The model and single mom gets real about aging and teaching her daughters independence through beauty.
Related: #MomBod: Celebrity Moms Who Prove That Mom Bodies Are Hot Bodies
At 40 years old, Kit Barraquias could easily pass as an older sister to her 23-year-old daughter, Jcinth and her 12-year-old twins, Lilli and Violet. A freckled face beauty with piercing feline eyes and short blonde hair, she doesn’t even wear a drop of foundation during the photo shoot. What’s even more unbelievable? She only recently started using skincare products. “I didn’t even have my own facial wash or moisturizer when I was younger. The soap I use for my body is what I use for my face,” she laughs at her sudden confession, but I assure her that it’s a refreshing take on skincare that many would surely relate to.
During her modeling days, she would eat whatever she wants, her workouts were more of a hobby than a need such as Muay Thai, snorkeling, and diving—the latter she does without applying sunscreen. But fast-forward to today, Barraquias advises that even the busiest moms should still make time to focus on their selves. “Do invest in taking good care of yourself health-wise and not just physically. It’s true that when you hit this age it’s more of meditations and eating right.” She’s been visiting her dermatologist and she’s putting a conscious effort into where their food comes from, because according to the glowing mom, it’s never too late to start taking care of your body from the inside out: “I’m just catching up at 40, but it’s never too late. I was so busy with work and taking care of my children then but now that they’re more grown-up, it’s mommy’s time,” she humbly smiles.
While she’s candid about the struggles of her hectic life, Barraquias has a brilliant approach to beauty that helps with raising her brood of little women to be independent. “They are in control of their body from the hair to the nails. They all have their unique characteristics and even the twins have different ways of expressing themselves. Not just with beauty but with everything,” she mentions how she opted for a different approach for bringing up her daughters than the one she grew up with.
“I make them choose even with their education and schooling. I want them to be women who can think for themselves, and I want them to start as early as now.” It’s modern-day parenting but as expected with a house dominated by girls, they still bond over having mani- pedis at home and having their hair colored. “There’s so much diversity going on, so you need to guide them. Even genders now, children want to be called ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’, and once you start boxing your kids up in a certain way, it will be harder for them to adapt to certain things. So where are you going to start? Hair might just be hair, but it’s also a form of self-expression.”
Beauty Talks
WHAT’S YOUR BEAUTY PHILOSOPHY?
What’s important is taking good care of your inner self. It’s what makes you truly beautiful in any aspect.
HOW HAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON AGING CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER TO TODAY?
When you’re young, you can just eat whatever you want, and you’ll still look and feel energized, but at my age it’s really different. You really need to watch what you eat, to take time for yourself, and still stay active. My whole approach now is really a clean, healthy lifestyle.
WHAT IS THE TOP BEAUTY TIP YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?
Start taking good care of themselves while they’re still young and I’m already trying to instill that with them through early healthy habits. Aside from that, it’s just to stay true to who they are, be happy and they’ll be beautiful.
DESCRIBE TO US YOUR SKINCARE AND MAKEUP ROUTINE.
I start off by cleansing with a Korean facial wash that dissolves into an oil, then I follow through with toner, a form of retinoid, and moisturizer. I don’t wear makeup on a daily, but I use a lip mask and I fix my brows using a gel or a brow soap. I also have lash extensions, they’re my saving grace!
FROM PIXIE CUTS TO SHAVING YOUR HAIR, WHAT GRAVITATES YOU TO THE POWER OF BEAUTY TRANSFORMATIONS?
I can be short blonde now, the next day I can have long, dark hair. I’m not scared to change how I look or to try new things because this is the only life I have and when I’m done here, I don’t want to wake up one morning and ask myself, ‘why didn’t I do that?’, ‘why didn’t I try that?’. I don’t follow rules or what people think I should look like. I’m not scared to look different, it’s who I am, and how I express myself.
IS THERE ANY CURRENT BEAUTY STANDARD SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO OLDER WOMEN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE?
Older women and even younger women are pressured to look a certain way. I don’t judge people who would change a certain aspect of themselves because that’s a form of dealing with the insecurities one has. But we just have to embrace age and try our best to age gracefully. So, if that’s for you to do surgery, so be it. If it’s for you to go vegan and age naturally, so be it. I just hope everyone feels comfortable of who they are. It’s not really about trying to fit a standard, but a matter of making your own choices to be happy.
This beauty blog story on Kit Barraquias is also seen in MEGA’s March 2022 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography DOC MARLON
Makeup XENG ZULUETA
Hair DALEWIN MALLARI
Styling BEA GUERRERO and MIGUEL QUILANG of TEAM RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Models KIT BARRAQUIAS, JCINTH, LILLI and VIOLET
Shoot Coordination KZ FRANCISCO
Shot on location at PENTHOUSE STUDIO