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THE
invitation to attend Johnson & Johnson’s new product
launch was a sort of a nostalgia trip for me as I recall
my childhood years, in which the J&J brand was already a
household name. On a more personal note, the mere
mention of Johnson’s Baby Powder and its unmistakable
scent opened a floodgate of memories of my daughter who
was born 16 years ago. Today, as I generously put the
same talcum powder on the new baby of our household, I
cannot help but fondly look back at how this baby-care
product has been part of almost every generation of
Filipinos for the past decades, and how its newest
products promise to be with our families surely in the
decades to come.
But
first, let me tell you how our new baby came to be.
She
arrived in our home when she was just three days old. It
was an unexpected blessing, something I never really
imagined to happen. This little bundle of beautiful
humanity came to us via my daughter’s nanny, whose
sister gave birth to her fourth child under the most
dire circumstances worthy of a telenovela. The mother
was an emotionally and physically battered wife who
already had three little kids, aged 7, 5 and 4, and now
this one, born in December 2007. Her husband was
imprisoned and charged with drug dealing (to which he
was recently absolved) and was behind bars for close to
two years. This baby, so to speak, was conceived in jail
through conjugal visits. And her mother, eking out a
livelihood as a carinderia cook for herself and three
children, unfortunately, does not have the wherewithal
to take care of her latest child.
So it
was with much joy and trepidation that we embraced this
child and allowed her to invade our hearts and our home.
She is not biologically mine; neither are we legally her
guardians. Yet I cast aside any hesitation and embraced
my “motherhood” role to take care of this fragile
three-day-old infant. Born in abject poverty, she came
to us with only a handful of clothes that obviously were
hand-me-downs from her siblings, along with three milk
bottles. Immediately, I rushed to the nearest mall to
get the stuff she would need. Needless to say, I got her
several J&J products.
When I
first gave the baby her first bath, I noticed that her
skin seemed dry. I never considered putting oil over her
body, as this would make her feel warm and
uncomfortable. So I left it at that. I never addressed
her dry-skin condition until I was given a sample of
Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals during the presscon I
attended that launched this new product line for all the
mothers out there. Immediately, I used it on our baby
and, a few days later, noticed that her skin had become
smoother and gentler.
As I
learned from that press conference, clinical studies
conducted in the US showed that more than 60 percent of
the babies tested had clinically visibly dry skin under
the Johnson’s Skin Maturation Study. The studies
revealed that baby skin has an immature barrier which is
capable of absorbing water rapidly, but losing it
quickly as well. Because of the tender nature of baby
skin, it is more prone to stress, infection and
toxicity. Contact with products containing harsh
chemicals and artificial ingredients is to be avoided.
With this in mind, the think tanks of J&J lost no time
in developing Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals, its
first line of baby products to combine the gentleness of
Johnson’s with the healing power of nature. Developed
with pediatricians and clinically tested by
dermatologists, Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals is
formulated with a proprietary blend of vitamin E, olive
leaf extract, mineral and essential amino acids to
ensure that baby skin gets all the protection it needs
from harmful free radicals found in the environment,
which babies get exposed to from the sun, air pollutants
and other irritants.
To
dramatize the power of nature and the superior
moisturizing benefits of the Soothing Naturals product
line on baby skin, celebrated photographer Denise Weldon
and jeweler Candy Dizon put together the Glow, Baby Glow
photo exhibit of five fantasy compositions, showcasing
baby Tamara Araneta’s glowing skin complemented with
jewelry creations of Dizon. Weldon feels mighty proud of
her photos of Marta Araneta and her daughter, Tamara.
“You can see the strong, loving bond between mother and
daughter,” which she captured through her lens.
The
exhibit features a commissioned pendant which is
inspired by the olive leaf and a moisture drop.
Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals will introduce an
in-store promotion for mothers who purchase either
Johnson’s Baby Soothing Naturals Nourishing Lotion or
Moisture Rich Wash in selected Watsons, SM Supermarkets
and Department Stores, and Baby & Co. stores nationwide.
Prizes at stake are 105 pieces of the limited-edition
gold leaf pendant with glittering cubic zirconia and
necklace, designed by Candy Dizon for the lucky moms who
acknowledge the importance of moisturizing baby skin
through Soothing Naturals.
So,
today, our new baby now has smoother skin while I revel
and glow at this newfound “motherhood.” |
