Inside Suni Lee’s Beauty Routine for the 2024 Paris Olympics

There are two kinds of Olympic prep: the kind where you train until your grips become part of your personality… and the kind where you figure out how to keep your lip gloss in place while doing a release move on uneven bars. In Paris 2024, gymnast Suni Lee proved you can do bothmedaling while serving a glam look that’s equal parts practical, travel-friendly, and “yes, I absolutely planned this.”

What makes Suni’s routine so interesting isn’t that it’s expensive or complicated. It’s that it’s strategic. Every product has a job: keep hair locked down, keep skin calm, keep makeup from transferring when gravity gets petty, and keep nails cute without sabotaging her grip. It’s “look good, feel good,” but with the stakes set to “global television.”

Why a Gymnast’s Beauty Routine Is Basically a Performance Tool

If you’ve ever tried to keep a ponytail from loosening during a jog, you already understand the challenge. Now imagine sprinting into a vault, flipping, landing, and then smiling like you didn’t just argue with physics.

For gymnasts, beauty routines aren’t just about aestheticsthey’re about consistency and confidence. Suni has talked about being superstitious and liking routines, including doing her own competition makeup. That tracks: when your sport is built on repetition, your prep becomes part of your mental warm-up. Do the same steps, in the same order, and your brain gets the message: it’s go time.

In Paris, her routine also had to survive real-world constraints: travel, long competition days, limited touch-up time, and the fact that mascara has a personal vendetta against emotional people (and yes, Suni has openly said she can get teary). The result is a routine that’s surprisingly relatableeven if your “big routine” is a job interview instead of an Olympic final.

The Paris-Proof Breakdown: Hair, Skin, Makeup, Nails, and the “Athlete Extras”

1) Hair: “If It Moves, It’s a Distraction.”

Suni’s competition hair is a masterclass in controlled chaos: slicked-back braids, tight styling, and products designed to keep everything pinned exactly where it belongs. She’s been into cleaner, more mature braided looks (compared to the side braid era), partly because it frames her face nicely with high-collared leotardsand partly because loose strands are the enemy of focus.

The hero product: a strong-hold styling glue/wax-y gel vibe from the Got2b family that keeps baby hairs down and hair locked in place. The trade-off? It can be hard to wash out. Suni’s workaround is simple: double-wash at night with a quality shampoo so she can start the next day with a clean slate (and not feel like her scalp is wearing a helmet).

Her travel reality: When you’re moving between practice, media, and competition, hair-wash days become a scheduling puzzle. Suni has mentioned bringing dry shampoo options for in-between days and leaning into hair-health habits like washing less often, using masks, and avoiding excess heat styling when possible.

Steal the idea: If you need hair that survives humidity, commuting, or a long workday, think in layersslick product + hold product + a plan to remove it. The routine isn’t “apply everything forever.” It’s “apply for performance, then reset.”

2) Skincare: “Less Is More” (Especially When You Have Sensitive Skin)

Suni has described having sensitive skin and leaning away from overly complicated routines. That’s refreshingly sane. Because yes, the internet will happily sell you a 14-step routine. And yes, your skin can absolutely respond by throwing a tantrum.

Her approach tends to revolve around:

• Double cleansing (balm first, then a cleanser) to remove sunscreen, sweat, and makeup thoroughly.
• Targeted serums (think vitamin C in the day, hydration at night).
• Moisturizer to lock everything in.
• Sunscreen as a non-negotiableespecially in summer travel mode.
• Hydrating masks and “viral” collagen-style masks when she wants extra glow without irritating her skin.

Suni has also talked about not loving facials because they can make her break out afterward. Instead, she prefers doing prep herself: a depuffing routine (like gua sha) and a hydrating/collagen mask the night before a big event. That’s a very “I know what my skin does, and I refuse to be surprised” kind of wisdom.

Steal the idea: If your skin gets cranky with too many actives, copy the athlete mindset: don’t overhaul your routine right before a big day. Keep it steady, soothing, and predictable.

3) Makeup: Long-Wear, Low-Drama, No Regrets

Suni’s competition makeup is built around one principle: it should stay put even if something goes wrong. Not because she’s pessimisticbecause she’s a pro. If you miss a turn, hit the mat, or sweat through warm-ups, the last thing you want is to worry about makeup transfer. So she focuses on locking everything in.

