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When I hear the word "Olympian," I imagine something abstract: an optimized superhuman with lungs that never empty, legs blurry at super-speed, and a wingspan as broad as a prehistoric creature. This is, obviously, my brain making gods of men. Every two years, I'm reminded that these athletes are as human as any of us — just with their athletic ability, commitment to their sport, and drive to triumph cranked up to infinity. If there's one Olympian that exemplifies a balanced blend of astounding skill and relatable human tendencies, it is snowboarder Chloe Kim.
The California native and star of P&G's Always There campaign is the first woman to win two Olympic gold medals in the snowboarding halfpipe event: her first at 17 years old in 2018, and her second earlier this season at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. But while the 21-year-old might be one of the best snowboarders in history, she dreads waking up as much as us mere mortals do.
Skin-Care Tips From a Cold-Weather Champ
"I'm actually horrible in the morning," she admits on our phone call. "I will stay in bed as long as I can, and then I will get up and pretty much just do everything I need to feel good about myself." Those feel-good tasks involve some winterized skin care, yet another habit that brings Kim right back down to Earth.
"I have pretty dry skin, so I like to just slather my face with thick moisturizer," Kim says, noting that uses heavier night creams, even during the day. Kim used this trick at the 2018 Olympic Games to protect her skin from the elements, along with another protective necessity: "The important thing is I have to wear sunscreen because I get really bad goggle tan. I still do, but sunscreen makes it much better."
Considering the harsh conditions that athletes like Kim experience while training and competing, any sunscreen recommendation from her mouth carries quite a bit of extra weight. (Plus, Olay's famed Regenerist Night Recovery Cream has been an Allure favorite for years.)
How She Got Her Signature Blonde Hair Color
Kim's hair, though, is arguably her most recognizable feature. Bits of blonde can usually be seen peeking out of her helmet in two long wisps (a look that is well-known in the snowboarding community, which Kim is actively trying to rebrand as "beauty strands.")
"I've been going to my colorist, Lydia Kim, for a very long time — probably eight years now. She's been super amazing," gushes Kim, reiterating how skilled her colorist is when it comes to lifting color. "I highly recommend seeing her, because she [was able to get] my black Asian hair to a pretty blonde."
Kim notes that her strands require a lot of upkeep to both keep them looking healthy and preserve the color. This includes "a super-moisturizing shampoo rinsed out with warm water" followed by a healthy handful of conditioner she leaves in for the rest of her shower before rinsing with cold water. Her go-to combo: Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner.
Kim's signature blonde was actually — as many beauty looks are — a happy accident. "I wanted pink hair at age 14 or 15, and you have to bleach it to blonde before you put the pink color in," explains Kim. "I've tried pink, blue, purple, and a really pretty teal. Eventually, I really liked how my hair looked when [the colors] would wash out. So I told my colorist, 'I've had my fun, but now, I just want a pretty blonde.'"
Now, Kim's colorist shifts the tone of the athlete's shade depending on the seasons: "a warmer blonde in the summer, and a cooler, ashy blonde during the winters," Kim specifies.
A Lash Tech in Every Port
When it comes to her makeup, though, the snowboarder takes a break from the tricks — it's all about the speed. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is her complexion staple, while professionally-applied faux lashes have streamlined her morning routine.
"My eyelash extensions have been a lifesaver; they're way more convenient. I'm just someone that doesn't like spending too much time on just getting myself ready for the day. I'd rather just go out and feel fine [with my look], and thanks to my lashes, I've been able to achieve that." Though she's got a go-to licensed cosmetologist at home in Ocean County ("her name's Clarissa, she's amazing!") Kim doesn't let her busy travel schedule get in the way of her faux fringe. A beauty girl through and through, she's got a lash tech in every port.
"I have a couple people that I go to on the road. I have some people in Switzerland, I have some people in Colorado. I've set myself up so that I can always have fresh lashes. Couldn't find anyone in China, but that's okay," she notes about her time at the most recent games in Beijing. ”We couldn't even leave the village."
Self-Care in the Olympic Bubble
This year's events were games of isolation thanks to pandemic-related restrictions, and the solitude wasn't always easy for Kim — or the near 3,000 other athletes competing. While past games offered the opportunity to socialize with other Olympians and explore the host city, restrictive measures to prevent the spread of yet another strain of COVID relegated the athletes to virus-safe spaces.
"This time, we weren't allowed to leave the bubble," says Kim, comparing this year's events to the pre-pandemic freedom of South Korea's 2018 games, where she scored her first gold medal. "[At the start of these games] we had five days of doing nothing, and everyone was going a little crazy," she explains. "This year, everyone was kind of keeping to themselves." To stay busy, she spent time watching events and dining with her team, especially the "the guys" of Team USA. "I think everyone was just kind of stressed out," she admits. "It was a pretty stressful Olympics, just not having your family or friends there how it's supposed to be."
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Quality time with loved ones has been a priority for Kim lately and honoring her free time and voicing her needs has been pivotal for her mental health. "As long as I'm just doing everything I want to, I feel pretty happy. If I want to go out to eat or hang out with friends, just giving myself that independence has been really helpful for my self-care routine," she says. "I love taking a good bath…but just having conversations has been really nice: I'm talking to my parents and friends on the phone, going over the day with my coach, and meeting with my physical therapist. Being more open about how I'm feeling has been great for me, just so that everyone knows how they could support me best."
When you're performing some of the most skillful — and perilous — snowboarding tricks in history, there can never be too much support from the sidelines. But it seems like the most comforting voice Kim's got cheering her on is her own.
"I think [the adrenaline] is something I've gotten used to. Because I've snowboarded for so long, it just translates to fun and excitement," says Kim. "Sometimes, the adrenaline gets a little overwhelming, but I just use that as strength and motivation. I think I only feel it now when I'm trying something new — and I love that feeling."
Read more about our favorite athletes here:
- Simone Biles Got Engaged in the Chicest White Manicure
- Naomi Osaka Wants to Win More Than Anyone Else
- Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris Reveal Their Go-To Beauty Products
Now, watch an Olympic figure skater's beauty routine:
