Heart Evangelista calls the shots when it comes to styling Chiz

MANILA, Philippines - For Heart Evangelista, beauty starts with feeling good and being at peace on the inside. “When you’re at peace with yourself and your life, that’s when you realize the things you need to do for yourself,” she states, a few minutes before her launch as the latest Pond’s girl for the beauty brand’s super in-demand product, Flawless White BB+ cream. “Loving yourself is where it all starts.”

Of course, it’s easy to dismiss her beauty mantra as some platitude; with that skin, that bone structure, that facial symmetry, and those doe eyes, getting hailed as one of the most beautiful faces in the country has to be easy. Yet given the media sh*tstorm she lived through last summer, there is undeniable truth in what Heart says. From the crying and confused young woman who faced questions about the rift between her boyfriend Senator Chiz Escudero and her parents, she’s a much calmer person now, open to queries (“Go ahead, ask me anything”), and even more fun. An example: after expounding on how the Pond’s BB+ cream’s coverage and skin whitening capabilities bring together the best of moisturizer and makeup, she quips, laughs and says, “Just as I wish my boyfriend and my family could be together!” She is just as lovely as she has always been, only more refreshing.

We talk to the latest Pond’s girl about her beauty secrets (aside from inner peace) and what’s the one thing Chiz is not allowed to tell her.

YSTYLE: How much prep time do you take in the morning to look good?

HEART EVANGELISTA: Five minutes! I usually wake up 30 minutes before I have to leave the house. I’m extremely fast. It really starts with loving yourself and being at peace. By having a good disposition, your aura becomes different. Aside from that, taking care of my skin before going to sleep is important. I also protect it from the sun before stepping out of the house. All this takes a few minutes in the morning; I even apply them while I’m still in the shower to save time. You don’t really need to have a lot of beauty products, just the key ones.

What are the must-have products in your beauty arsenal?

Of course, I have my night cream and my facial wash. In the morning, I always have to apply moisturizer to my eyes and neck. Of course, I put some BB+ cream on for light coverage, plus it has built-in SPF and it whitens the skin in the long run. Then light makeup.

Speaking of makeup, you have great eyebrows. Do you do them yourself?

I do! Though not today, a makeup artist did them for me. Growing up, I was always angry with my mom because she didn’t allow me to pluck my eyebrows. They’ve always been thick and I hated them. Eventually, I started to admire how they look. When I was a teenager, I’d see Claudine Barretto with full eyebrows and think, “She looks really nice.” Megan Fox also has prominent eyebrows. They just need a little powder to shape them. Just a little grooming. Don’t ever wax them, maybe pluck just a little bit here or there.

Do you follow makeup trends, try out the lip color of the season?

No, I’m not so much of a trend follower. Well, when I was 16, I loved red lipstick so I’d wear it all the time, even when people asked, “Why? It makes you look older.” I guess I just like classic looks, like the red lip.

Aside from your mom’s “No plucking of the eyebrows” rule, what other beauty rituals did you inherit from her?

Cold creams. My mom loves the Pond’s cold cream. It’s something she’d put on at night, like a mask over her face, and then she’d go to sleep without rolling to either side. It makes her skin really supple and also makes her look younger. All the girls in our family are obsessed with moisturizers. Really, it’s just less makeup, avoid too much sun, and moisturize.

Since using Pond’s has been a tradition among the women in your family, how does it feel to be a Pond’s girl?

I’m so happy and excited. Aside from getting a supply of their BB+ cream, I’ve been a fan of Pond’s since I can remember. I started with the cold creams then I moved on to the Rosy White line. I was also obsessed with their eye cream, the up-and-down one (Dual Action Eye Cream). Then I got obsessed with the BB+ cream when they came out with it last year. I’m so happy that they got me as an endorser, because it’s so nice to be able to endorse something that I really believe in and love. You could even say I’m obsessed with it.

So it has been a staple on your vanity table?

Yes. Being a celebrity, I have to put on a lot of makeup, which I don’t personally believe in. I’ve always been into tinted moisturizers. With Pond’s BB+ cream, though, aside from enhancing the skin and making it lighter, it also does the kind of coverage that makeup does. When you use other moisturizers, they sometimes are too oily or go on the face too cakey. But with this product, there’s a silky, powdery finish to it, so it complements my skin needs for work. I get the coverage I need, plus it’s healthy for the skin.

Have you always been conscientious about looking good or did it come with age and your profession?

It’s not just because of work. Every lady should feel good about herself and know what to wear and what to put on her face to take care of her skin. If you take care of yourself and look after yourself, everything else will follow. You don’t have to be Victoria’s Secret model-gorgeous to be beautiful. It’s about your personality, your character, your confidence. Everything else will follow.

You attended the Commission on Elections proclamation ceremony last May with Chiz. Have you ever felt that there is a certain kind of “politician’s significant partner” look that you have to apply to yourself?

No. I always tell Chiz that he will never, ever have a say about what I wear. I’ll wear what I want to. It’s just about being confident and comfortable with what you’re wearing.

Do you give him advice on styling, though?

I do advise him on what to wear and how to style himself. I can do that to him but he can’t to me! (Laughs) Now, he layers his clothing, his shirts are buttoned up, he wears accessories like bracelets. He’s learning, but he also enjoys it. It’s something new to him. He’s too into his work and I come along and I have all this kikay stuff. I’ll make pakialam. “Your gel is too shiny, my God!” When he feels comfortable with what I tell him, he’ll follow. When he isn’t, he goes, “Can I wear it this way? I feel more comfortable with it.” “Okay.” So there’s also compromise.

Back to beauty, what else do you do to keep yourself fresh-looking and healthy?

Well, I watch what I eat: not too much of the oily and fried food. I get food delivered at home, and that helps because when you have no food in the fridge, you have no choice but to eat what’s given to you. I also work out; I run for 40 minutes every day. I also take vitamins, like vitamin C and zinc. I hear zinc also helps keep the skin’s elasticity so it’s something that pregnant women are advised to take to avoid stretch marks. Not that I’m planning to get pregnant any time soon! (Laughs)

What will you be busy with soon? You never lack for endorsements and commercials but we’ve been missing you in the acting arena.

I’m about to shoot a movie with Viva — two of them — this year, and one will be with Derek Ramsey and Christine Reyes. I’m also going to start shooting for my new soap with GMA7 in about two or three months.

Last question: what’s the one thing women must do to enhance their beauty?

Stress is the number one killer, the number one reason why people age fast. Just have a good disposition, be a bit more calm, take things a day at a time, and everything else will follow. Just be steady and at peace with life.