Brand Ambassador Spotlight: Mari Jo

Welcome back to our Brand Ambassador Spotlight series—where we shine a light on the incredible Nectar Skin Women who perfectly represent everything our brand stands for. 🥀

Today, we're stepping into the vibrant world of Mari Jo—a total powerhouse of confidence, creativity, and authenticity. At 34, she's juggling life as a pharmaceutical product manager, a mom of two, and a passionate portrait artist. For Mari Jo, art isn't just about making a buck–it's all about feeding the soul.

We've been following her journey for a while now, and she’s done nothing but inspire us with her resilience and grace. Join us in her Q&A as she shares her journey of finding beauty in life's quiet moments and the ways gratitude has shaped her path. She shows us what resilience truly means, turning challenges into opportunities. Whether it's embracing natural beauty or navigating life's ups and downs, her story is one we couldn't keep to ourselves. ✨

Passion and inspiration

Ever wondered what fuels someone’s creative fire? Mari Jo spills the tea on how she channels her passions into art.

Q: Beyond the inspiring content you create, what truly sets your soul on fire?

A: Nature, Art and Authenticity are three things soul-embedded to me. Nature isn’t just about the sun and the seas, human emotions such as grief and joy are all part of nature too. I take inspiration from all these to create my art, be it through written words, a photograph, or the drawings I do while making sure every part of what I create authentically comes from the heart.

In nature I find art, and in my art I pour my authenticity. This is my core, the fundamentals in everything I create.

Staying positive

Life throws curveballs, but she’s all about turning challenges into stepping stones. Here’s how she keeps as much as she can in a positive light.

Q: You radiate such positive energy! What are some things in your life that contribute most to your optimistic outlook? 

A: Being able to survive a traumatic phase in my life brought me to become the woman I am today. I was in an abusive first relationship. I had to delay my college studies when I became a young single mother. Becoming a mother at such a young age was THE ultimate life changer. I had no choice but to grow up and skip stages in my youth. Yet when I think about that phase in my life, I never for once took it as a reason to be discouraged. Instead, I used my experiences as an inspiration to become the woman my younger self needed that time. I started to see challenges as opportunities for growth. So, as ironic as it is, the light I am carrying ultimately came from a dark phase I’ve survived.

Wisdom is only healed pain after all!

Q: Has there ever been a time when you struggled to maintain your positive outlook?

A: Everybody has their own challenges in life, and some days the weight feels heavier. It is during these moments that I try to remind myself of the many little things I am grateful about. From waking up to chirping birds, the sun and blue skies, the warmth of home, the support of my inner circle, looking forward to a delicious meal—gratitude for the small things in the midst of challenges is what keeps me going. 

You really don’t need to look so far to realize how lucky you are! 

Feeling good in your own skin

Now, let’s talk about embracing our true selves, flaws and all.

Q: We've noticed your openness about your commitment to natural beauty. Was there a specific moment or experience that really got you started on this journey? 

A: I started traveling after a bad breakup early 2018. I did not only discover how beautiful my own country was, but somewhere between the sand in my toes and the sun above me was a new-found self! On the islands, I would just throw in my most comfortable beachwear without a dab of makeup and I always felt my most beautiful! I have never felt more confident in my own skin and I always believed that true beauty is in the rawness of things—just like my favorite Philippine islands!

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about what initially drew you to Nectar Skin?

A: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself focusing on self-care to keep my sanity as we were all spending most days indoors. I truly missed traveling but I had to cope with the situation just like everybody else. It was when I discovered Nectar Skin. I was on the look for a body oil that works and discovering the brand truly felt like a meant-to-be moment. Applying Nectar Skin became something I look forward to and will be a part of my self-care routine indefinitely.

In simpler words, Nectar Skin makes me feel good so I am sticking to it!

 

Juggling life

Being a mom of two and working full-time is no easy feat. Mari Jo shares how she finds balance amidst the hustle.

Q: Can you share a specific instance where prioritizing self-care felt particularly challenging? How did you navigate that situation, and what strategies do you use now to make sure you take care of yourself?

A: The month of December had always been the most hectic in the year for me. Year-end means a lot of activities at work that requires my full attention and energy. But that said, I still find time to squeeze in an intimate family celebration for my birth month. I make sure that the break I take from all the hustle is truly worth it by being in the moment—enjoying the presence of my family and my own company and indulging nature’s beauty around me. I take a break to recharge and come back to my responsibilities refreshed and better.

Never feel guilty for taking a pause when you know you need it! Listen to what your body is telling you.

Q: What are some simple activities that never fail to lift your spirits, even on hectic days?

