Flonique Guimary

Denise Laurel on raising her teenage son, staying youthful at 38

Article (news)

Gary Ann Lastrilla

Push Team

<p>At 38 years old, actress and content creator Denise Laurel continues to impress fans with her youthful appearance while juggling a busy career and raising her teenage son.</p><div><br/></div><p>Speaking during the grand opening of Avignon Clinic&#x27;s new branch at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza on July 9, Denise opened up about her approach to balancing work, motherhood, and self-care.</p><div><br/></div><p>For her, it begins with knowing what matters most. &quot;It&#x27;s just knowing what my priorities are. To me, it&#x27;s God, my family and of course our future together, and then follows hobbies, friends. Just knowing where everything stands, you will be able to move differently.”</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/2/25/denise-laurel-and-rafael-rosell-delight-fans-with-recent-reunion-some-teams-don-t-expire-1809" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Denise Laurel and Rafael Rosell delight fans with recent reunion: &#x27;Some teams don’t expire&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>When it comes to self-care, Denise admitted that consistency is key, especially now that she&#x27;s in her late 30s. &quot;I&#x27;m 38 years old so no skipping skincare at night. As much as I want to just drop in bed and go to sleep, no, I will make sure I will [do it]. Sunscreen is a major, hydration is one.”</p><div><br/></div><p>She also revealed that because she is allergic to active skincare ingredients, she focuses on treatments that promote regeneration and hydration. &quot;I&#x27;m allergic to active ingredients so I can only focus on regeneration, hydration, and biohacking so that’s what I rely on. Here at Avignon, I do machines like XERF or Exion. Basically, I try to preserve my facial fat and just work on creating collagen. That&#x27;s my main focus.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DQJutyYAVh6/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A24023367.699999988%2C%22ls%22%3A8002520%2C%22le%22%3A8002530.899999976%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="984" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Denise also maintains a healthy lifestyle through mindful eating, especially after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). </p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I try to stay away from sugar… Since birth, no soda. I stay away from colored drinks, sugary drinks, and dairy because I have PCOS… I don&#x27;t process sugars and carbs as well as most people,&quot; she explained.</p><div><br/></div><p>While she follows a disciplined routine, Denise stressed that she still allows herself occasional indulgences. &quot;I do have my days off, which is good for anybody. It&#x27;s a lifestyle change, not a diet.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>Aside from her online content, Denise is also admired for her dedication as a mother to her 15-year-old son Davian Alejandro, also known as Bukie. She described motherhood as one of the greatest privileges in her life.</p><div><br/></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%">&quot;I think every day is a reward when I know that I get a chance to wake up. I’m so thankful for that, and I try to make each day another chance to be my best self as a person, as a mom, and as a friend to my son,” she said.</span></div><div><br/></div><p>“Every day is an honor to be his mother, so I really treasure that bond with him. Having the responsibility of guiding him through this life is really my honor and my pleasure,” Denise added. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/8/22/denise-laurel-opens-up-about-her-son-s-biological-father-1512" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Denise Laurel opens up about her son&#x27;s biological father</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>Rather than dwelling on the challenges of parenting, Denise chooses to see every obstacle as an opportunity to grow.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Everything has challenges. Work has challenges, life has challenges, motherhood has challenges. But instead of viewing it as a challenge, I try to view it as, &#x27;How can I grow in this time? How can I be better in this time? What am I supposed to learn here?’ So I don&#x27;t process it as a challenge. I take it as an exercise for me to stretch my patience, stretch my understanding, expand my brain, become a better person, and get to know myself even more,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL4oRgShQdv/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A24094755.099999964%2C%22ls%22%3A8002520%2C%22le%22%3A8002530.899999976%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="896" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>As for the advice she consistently imparts to her son, Denise said she continues a lesson she learned from her father–one that has been passed down through generations in their family.  &quot;Whenever we leave home, they say, &#x27;Be the best.&#x27; So that&#x27;s always our parting words with each other.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>She added, &quot;Every morning when he wakes up, I get him ready for school, I make him breakfast, I iron his shirt and his clothes. He grew up without a yaya, he&#x27;s very responsible. I&#x27;m very proud of him.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>Further, Denise said she makes sure to pray over him before he heads out the door, and reminds him of the values she hopes he carries. </p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I always say, &#x27;Be the best,&#x27; or &#x27;Be your best,&#x27; or &#x27;Give your best&#x27; every time he heads out the door,&quot; Denise shared. </p>

<p>Denise Laurel opens up about balancing work and motherhood, her self-care routine at 38, and the life lessons she shares with her teenage son.</p>

Denise Laurel opens up about balancing work and motherhood, her self-care routine at 38, and the life lessons she shares with her teenage son.