This is What Radical Gentleness Looks Like (And Yes, It Comes with Lip Gloss)

There was a time when I thought strength meant pushing through, saying yes when I wanted to scream no, and wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor. But lately, I’ve discovered a different kind of strength — one that’s quiet, deliberate, almost defiant in how soft it chooses to be.

Radical gentleness doesn’t shout. It whispers, “You deserve kindness, too.” And sometimes, it looks like nothing more than a swipe of gloss on tired lips — a small, glossy promise that I’ll take care of me today.

Because softness isn’t weakness. It’s choosing to build a life where you’re no longer breaking yourself to please others. Where beauty becomes a boundary, and every ritual is a love note to your soul.

The Power in Softness

Hustle Culture. That's what we have now, right? There hasn't been a time in history where so many wealthy people existed as today. Rich people become younger and younger, too. Just a month ago, we heard news of a lady beating Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made billionaire. 

I've been sucked into the Hustle Culture as well. For many, many years. From my 20's right up to just a few months ago. Aside from earning a living, I felt that if I didn't hustle, then I was being lazy. I'm ADHD and it's important for me to stay productive. I spiral when I don't accomplish anything significant by the end of the day. And when I say significant, it means something that will earn me money (i.e. writing books), or something that helps others (i.e. my blog posts).  

But living like that is suffocating, not to mention exhausting. I have always been a sickly kid. Over these last few months, I've been doing some inner work and I found the reason for all these diseases plaguing me. And when you find the root cause, you'll know how to heal.

And my healing comes in the form of slowing down, breathing long and slow, and living soft.

 The Lip Gloss Ritual

I used to hate gloss. It was sticky, messy, unpredictable — a beautiful idea that rarely survived reality. One gust of wind and my hair would betray me, leaving little streaks across my face like battle scars of vanity. I thought gloss wasn’t worth the trouble.

One Saturday, I was at Beauty Bar and was surprised to see that they carry Anastasia from Beverly Hills. I asked my friend for recommendations and she said to go for the palettes or the lip glosses. I checked the palettes, but nothing made my heart leap so glosses it is. 

I have a much more open mind about makeup now. Probably because of my slow, soft, luxe attitude toward everything. 

Caramel and Rose Tan

Right out the bat, I'm going to say that these are very sticky! Just look at those swatches! But they're very shiny too and look beautiful on the lips.  The scent? Caramel. Bougie caramel. It smells rich. 

These are so versatile. I can wear one or combine them in one look. I haven't tried to use these solo, though. I always use them on top of lipstick.

Yesterday, I wore Caramel over my MAC lipstick. 

It was windy yesterday. My hair clung to my lips, trying to ruin the moment. And instead of rushing, panicking, brushing it away in frustration… I stopped. I took my time. I peeled each strand away slowly, carefully, like I was protecting something precious. I treated my lips — my effort, my beauty, myself — like it was worth the pause.

Sometimes life clings like that — sticky, inconvenient, a little bit messy. But when you slow down, breathe, and honor even the smallest parts of yourself, it shifts. That pause? That’s power disguised as patience.

That’s what this season of my life feels like now. Gentle. Intentional. Not rushing to “fix” everything. Taking a knee, whispering a prayer, finding the best course of action.

Life gets sticky and messy sometimes. Problems cling, and the wind doesn’t stop blowing just because you want it to. But when you face it with confidence, with care, when you pour in the right energy and resources… it transforms. Like gloss on your lips, it catches the light, it turns heads, and suddenly, the mess doesn’t matter — because the beauty stayed intact.

So, will I buy these again? Absolutely! In a different shade or set. And now, as I write this, I realize that I'm excited to try other lip glosses as well! So excited about the looks that I will come up with. Are you excited, too?  

"Being your own hype person does wonders to your mental and physical health."

Beauty as a Love Letter to Myself

I asked myself when I was doing this transformation. Come to think of it, I still do. I ask whether I do this for myself or if I'm performing for others. My answer is me. For myself. 

Have you noticed that I keep wearing these flashy eye looks? Some might say that they are not day-appropriate. You know what, I don't really care anymore. I never liked the idea of just wearing neutral shades during the day. I'm an artist and I love color. I will wear orange eyeshadow or green if I want to. Sometimes I wear blue, too. 😁

I will wear a winged eye if and when I want to. Because it makes me feel beautiful and confident. (And it opens up my eyes). I get fascinated when ladies have that look in their faces that says, "I wish I can wear something like that too. I wish I had the confidence to pull off a strong eye look." Guess what, you can, too!

Before, whenever I pass by those girls who wear cosplay in the mall, I'd think that it was inappropriate. But now, I cheer them on silently. I don't know if that outfit is their way of self-expression or if it's their shell. I might be seeing a flamboyant, inappropriate (trench coat and leather boots in the dead of Manila summer? Hello!) oufit but they might also be hiding from the world, afraid that their true self will be seen. So they hide in layers. Just like I did. But layers can be a powerful thing, too. 

These small moments, like applying some gloss, a calm moment before leaving the house, a glance in the mirror, they all say, "I'm here and I matter." 

Makeup isn’t just pigment on skin; it’s a quiet manifesto. Every stroke, every shimmer, every bold choice says: "I refuse to disappear. I refuse to live muted."

A New Definition of Strength

My Glow Girl Life Philosophy: Power doesn't have to be hard, loud, or relentless. It doesn't have to mean hustle, hustle, hustle until you burnout and collapse. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is soften and still thrive. That's what I'm doing as the Soft Life CEO. I'm the CEO not just of my businesses and careers, but of myself first. Loving myself is the key to living a full, soft, luxe life. 

The world will tell you to harden up, to keep your head down, to grind until you’re nothing but edges. But today, I chose gloss. I chose to be tender with myself, to be radiant on my own terms, to move through the day with a softness that feels like rebellion.

Strength isn’t about outlasting storms anymore. It’s about building a life so soft, so intentional, that storms have no power here. That’s my rebellion. That’s my glow.

Maybe one day, you’ll join me — not with a sword or a shield, but with a tiny tube of gloss that says, “This is what love looks like when I give it to myself first.” 

And if the world ever forgets how powerful softness can be, they only need to look my way—gloss catching the light, heart unshaken, glow untouchable.