Beauty & faith

MANILA, Philippines - There is calm in the heart of Jillian Denise Chua, who is in touch with her emotions and faith. This calmness brings her the strength and the will to tackle whatever life offers her.

Jillian, who graduated from the De La Salle University with Economics and Business Management degrees, is a finance officer at Pacific Apex Food Ventures (Vikings Luxury Buffet). Her daily tasks at work fill up her weekdays but with a heart for service, this 24-year-old fully commits her weekends to her parish’s youth ministries, one of them is Joy Fellowship.

“In a competitive and fast-paced world, I have always believed that while skills are vital, character is more important. Being a Christian should reflect the attributes that Christ has, whether at work, home or wherever we may be. It gets harder and harder through time because not everyone has the same faith, belief and thinking that’s why it’s important for me to be surrounded with the right people who will influence me in a good way,” says Jillian, who credits her parents in leading her to become the woman that she is today.

Jillian, who grew up in a tight-knit family, shares that at an early age, her parents taught her to be independent and practical. Though showered by her parents with love and care, Jillian notes that she was never spoiled with material things. Early on she has learned the value of hard work and the importance of being thankful.

“My parents taught me to be selfless and to dream big. As much as money is important, Mom and Dad instilled integrity and honesty in my siblings and me that’s why I value their trust and the wisdom they put into making decisions. I also admire them for their hard work and simplicity,” she notes.

With the lessons from her parents coupled with her faith, Jillian tackles the daily grind in stride. Her positive mindset allows her to be ready for the demands of her job. “At times I tend to be hard on myself. Putting too much pressure on oneself and being a perfectionist lead to overthinking and much anxiety. In reality, we should not fear failure or challenges because it is in these moments that we get to know our strengths and weaknesses, it is in these moments that we become stronger.”

***

As a finance officer, Jillian is required to be at the office every day. With her duty, it is important that she also look her best. Her go-to look is simple, effortless and fresh that highlights her youthful face. This look, Jillian says, defines who she is.

To have a nice foundation for her favorite look, Jillian takes care of her skin by making sure she has a clean face before applying makeup. Jillian shares that one of her current favorites is Ever Bilena Natural Sunflower Oil to moisturize her face. She says this product is also great as a makeup remover.

Her go-to look is perfect especially for her daily commute, which she says is a time for her to appreciate her surroundings and explore different routes on the road. She also takes this opportunity to say a prayer for safety and guidance throughout her day.

Upon arriving at work after her morning commute, Jillian, armed with her beauty-must haves, freshens up so she “can start the day right.”

Lipstick is part of Jillian’s beauty arsenal. She says, “It automatically adds color to my look and gives me confidence when I wear it.” Indeed, wearing one’s favorite lipstick shade allows one to express oneself in a timeless fashion. It also gives a woman the opportunity to excite her emotions as a motivation to take action with pride. Ever Bilena Advance Supreme Lipstick in Jackie O does the job in creating a statement with its eight highly pigmented shades and eight smooth crème shades. The ingredients of this lipstick condition the lips, keeping a light feel but still luscious-looking over the lips.

For her casual dates with friends, a quick retouch does well for Jillian. She likes to use mascara to highlight her eyes. “I like that it makes my eyes look bigger and alive, especially that I am fond of making eye contact when talking to people.” What better way to complete a “mesmer-eye-zing” look than with the Ever Bilena Advance HD Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. This liquid eyeliner enhances the eyes’ definition while its waterproof capacity makes it long lasting.

And to complete Jillian’s fresh and effortless look, for night or day, there’s Ever Bilena Advance Cheek Color in Rose. This blush, which gives the face a youthful and natural looking glow, comes in six pigmented shades that blend easily on the skin, perfect for a quick hint of color to emphasize the cheeks with its sleek matte finish.

***

Jillian sees beauty in her surroundings, her family and friends. She sees beauty in waking up each day, as it is a “blessing that I am alive. Every tomorrow is another chance to change, correct mistakes and stand up again.” 

“Proverbs 31:30 says, ‘Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.’ I believe physical beauty is easily attained with the resources we have now. But having inner beauty and being God-fearing is something to be admired about a person. Beauty is also having confidence to embrace who you are and what you have with all your flaws and imperfections, knowing that all these make up who you are, setting you apart from the rest,” she concludes.

Photography by Claudine Cervantes Callanta of Larawanmo • Styling by J-em Sta. Ana • Makeup and hairstyling by Ever Bilena • Clothes by D’jour Shop, Sherwin Algones and Artistry Couture