Christina Aguilera's eyes look downright mesmerizing on the February 2010 issue of Marie Claire. The pop star claims she's mellowed a bit since her early years.

“In this crazy business, it’s so easy to build up a lot of walls and a lot of bitterness. And that's just no way to live," the four-time Grammy Award winner said.

“[I can now use softer tones] I’ve been afraid to in the past, allow myself to go to a place of ‘less singing.’ I’m more vulnerable and strong at the same time.”

Christina Aguilera is turning over a new leaf musically.

The 29-year-old mom says her son Max also inspires her to be lighter in her music, despite the fact that “I had a really hard time being light before."

"I’d get a little weird about it being too cliché. My first record was very clichéd pop - what everyone else wanted. [My second album Stripped] inspired by a lot of pain. [My third, Back to Basics,] still had some sort of relation to my past."

"[My new album] is just about the future, having my son in my life, motivating me to want to play and have fun.” Sounds like a great combo to us.

X-tina’s new album is called Bionic, and it's due out in March. We can't wait. Click to enlarge more Christina Aguilera pictures from the magazine ...