What she skips (for a very human reason): eyeliner and mascara. Suni has said she’s emotional and doesn’t want tears streaming down her face mid-competition. Instead, she leans into lash extensions and brings easy lash touch-ups for travel days when fills aren’t possible.

Setting spray is her security blanket. She’s mentioned using a long-wear setting mist (including an accessible drugstore option) specifically to help makeup last and reduce transfer.

The “Suni signature” lip look: fans noticed her lips in Paris and wanted detailsbecause of course they did. Her competition lip strategy has leaned heavily on lip liner + gloss, often using two liners to create dimension (darker on the outside, lighter inside), then finishing with a hydrating gloss or peptide lip treatment. It’s not only prettyit’s practical. Liner holds shape longer than many lipsticks, and gloss can be refreshed fast without a full mirror-and-brush situation.

Blush and brows matter. In interviews, she’s shouted out specific blush favorites and brow products, but the broader lesson is that she builds a look around features that read well under bright lights and cameras: lifted cheeks, defined brows, and a polished base that doesn’t slide around.

Steal the idea: For “big day” makeup, prioritize what lasts: liner over lipstick, setting mist over hope, and a routine you can do consistently under time pressure.

4) Nails + Pedicure: Cute, Clean, and Surprisingly Tactical

Let’s talk about the detail that made beauty editors (and regular humans) collectively pause: Suni’s nails during competition. If you’re thinking, “How does she not break a nail?” you’re not alonepeople have been asking that since Tokyo.

In Paris 2024, her manicure leaned into the classic: a French vibe that looks polished without competing with the leotard designs. She has also been associated with at-home gel extension systems that travel well and can last around two weeksan athlete-friendly option when you can’t exactly pop into your usual salon between podium training and finals.

The pedicure twist: Suni has discussed keeping toes neutral instead of bright white because a coach pointed out something brutally logical: white toes can make it easier for judges to see when your toes are “off” on beam. In other words: beauty can be adorable, but points are forever.

Steal the idea: If you love a bold nail moment, keep it on hands and go neutral on toes for a more streamlined lookespecially if you’re wearing open-toe shoes a lot or want your overall style to feel “clean.”

5) Body, Recovery, and the “Not Really Beauty but Totally Beauty” Category

Elite gymnastics is rough on the body, so Suni’s routine includes the stuff that helps her feel physically okaybecause feeling okay makes everything look better too.

• Self-tan before competition (because leotards + tan is a classic stage-and-camera combo).
• Moisturizing body oil used strategically (often the night before rather than the morning of, so she doesn’t feel slippery during routines).
• Hand care for rips and blistersincluding an old-school balm athletes swear by to help numb and heal skin damage from bars and chalk.
• Hydration helpers like healing ointments to stay moisturized (especially while traveling).
• Fragrance because why not feel like a main character when you’re literally in Paris?

There’s also a quiet takeaway here: Suni’s routine isn’t just “beauty.” It’s maintenance. It’s recovery. It’s comfort. And it’s the kind of self-care that makes sense when your hands are your equipment and your skin is constantly battling chalk, sweat, and tape.

Suni’s Paris Olympics Routine, Simplified Into a Copy-Friendly Checklist

If you want the “athlete glam” vibe without turning your bathroom into a backstage trailer, here’s a streamlined version inspired by what Suni has shared publicly:

Morning (Training/Competition Day)

• Gentle cleanse (or rinse if your skin is sensitive)
• Light serum (vitamin C or hydration)
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen (non-negotiable)
• Hydrating lip balm or lip mask
• Hair: slick + hold + secure
• Makeup: brows, blush, liner/gloss combo, setting spray
• Pack touch-ups: gloss, liner, blotting option, mini setting spray

Night (Reset + Repair)

• Double cleanse (especially if you wore sunscreen/makeup)
• Hydration serum
• Moisturizer
• Lip mask
• Hair reset: wash out heavy hold products thoroughly
• Hands: balm/ointment on rips, optional glove “treatment” overnight
• Optional: depuff routine + hydrating/collagen mask before a big day

How to Make This Routine Work in Real Life (No Medals Required)

Most of us aren’t doing tumbling passes under stadium lights. But we are dealing with long days, stress, heat, travel, and moments where we need to look pulled together on short notice.

