Olympian Laurie Hernandez on Her Favorite Skincare Products

Former “Final Five” gymnast Laurie Hernandez is headed back to the Olympic stage after winning big at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But things will be decidedly less intense for the beloved athlete this time, as she will return not as a competitor but as an NBC Correspondent for women’s gymnastics.

Ahead of her exciting on-camera role, Hernandez is also celebrating another career highlight: inking a partnership with Olay. As a longtime athlete, Hernandez says her relationship with beauty has been ever-evolving. “I’ve struggled with skincare as an athlete,” she says. “Trying to figure out what works when I was constantly sweating, using chalk, and stressed during ‘meet season’ made me feel like my skin was constantly on a rollercoaster. Transitioning from sports to now being a college student, I feel like my body and skin have been trying to adjust themselves.”

Through chatting with Hernandez, it’s clear she isn’t afraid to share her raw, authentic self when it comes to beauty (and beyond). In conversation, she’s overflowing with joy and conveys a genuine desire to connect with people. Within minutes of meeting, we’re suddenly swapping product recommendations, recounting eyebrow-tweezing horror stories, and quite literally finishing each other’s sentences. Ahead, Hernandez shares how she’s embraced her beauty, plus the skincare products that make her feel best.

About Her Skin

“I would characterize my skin as more on the drier side, which is interesting because I was always sweating at practice. I grew up in New Jersey, so by the time winter came around, my lips were always chapped, and my skin would peel a little bit because it was dry.”

How She Got Into Skincare

“I’ve become more interested in skincare within the last few years. I don’t think I understood how it worked when I was younger or competing in Rio. I was almost too stressed about everything [else] to focus on my skincare. I didn’t realize that taking care of your skin in the morning and night is not just for your skin; it’s also self-soothing. Having a good routine keeps us all sane. Also, I’ve only recently been finding the right products. Now, I’m looking in the mirror and saying, Okay, yes, that’s me. I like the way that my skin glows.”

The Skincare Step She Never Skips

“I don’t know if this necessarily counts as a step, but after washing my hair, I make sure to use a cleanser on the back of my neck and on my forehead because the product and grime will build up, and I’ll break out like crazy.”

Her Morning Versus Night Routine

I cleanse my skin in the morning, use Olay’s Super Serum, and then apply a moisturizer. At night, I use Olay’s Face Cleansing Melts and a moisturizer. Sometimes, I’ll use a gua sha to massage my face because it feels really good.”

How Her Outlook on Beauty Has Evolved

“My outlook on beauty has changed a lot, especially since retiring from sports. Gymnastics is innately quite feminine. I wore eyeliner and lipstick often, and I still love doing that, but it felt like I didn’t really have any other choice. I also felt like there was this idea that your skincare [routine] had to be 10,000 steps with the highest-quality products. But now I know that beauty can be seen in many different ways. It can be seen as extremely feminine, or it can be seen as just androgynous. Beauty is whatever you want it to be.”

The Ingredient That Has Made the Biggest Difference

“The moment I started using vitamin C, my skin completely changed. As soon as I started using it, I noticed my skin was more toned and even. I also started getting compliments on my skin.”

The Beauty Product She Always Has With Her

“A tinted lip balm. I’m currently a drama major at school, and we’re doing a lot of test runs, going from scene to scene. If I can feel that my lips are dry during a scene, it completely pulls me out of what I’m doing. So, I love to have a tinted lip balm with me; I can dab it on and go.”

Her Latest Skincare Obsession

“Caffeine under-eye cream has been a big one because I don’t know what sleep is. So, having a caffeine eye cream that helps reduce dark circles is huge.”

Her Best Skincare Advice

“Just be kind to your skin. We all have rough skin days, and the person who will judge us the hardest is ourselves because we see ourselves every day. However, beating yourself up about it doesn’t make anything better. If anything, the quickest way to get that [feeling] gone is to be kind to yourself and learn how to relax.”