A: I am work from home most days, while this may be the ideal scenario for most, sometimes it can also get the best of me in such ways that I crave the outdoors too! When I miss the island life and can’t travel any sooner, I make sure to take a breather when needed by still being in touch with the nature around me at home. I go out for some sunshine, watch the clouds, look at the greens around me, moon bathe, or spend time with my cat! I also do my calisthenics at home; we all know that moving your body had always been a scientifically-proven mood booster!

Q: How do you incorporate moments of self-love and mindfulness into your daily routine?

A: My creative process requires me to be truly focused on the work I do, that’s why whenever I feel like I’m running out of ideas or inspiration, I take a break—this is how I incorporate mindfulness and self-love daily. 

Taking a break doesn’t need to be booking flights and hotels for a grand vacation, even closing my laptop for an hour to read a book, do my art, or take time in the bathtub between my daily routines are considered a break. I plan how much time I’ll allot for my breaks and resume back to a task once I’m refreshed. This allows me to render any work better!

 

Q: Walk us through a typical day in your life. How do you find balance between your work, passions, and personal needs?

A: I am lucky to have a career that easily grants me a work-life balance! Nevertheless, I am always mindful about the things I needed to finish so I make a priority for the deadlines needed to be met or the activities and meetings I have to attend before I plan any desired out-of-town trips for leisure. When home, I take small breaks in between my work through a cup of good coffee, doing my art, reading a book or even playing my favorite game Sims4! I don’t drain myself trying to finish one task, and being organized with your priorities and schedules ultimately helps you avoid the stress.

Q: Imagine anything is possible! Describe your ideal day of ultimate self-care, reset, and relaxation. 

A: A relaxed day starts with getting an abundant good night’s sleep then waking up to sunshine and blue skies, birds singing, and a good cup of coffee. I would be strolling to the beach, sinking my feet to the finest, softest white sands, then take a dip on the clear waters. Letting myself dry under the shade of a pretty palm tree, watching the beautiful nature that surrounds me. Soft summer breeze. Sun rays kissing me a pretty tan. I would be spending the day with my love, it could also be with my family, or my closest friends, only the very few people I dearly cherish. We would share a hearty meal, have good conversations, and realize that no matter how life can be challenging, we’re grateful and lucky to be here and have each other.

Scents and confidence

Let's talk about how the perfect scent can boost your confidence and uplift your mood.

Q: Certain scents can be incredibly powerful in boosting confidence. Is there a particular fragrance that makes you feel most confident and empowered? 

A: I was perhaps late in discovering my scent preferences since I never really explored much as I was quite sensitive to most fragrances and would get nauseous. After all the trial and error, I was finally sure that my perfume options would lean more into the gourmand-fresh and lactonic category. It’s Kayali’s Yum Pistachio Gelato for an easy morning reach for work and other errands outside and Commodity Milk Expressive for staying at home and bedtime. These scents with creamy, milky, gourmand notes are so good to layer with my favorite Nectar Skin’s Aspen or Madagascar.

Q: We know you love our products! Do you have a favorite Nectar Skin body oil, and why? How does it make you feel when you use it? 

A: My top three favorite Nectar Skin blends would be: Aspen, Madagascar, and Lio, with Aspen being my most favorite as soon as it was released just a few months ago.Aspen is such a comforting scent. It doesn’t entirely fall into the heavy-gourmand category but there’s like a butterball candy aspect into it along with some creamy lactonic notes that I love! A warm, inviting scent that whispers ‘Cuddle with me, I want to spend a lazy Sunday with you.’ Definitely an easy reach for everyday use. It isn’t overly-sweet and dries down to a marshmallow-powdery goodness and I love layering this so much with my other gourmand perfumes as it layers well and amps up the silage of the scents.

 

Mari Jo's message

As we concluded our Q&A, Mari Jo shared a powerful insight on the transformative power of gratitude.

Q: For our readers who are also striving to live their best lives and embrace natural beauty, what's one piece of advice you'd give them? 

A: The secret is gratitude. When you are genuinely grateful for what you have, not only do you embrace and appreciate your own natural and raw beauty, but life opens more opportunities and blessings once you’re inspired creating more of what you love! Gratitude also grants you the ability to focus on yourself—you don’t compare yourself to other people so you develop confidence, you get to improve on what you have and you get to grow! I am always grateful for the little things in life but at the same time I never stop striving for my goals.

Start being grateful for the little things you have and see how much your outlook in life and the way you see yourself changes!

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Curious about Mari Jo's inspiring journey? Follow her on Instagram for more insights into her life!
Feel free to use her code MARIJO10 for 10% off your purchases!