Nativity scene Barnechea

Biography

Belén was born and spent her childhood in Lima, before moving to Washington, D.C. with her family. She studied Communication and Marketing at Emerson College in Boston and, after graduating, worked in New York for a while. She moved to Madrid in 2017 and worked in corporate communications for years, until, during the lockdown, she decided to finally pursue her dream and open her own business. That's when the idea for Casa Manjar was born.

About Bethlehem

Have you always been passionate about baking? How important are craftsmanship and your origins in your recipes?

Craftsmanship and my roots are the reason Casa Manjar exists. I've always wanted to share or "showcase" everything my country has to offer, in this case, through desserts. My passion for baking is something I was born with. For as long as I can remember, food has been very important in my home. Spending long hours around the table enjoying a good dessert is a must at my parents' house.

Do you have a favorite candy or dessert?

It's really hard for me to choose… those who know me know I have a sweet tooth. If I had to pick one, I'd say it's the chocolate cake from Casa Manjar. It's a very moist sponge cake with dulce de leche and lots of fudge. The perfect combination of flavors.

What are your future plans for your project?

The truth is, I dream of having a shop that's a tea room, inspired by the tea rooms of England. Once I achieve that, I envision opening Casa Manjar in Spain, Mexico, and the USA (these last two are huge markets where the growth potential excites me greatly).

Relationship with beauty:

What is beauty to you and how do you experience it in your daily routine?

Beauty is expressed in many ways, but if I had to define it, I'd say it lies in how you treat others. It's about how you live your life, striving to be a better person and contributing your little bit to the world.

What or who inspires you in your day-to-day life?

My mom, my husband, and my daughter.

My mom and my husband for how they always give without expecting anything in return, and my daughter because she is the purest love that can exist and has come into the world to teach me so many things.

Who are your beauty icons?

My beauty icon would have to be my maternal grandmother. A classic, elegant, and simple woman. Her beauty shone through in every form and expression. Besides my grandmother, I'd say my beauty icons are independent, strong, and empowered women. I like women who look natural and authentic.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

The best advice I've ever received, as cliché as it sounds, is that nothing is impossible… that with dedication, effort, and patience, things come to fruition. This has helped me not to give up when everything seemed to be falling apart. I always try to be optimistic and a fighter.

"In my opinion
the key to success is
in listening to your body.”

Beauty Questionnaire:

What is your skincare routine?

I drink plenty of water when I wake up. Then, because I like my skin to feel radiant and natural, I wash my face with ice water, which really helps reduce puffiness. After that, I wash my face with Biologique Recherche cleansing milk, apply Barbara Sturm serum, lots of moisturizer, and then sunscreen. At night, if my skin feels dull, I use a more hydrating mask; otherwise, I repeat all the morning steps.

A foolproof trick or product:

Dr. Barbara Sturm's hyaluronic acid.

How do you take care of your beauty from the inside out?

I try to sleep eight hours a day, exercise five times a week, and spend a lot of time in nature. Regarding my personal and professional life, I try to maintain a balance. This is clearly the most difficult part because you want to be able to give 100% in everything, but over time I've learned that it's not feasible. As for food, I try not to obsess over it and eat what my body tells me to. In my opinion, the key to success is listening to your body.

Is there anything left for you to learn or try in the beauty world?

Too much, it's a world I've become fond of in recent years and I think I still have a lot to discover.

What are your favorite beauty treatments?

Beldon Beauty means well-being to me. Every treatment I get there has something special about it. If I had to choose, I'd say the body massages at Beldon Wellness or the facials at Beldon Beauty are my favorites. I love how they take care of each client and personalize every treatment specifically for them.