The secret to Lucy Torres-Gomez’s beauty from within

MANILA, Philippines — Lucy Torres-Gomez is more beautiful in person.

That’s because even the unforgiving HD cameras are unable to capture what’s within. Her immaculate porcelain skin, delicate, symmetrical features, shampoo-commercial silky, long hair, statuesque physique—not to mention her elegant, sophisticated style! I am blown away each time I see her, but really, you will see that this outer beauty is only a reflection of what’s inside.

The commercial model-turned-actress’ career has progressed to public service as a reelection representative of her hometown Leyte Fourth District. And still, she has more of herself to give.

She writes a weekly column for this paper, and more frequently, updates her social media channels with the most thoughtful captions, a candid look into the behind-the-scenes of her career and personal life.

From sweetening her long-distance relationship with crush-turned-debut co-star-turned-husband and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez in a fairytale-like twist of fate with a late-night ice cream date, learning how to apply highlighter from her unica hija Juliana who just graduated from high school, to big meals and bigger laughs with her longtime friends, she stays present in every precious moment.

This means a packed schedule, juggling everything, and yet she looks rejuvenated by living a full life. The forces of nature that would make it so otherwise have instead made her bloom with radiance. The passing of time has only given her wisdom and clarity of purpose. Gravity has grounded her with intentionality. One of the country’s most beautiful is only getting more beautiful as the years go by.

Richard and Lucy Gomez, Ultherapy Philippines’ newest ambassadors. Photo Release

I know what you’re thinking—how does she do it?

“I take it a day at a time,” Lucy shares. “If I look too far ahead, I get overwhelmed. ‘Ano ba to, ang dami ko pang gagawin.’ But if I compartmentalize and think, ‘Today, I have eight things to do,’ so I think of the first one first. After that, that’s one out of the way. If I think of all eight all at once, para ako malulusaw.”

Now I am meeting her again with Richard behind the scenes of the #UltherapyforTwo campaign, she looks refreshed. She reveals her secrets—and they are in no way superficial nor are they quick fixes.

But the quick answer is that she takes the time to recharge, and takes pleasure in caring for herself.

“Self-care is self-love and something you do for yourself, really, more than for other people to appreciate,” she says.

Her self-love is the well from where she draws the love she shares to her loved ones and her many passions. We can’t give something we don’t have, and Lucy sustains her self-love in abundance.

It was formed by someone she looked up to at a very early age. “My Lola, until the day she died, she had beautiful skin. She would always put night cream. Even at home, she would wear lipstick and jewelry. I learned that it is not like you only take care of yourself when there’s a party and you have to look good. You can look good for yourself every day, and even if you don’t, you already feel better.”

Richard agrees: “Looking good is important especially in the work that we do. We’re always in front of many people, not just as actors but also as politicians. When people see you, sometimes, even if they have problems, pero 'pag nakita ka nila, they say, ‘Ang gwapo naman nito.’ Parang nababawasan problema nila. That’s true. When they see you’re happy, it’s contagious. Their day also brightens up.”

Lucy believes that more than looking for a nice filter or women buying more makeup, you can also invest in your skin. Photo Release

How does the couple keep their skin looking good? Lucy says, “It’s gotten really simple over the years. I’ve gone through the whole nine yards in my twenties. We weren’t so informed about it. We just tried whatever was there. I feel that in the past decade, the world has become more healthy and health-conscious. We’re so aware of the content. My regimen is gravitating towards what’s more natural. Alongside that, it has been a conscious effort to watch what I put inside my body. There is a connection between your gut health and skin. Probiotics and prebiotics for the skin, natural oils, a cream that I like, and constant facials.”

She continues, “Regular facials help. My skin is better when I’m good with my facial schedule. I don’t give it a chance to build up. I did Ultherapy years ago and I like the result. You forget about it because it’s already been six months and then you see people and they say, ‘You look like you went on a vacation.’ And I didn’t. I didn’t do anything new. My schedule is still the same. Pero mukha ako nag-bakasyon. I realize, ‘A-ha! Ultherapy to.’ So I went for the second time a few weeks ago.”

