Sponsored by NIVEA®
The Beauty Rituals This Model & Mother Of 3 Relies On For Glowing Skin
By Bianca Lambert
Whether you follow Bethany Ciotola for her dreamy style or for the cuddly, silly moments with her family — or both — her platform is clear. “My mission is to make women feel good about themselves by showing them life isn’t perfect,” she says. “[It’s] a realistic approach to motherhood, showing the good and the tantrums.” While her husband, Chris, and their three sons, Kai, Rowan, and Will, are her world, Ciotola still makes time to care for herself on the inside and out. Because no matter how non-stop life may be, there are always opportunities to nourish and glow.
Her self-care skin rituals start first thing in the morning when she enjoys breakfast with her little ones. "I love including fruits that are rich in vitamin C, like oranges, blueberries, guava, and strawberries to hydrate and enrich my skin from the inside out," she says. Ciotola also makes it a priority to drink plenty of water every single day. "I have a large, reusable water bottle that I fill every morning, even before coffee, and the goal is to have it finished by lunch."
Her commitment to full-body skin wellness includes the products she uses as well. "I think how you treat your skin right now determines how it will look five, 10, 20 years down the road,” says Ciotola. “Just as your facial skin-care routine is important to keep up, so is the skin on the rest of your body. It needs attention, love, and moisture to preserve and maintain its health as you age." Even if Ciotola only has five minutes to shower after putting her three little dragons down for a nap, she makes the most of it with healthy ingredients and a nourishing experience using NIVEA's Botanical Blossom Body Wash with Nourishing Serum. It’s part of what she calls a good and healthy base.
"NIVEA's Nourishing Body Wash continually leaves my skin feeling very hydrated, moisturized, and soft after I shower," says Ciotola, who likes to use it with a loofah for a little gentle exfoliation. With plant-derived oils, essential lipids, and vitamins, the creamy formula makes it like you’re treating your body to a facial in the shower. Ciotola also enjoys the Botanical Blossom aroma: "I don't like scents that are overbearing, and this gives off a very subtle, soft feminine scent."
Quiet time is another key beauty ritual. "When my husband comes home from work and can immediately tell it's been a particularly long or trying day, he tells me to drop what I'm doing and lock myself in my room to have some silence," says Ciotola. As a creative and self-described introvert, she finds those hushed moments beautiful. Walks, reading, and giving her skin extra TLC in the evening are all ways she relaxes and recharges.
Perhaps one of her most beloved forms of self-care, Ciotola relies on daily doses of laughter and humor. She believes in the curative (and glow-ifying) effects of a good meme or funny video, and she finds that taking herself a little less seriously can also ease the negative emotions that come from making a mistake or having a challenging day. "Finding the humor in difficult situations, being able to laugh at yourself when you mess up, and taking hard times as learning lessons rather than scolding yourself with negativity makes the day go by much easier," she says.
For moms — or anyone, really — out there trying to find balance, Ciotola has some words of encouragement. "You can't pour from an empty cup," she says. "Taking care of your children and family starts with taking the time to care for yourself. Self-care isn't indulgent. It's a necessity. It's also important for your children to see you taking care of yourself to set an example for them to do the same as they grow older." What’s more beautiful than that?
This post is sponsored by NIVEA®.
Photographer: Victoria Schaefer; Wardrobe Stylist: Annebet Duvall; Prop Stylist: Allie Leone; Production Lead: Kat Fry
