Olympian Skincare...and Makeup!

By Laura Medina

This scribe has the London Olympics on the brain, can't avoid.  This epitome of health and discipline only comes once every 4 years.

Hard to comprehend but this beauty-loving fashionable foodie was and is a health fanatic who equates good, healthy skin with good health.

The women Olympians are just as skincare and beauty conscious, if not more so, due to the fact whatever they put on their faces better not clog, smear, burn, or run off.  Anything that irritates impedes performance.

Swimmers, both male and female, practice hair removal to make their skin and body more streamlined in the water for faster speed.

If anyone read Allure Magazine's July 2012 issue, the U.S. Olympic Beach Volleyball stars, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh equate good grooming with performance enhancement and good skincare with good skin protection and nourishment.  One less thing they worry, the more they can focus on the game.

No matter how frivilous it appears, whatever skincare or makeup these Olympians (Beach Volleyball, Track & Field, and/or Synchronized Swimming) use, it has to be at the highest form of functionality. 

In other words, if it's good enough for an Olympian, it's good enough for us mere mortals.

While reading last month's issue of Allure Magazine, this scribe was relieved that Olympian...and mom of two toddlers, Kerri Walsh uses COOLA Plant UV Sunscreen SPF 20 just like this clean-scrubbed scribe.

Don't be surprised if you see COOLA on screen within a few days from London.

We both love that this sunscreen is as healthy as it is high-performance, packed with nothing weird aloe, cucumber, algae, and strawberry extracts working together to nourish, repair, and hydrate.  Algae and Strawberry extracts also contribute organic plant UV protection. Red raspberry seed oil is a natural sunscreen and anti-inflammatory.  The fish oils of Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids moisturizes the skin.

For additional protection, she might be spraying on COOLA Sport SPF 45 Moisturizer on her body because this sweat-resistant formula is good enough for life guards.

The raspberry and avocado in COOLA LIPLUX SPF 30 Balm hydrates and nourishes chapped lips while the UVA/UVB broad-spectrum protection and natural phyto-protectors shield them.

Ms. Walsh simply stated that COOLA is good enough for the family, both her and the kids use it. 

Sunscreen isn't the only skincare cornering the Olympics, athletes are human too.  After sweating it out and coated in grit, dirt, and sand, they want to be clean and refreshed too.

Since they really get dirty more than the average person, the cleansing products have to be ultra-effective and efficient.  They save lounging around in the spa after the Olympics.  They also travel for meets and lugging tons of bulky body products doesn't sound fun.

O.R.G. Skincare Organic Mineral Peel Sprays for Face and Body squeezes luxurious but time-consuming traditional Korean spa ingredients of Licore Root Extract, Milk Thistle, Omega 3, Vitamin A & B1, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Seed, and Grapefruit Seed into one easy to carry spray bottle.

The captain of the U.S. Olympic Women's Indoor Volleyball Team, Lindsey Berg fell in love with this potent but gentle spray-on exfoliator during the ESPY Awards.  Now, she took both the Body and Face sprays to London.

All you have to do after sweating out, either on court, out on the field, or under the hot lights, is pump and spray this liquid exfoliate, rub with a dry cloth then watch the residue, ok crud, rub right off.

The Licore Root Extract fades away the sun spots you got from performing outside.  The Milk Thistle softens the wrinkles you develope from squinting under the sun.  The skin oil-like Jojoba Seed and Aloe Vera heal parched, sun-burnt skin.

O.R.G. Skincare Organic Mineral Peel Face and Body Sprays are multi-taskers which Olympians need.  They erase the crud while improving the skin, more room in the locker and the duffle bag. 

Ok, skincare comes first and foremost in Olympic appearance but what about sports that require makeup?



The Aqualillies performing in waterproof Tarte Cosmetics, any other day for them.

Yes, yes...laugh at this scribe all you want...until you hit the pool and force to "dance" underwater for a good three minutes.  This is what synchronized swimmers, such as the Aqualillies, do, especially at the Olympics.

Doing aquatic acrobats, under and over water is tough enough but to look graceful and glamorously groomed, like a classic Hollywood starlet, is difficult.

Hair and makeup has to stay in place.  The vibrant eye makeup and lips have to stay put but be gentle and nourishing to the skin.  This isn't Esther William's Vasoline and Jell-O of yore anymore.  This is where cosmetic technology is put to the test.

The Aqualillies love Tarte Cosmetic's waterproof makeup.  Finding waterproof face cosmetics is rare and this is what makes Tarte unique.  Their waterproof Amazonian Clay in the Matte Bronzer (use for contouring) and Smooth Operator Concealer is unique.  In that, Amazonian Clay is what it keeps their face makeup waterproof and opaque enough to cover flaws, shape the face, yet nourishes the skin without being tacky or heavy.  You'll find Amazonian Clay in their cream eyeshadows and liners too.

In fact, it is much more common to find waterproof eye makeup.  Make Up For Ever Cream Eyeshadows and liners are the de riguer cosmetics for Miami Swim Week, happening right now.

The founder of Make Up For Ever concocted the line after French Olympic swimmer and friend, Muriel Hermine, complained she can't find good quality makeup to wear under water. This started this slow, simmering trend for waterproof makeup.

If the price of high performance makeup gives you the hives, don't sweat.

Aimée Mullins, the 1996 Paralympics double leg amputee, loves L'Oreal's Infallible Eye Shadow because it's blendable and endurable under the heat...and it is cheap at $8 a pop.



Off-Duty, Kerri Walsh told Allure Magazine (July 2012) that Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 changed her life.

Olympians, such as British Track & Field star, Jessica Ennis, prove you can be both athletic and feminine.  Avid rower, such as Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is also a good example.

Dana Karlson of Sky Living HD, wrote that London Olympic's style is "Sport Chic" since eyes from all over the world are watching them.  Jessica said knowing she looks good gives her that confidence boost.



According to Caroline Barnes, Max Factor's make-up artist and UK ambassador, the official Olympic makeup is about well-being, offering a natural and fresh face with a healthy glow."

Since Max Factor Cosmetics is no longer sold in the United States, the general idea is building upon a tinted sunscreen, define the eyes with waterproof shadow, eyeliner, and mascara, contour the cheekbones with waterproof or non-clogging bronzer then highlight the cheeks with rosy Amazonian Clay powder blush or gel then finish the lips with a rosy tint base then top them off with a pampering lip balm strong in SPF or slick on SPF enforced lip gloss or lipstick.

This high-performance healthy glow is tough enough for a woman on the go or a mom on a mission.

As this scribe mentioned before, if it's good enough for an Olympian, it's good enough for us mere mortals.