She adds, “What I like about Ultherapy is it’s not invasive. It’s a once a year treatment, and then I maintain with just cleaning and skincare. Because it helps produce new collagen, the results only get better with time and peak in three to six months,” she elaborates. “More than looking for a nice filter or women buying more makeup, you can invest in your skin. Lunchtime procedure pa.”

She passes this skin love on to Richard, too, at times literally. “My creams at night, while he’s asleep, I press it on.”

“Richard is so low maintenance. He doesn’t put anything on his face. He’s the type of guy that will use whatever soap is there. Kung wala, water-water lang siya. I call Belo ahead and tell the doctors to do treatments.”

And he lets her take the lead. “When Lucy tells me to go, I just go obediently. They know na what to do. They clean my face, take out whiteheads and blackheads. Then they’ll do a treatment,” Richard shares.

For Richard’s first Ultherapy treatment, they made a bonding activity out of it by getting it done together. Lucy was able to convince her husband to go beyond the usual clarifying facials when she pointed out that his wrinkles were starting to show. The sustained results make it perfect for low maintenance Richard.

Richard says, “It’s important for men to take care of the skin, too and Ultherapy is easy maintenance.”

21 years and one child later, Richard and Lucy are a wonderful example of how committing to taking care of themselves is part of staying committed to each other. Photo Release

Having tried Ultherapy myself over a year ago, the results that get better as the months go by admittedly spoil me and make me feel like I can be a bit lazy with my skincare regimen. But not Lucy.

“My Lola said it’s a ‘mortal sin,’” she says, referring to cleansing at night. “The most is that I won’t wash, but I do toner or wipes, but that hardly happens. I find it hard to sleep with makeup on. I like the whole ritual. Me time should be a time for pleasure. I put on music in the banyo, go to Spotify, and borrow Juliana’s music.”

Like her Lola has influenced her approach to beauty, has she imparted the same to her daughter? “Oh no! She’s passed on to me,” Lucy admits with a chuckle. “Makeup tricks. I don’t put on makeup. Maybe it’s something the younger set does so well. Sa panahon ko, wala naman highlighter. I remember when I was in college in the ‘90s, the look was a bare face with wine red lips. No blush. No curlash (lash curler), even. Aliw. If it’s a special night, mag tungkil (winged tip eyeliner) ka.”

“I also don’t like getting super made up unless I have to for a shoot. When I go out, I just want skin lang para it breathes. I feel that people who wear less makeup look younger. Embrace your flaws.”

Her grandmother’s influence of looking only like her best self extends to Lucy’s love of keeping it natural, an approach to makeup that emphasizes her best features, not changing it. It’s the same with her favored treatment, Ultherapy, which is completely safe.

With just one appointment, you’ll gradually experience lifting and tightening on your skin as it stimulates the formation of new collagen deep below the skin surface. Nothing is filled or cut, you still look like you, only more rejuvenated. It works by making your skin look younger by making it act younger through the production of new collagen.

The same approach applies to what goes inside her body. “I’m trying to avoid dairy. I notice my allergies went away when I cut off dairy.”

“Not to say I don’t enjoy my ice cream. I am not rigid about it,” she emphasizes. “But when I can say no, I say no. When there’s a party, I won’t be a party-pooper and not eat the cake. I won’t say no to the second cup of ice cream.”

It applies to how she spends her time, too. It’s a choice she makes—a choice that keeps on giving. “I go inside myself. I shut off that source of negativity. Not that I am choosing my friends, but when I spend time with people, I don’t say yes to every invitation. Time is so important. I hardly see my husband. The three of us are hardly together at the same time.”

“I simplify,” she sums it up. “When you become older, it’s easier for you to say no. You are no longer a yes girl.”

Through all this beauty talk, not once has she brought up a fear of aging. It would seem that to Lucy and contrary to society’s conventions, age is not an absence of beauty. It is not a ticking clock or an expiry date, but a fact of life that comes with an accumulation of experiences. It inspires the overarching value behind Lucy’s approach not to staying beautiful or youthful but taking care of herself for a more beautiful life. That flawless bare-skinned confidence is just the surface. On the inside, every little thing counts.