Sha’Carri Richardson’s Go-To Lip Gloss Survives the 100-Meter Sprint

It’s hard to take your eyes off Sha’Carri Richardson when she’s running the 100-meter dash. Colorful braids or a sleek pony wooshes behind her while she edges out the competition, always with an ornate, gemstone-covered manicure that shines in the light. Her signature beauty look is just as consistant as her lightning-fast speed—this year, she took second in the 100-meter dash. As if her silver-medal feat at the Paris Olympics couldn’t get any more impressive, the track star did so with an ultra-glossy nude lip, and we’ve tracked down the gloss that stays put through her recording-breaking sprints.

Cameras caught Richardson applying the MAC Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick right before her podium-placing race at the Olympic games. The plumping gloss stick is just like it sounds: It includes menthol and capsicum extract for a tingly plump while nourishing the lips with coconut oil. The twist-up format gives the result of a shiny gloss in easy-to-apply balm form.

Wearing a plumping gloss while sprinting in the Olympics is impressive (I can barely function when I feel that familiar tingle). Richardson used the shade Lower Cut, a rosy brown, and in the video, she applied it by dabbing the gloss-balm hybrid onto her lips. Dominic Skinner, MAC’s Director of Makeup Artistry, shared the moment on his Instagram story and said “You can either sweep it on like you would a regular lip gloss or press it on like Sha’Carri did. You can use it with a lip pencil, or over lipstick or just on its own.”

At the 2023 World Athletics Championship (where the sprinter became a world champion), the 24-year-old wore a similar lip look using the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm. On TikTok, the brand noted that her preferred shade is Honeysuckle, a warm brown.

Clearly, a glossy lip is paramount for a successful race, but Richardson has been open about her beauty journey since the start of this year’s summer games. She told Nylon, “I’ve always been taught that anytime you leave your house, you should look your best. I feel that way when I compete, even though it’s on a larger scale. In life, you walk out your house and you want to manifest great things for yourself or attract just positive energy. In order to do that, you start with what makes your energy good.”

Ahead of the Olympics, Olay partnered with Richardson to release their new Cleansing Melts—water-activated cleansing pads that serve as a face wash and a toner. Her Olay Glow and Glam Bundle includes the melts, the brand’s Super Serum, and a sunscreen.

Next on the list, we’re requesting a Sha’Carri Richardson press-on collection (hello, it just makes sense!). For now, we’ll be continuing to cheer on the runner as she heads into the Women’s 4×100-meter relay final, and keeping an eye out for more of her beauty faves.