Here’s how to adapt the “Suni strategy”:

• Pick one hero for hold (hair gel/spray) and one hero for lock-in (setting spray).
• Keep skincare boring on important days: cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen.
• Do the makeup you can repeat when you’re tired. If you can’t recreate it on a rushed morning, it’s not your routineit’s a hobby.
• Travel smart: mini sizes, decants, and “touch-up first aid” (lip product, ointment, blotting).
• Let your routine calm you down. If doing your makeup feels like therapy, that’s not shallowthat’s regulation.

FAQ: The Questions Everyone Secretly Has (and Some People Loudly Ask)

Can you really compete with long nails?

Some athletes canespecially if they’re used to it and choose shapes/lengths that don’t interfere with grip or hand placement. Suni has worn nails for years, so it’s part of her normal. If you’re new to nails, start shorter. Nobody needs an accidental “claw incident” while opening a protein bar.

Why so much emphasis on setting spray?

Because it’s the difference between “my makeup looks great” and “my makeup looks great after I’ve been sweating, hugging people, and living.” Setting mist is a durability tool, not a vanity item.

What’s the biggest lesson from Suni’s routine?

Make it functional. Her products aren’t random. They solve specific problems: hair movement, makeup transfer, skin sensitivity, travel limitations, and recovery needs. The glamour is realbut it’s built on practicality.

Extra 500-Word “Experience” Section: What It’s Like to Build a Competition-Proof Beauty Routine

Even if you never plan to set foot on a balance beam (and honestly, good for your ankles), borrowing an Olympian-inspired routine can teach you a lot about how beauty fits into a high-pressure day. People who try a “performance routine” for the first time usually have a few common experiencessome empowering, some hilarious, and all very human.

First experience: you realize your routine has weak links. The moment you swap your usual “cute but optimistic” hair product for a serious hold gel, you learn what real staying power feels like. Your hair doesn’t move. Your confidence doesn’t either. But then the second half of the experience hits: you also learn you need a removal plan. Strong hold without a proper wash routine is like using industrial-strength tape for a poster. It works… and then you pay for your choices later.

Second experience: “less is more” becomes a relief, not a slogan. When you stop trying to use every trending serum and instead stick to cleanse + moisturize + sunscreen, your skin often feels calmer. The routine becomes faster, and you’re less tempted to experiment on a day you really need your face to behave. If you’ve ever broken out before a big event because you tried a “miracle product” the night before, you already know why athletes avoid last-minute changes.

Third experience: touch-ups become smarter. A competition-style routine teaches you to pack for reality. You don’t need your entire makeup bag; you need the three things that fail first. For most people, that’s lips, shine, and under-eye/face freshness. A liner-and-gloss combo makes sense because you can refresh it fast. A small ointment or balm makes sense because travel and air conditioning are dehydrating. A blotting option makes sense because your forehead will absolutely try to audition for a spotlight.

Fourth experience: you start respecting “routine” as mental prep. There’s something grounding about repeating the same steps in the same order. It’s not about being rigidit’s about creating a familiar path your brain can follow when you’re nervous. Whether your “Paris Olympics” is a presentation, a date, a wedding, or your first day at a new job, a consistent routine can flip a switch from anxious to focused.

Fifth experience: you laugh at how serious you feel. The first time you set your makeup with the intensity of a person preparing for live television, you may catch your reflection and think, “Who am I?” (Answer: someone who would like their eyeliner to remain on their face, thank you.) There’s joy in that. Beauty doesn’t have to be shallow to be fun. It can be playful, strategic, and comforting at the same time.

That’s the real magic of Suni Lee’s Paris-era beauty routine: it isn’t a random list of products. It’s a system. It’s built for performance, recovery, confidence, and the small rituals that make a huge day feel manageable. If you copy anything, copy that mindsetand keep your toes neutral if you’re ever walking a “beam” in heels.

Conclusion: The Real Secret Isn’t a ProductIt’s the Strategy

Suni Lee’s 2024 Paris Olympics beauty routine shows what happens when glam meets logic. Strong-hold hair, simplified skincare, transfer-resistant makeup, nails that travel well, and recovery-focused body care: it’s all designed to support performance and confidence under pressure. Whether you’re training for a competition or just trying to survive a long day looking like yourself, the lesson is the samebuild a routine that works, then let it work for you.