beyond the decorative. As a skincare solution, gold helps detoxify skin, hastens skin cell rejuvenation and improves blood circulation.

This endorsement, however, for Pond’s Gold Radiance, an anti-aging skincare solution infused with 98.5 percent gold microparticles, is an in-your-face reminder of why she is always top-of-mind in lists of the most beautiful Filipinas. It’s not easy forgetting a beauty like Tweetie Gonzalez and it seems she has taken on a more ethereal characteristic in the Gold Radiance campaign, with her dusky looks bathed in a golden, nearly celestial light. A golden renaissance, as if it needs to be redefined. No makeup overload, no glamazon hairstyles, just clear, radiant skin.

“Believe it or not, I am not really kikay,” Tweetie reveals. “I barely use makeup.” She is more anal when it comes to skincare, however. And she’s tried more than just a few brands, “from the expensive to the affordable to those that were given for free.” Having sensitive skin, Tweetie finds the need to use a product line that is lightweight, safe, hypo-allergenic, age-ideal and will withstand her active lifestyle.

Making of a brand: Tweetie with Pond’s assistant brand manager Jules Gollyan, Ponds senior brand manager Jacqe Yuengtian, and Pond’s brand ambassador Rissa Mananquil.Photo by JUN MENDOZA

The possibility of using gold on her face was something new, and was approached with both curiosity and caution. She used the product for a few weeks before giving her final nod to the endorsement. Those few weeks validated what research and Pond’s senior brand manager Jacqe Yuengtian had imparted: the value of gold does go beyond the aesthetic or the decorative.

Yuengtian explains that gold actually increases collagen production and slows down breakdown of elastin. It also stimulates the skin’s lymphatic drainage system, helping enhance detoxification and expedite skin cell rejuvenation. Gold also has anti-inflammatory properties, it increases blood circulation and is a serious threat to free radicals. Pond’s then combined the gold flakes with the superior anti-aging CLA 4 technology of their Age Miracle line to come up with a line that is premium in look, feel and benefits but is still relatively affordable especially when compared to brands that sell the same kind of technology for P20,000 a jar.

Shining moment: Tweetie during the launch of Pond’s Gold Radiance in Fashion Week last year.

Gold’s biggest beauty benefit, however, is how it combats dullness. According to Yuengtian, one of the biggest concerns of women is how their skin begins to look dry, dull and lackluster once they reach their 30s. This translates to anxieties over not looking youthful and attractive enough for their husbands, spouses, boyfriends or partners. So by actively combating dullness and by leaving a subtle sparkly sheen on the skin, Pond’s Gold Radiance plays Cupid — in the same way a gold piece of jewelry from a man can fire up an attraction so can gold microparticles used on a women’s face rekindle a romance.

Tweetie agrees that constantly looking attractive for your husband or spouse is a big factor in marriages and long-term relationships. She has been married to husband Mon Gonzalez for more than 15 years. “We always make sure to look good for each other.” For her part, Tweetie tries to keep fit by alternating core training and squash or cardio work every other days six times a week (Sunday is rest day). She also moderates her eating (“I don’t believe in diet programs.”) and keeps a sense of spirituality to keep stressful moments — and stress lines — at bay. (“I pray a lot…I’ve completed the Simbang Gabi masses in the last 19 years.”)

Hot momma: It took three years and tons of concept presentations before Tweetie said yes to appearing on the cover of Rogue. It was worth the wait.

And yes, Mon did notice the change when she started including Pond’s Gold Radiance in her beauty regimen, which now includes cleansing with the Radiance Revealed Facial Mousse, applying Youthful Glow Day Cream in the morning, and dabbing the Youth Reviving Eye Cream and Precious Youth Serum before going to sleep. “You look good. You’re blooming,” hubby has told Tweetie. “Men have this difficulty trying to express changes in how we look,” she ruefully remarks, putting into context the clichéd remarks. At least he noticed.

And their shared attraction has also fostered shared activities and interests. “We go on movie dates. He takes me out to lunch. We ride to work together.” Valentine’s weekend plans will see them in Sagada — minus the kids. “We tease each other a lot. We laugh together.” He also likes her Rogue cover, by the way.

Quality time: In Hong Kong Disneyland with husband Mon, eldest son Lorenzo, daughter Sabina, and sons Nicolas and Alfonso

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The Pond’s Gold Radiance line is available at all department stores and grocery stores nationwide. Starting this month up until the end of April, P1,000 worth of Pond’s Gold Radiance products gives the chance to win a charm bracelet or one of three half-karat diamond rings.