Play On! Beauty Tricks from Top Olympic Athletes

Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine
Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine

By Krista Bennett DeMaio

Look and perform at your personal best with these clever beauty tricks from Olympic athletes. Oily skin, dry hair, and melting makeup don't stand a chance.

Related: 10 Ways to Double Your Sun Protection

Kerri Walsh, 34, two-time Olympic gold medalist and beach volleyball player, Manhattan Beach, California

Serve and protect
Walsh never hits the beach without sunscreen and a lip balm with SPF. "My mom had skin cancer on her chin, so I know that sun protection is important," she says. In her bag now: Coola LipLux SPF 30 ($12, coolasuncare.com).

Get plenty of zzz's
"For me, sleep is the ultimate pampering," the busy mother of two says. "Whenever I can work in a short nap, I feel amazing."

Invest in good grooming

Walsh stays stubble-free with laser hair removal. "I live in my bikini, so it's really nice not to have to worry about shaving or waxing," she says.


Getty Images Sport
Getty Images Sport

Natalie Coughlin, 29, 11-time Olympic medalist and swimmer, Vallejo, California

Double your efforts

Coughlin's hair gets a lot of exposure to the elements: "I'm in chlorinated water and the sun, and I train in the ocean," she says. To keep it healthy post-swim, she applies Pantene Pro-V Normal-Thick Split End Repair Crème ($6, drugstores) and Pantene Pro-V Silky Moisture Whip Moisturizer + Styler ($7, drugstores) after shampooing.

Stock up
In her travels to Australia, Coughlin discovered Lucas Pawpaw Ointment ($25, amazon.com), a rich balm that she uses on her lips and cuticles to keep them from drying out. "I always buy 10 tubes at a time when I'm there," she admits.

Cover your bases

Water-resistant sunscreen is a must for swimmers. Coughlin's top block is Vertra The Shelter Sun Resistant Foundation Face Stick SPF 38 ($22, vertra.com). "It's ultra-waterproof but looks like makeup when it goes on your skin," she says.

Related: Slim Down in a Splash: The Pool Workout


Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine
Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine

Hope Solo, 31, Olympic gold medalist and soccer player, Seattle

Add highlights
During her stint last year on Dancing with the Stars, Solo picked up a few get-glam tricks she still uses, like applying a pale highlighting pencil under her eyes. "Your eyes will look awake, and your skin much brighter."

Tone it down
The goalie doesn't always like to shine, especially on her T-zone. "I struggle with breakouts and oily skin," says Solo, who carries Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5, drugstores) with her.

Wash and go
Multiple workouts a day means multiple showers, but she tries to spare her strands. "You don't want to wash hair too often, because it can get really dry," she says. At the end of the day, Solo refreshes her style with dry shampoo.

Related: Hair Repair: How to Get Strong, Shiny Hair

Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine
Antoine Verglas/Fitness Magazine

Lolo Jones, 30, world-champion hurdler, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Practice good skin care on the go
"Because I travel a ton, I'm constantly battling dry skin," Jones says. She packs her carry-on with single-dose facial masks from Freeman's Feeling Beautiful line ($2, drugstores). "They're good quality and affordable."

Give your hair TLC
Jones doesn't dye her brunette strands, but she does stock up on products for color-treated hair, which are moisture rich, to help combat dehydration from the sun's rays. Her go-to line is Pureology Serious Colour Care ($7 to $50, pureology.com for salons).

Start clean

"Most people wash their face after a workout, but you should wash it before, too: Exercising with clogged pores can lead to skin problems," says Jones, who keeps Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes ($7, drugstores) on hand for quickie wipe downs.

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