Teaming up with Olay on its most recent skin care launch was a no-brainer for two-time Olympic medalist Laurie Hernandez. As the former gymnast tells us in an exclusive interview, she had already been using one of the beauty giant’s products when the opportunity rolled around. “Before even partnering with Olay, I was using their vitamin C moisturizer just in general. And I noticed that after using vitamin C, my skin feels like it’s woken up,” she says, adding that it leaves her skin with a glow and freshness to it. “When they reached out, I was like, ‘Wait a second, I use this [moisturizer] already,’ and it felt like the perfect match.”
The $10 Cleansing Melts, which launched earlier this year, have quickly become a staple in the retired gymnast’s skin care routine. They are sold in a pack of 32 and are the brand’s “first-ever dissolving water-activated facial cleanser,” according to Olay’s site. The dissolvable cleansing pads are available in three different versions, each infused with a different bonus ingredient: hyaluronic acid, retinol or vitamin C.
After years of struggling with her skin as a professional athlete and as a teenager, the 24-year-old currently relies on just three tried-and-true products — a cleanser, a serum and a moisturizer — to keep her skin clear and glowy. And while Hernandez notes that the Cleansing Melts aren’t specifically for travel, she shares that they’re perfectly suited for taking on trips, thanks to their small size.
Olay partnership aside, Hernandez will be offering up her commentary from the Paris Olympics as an NBC correspondent for women’s gymnastics. She also shares that she recently wrapped up her sophomore year at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she’s currently a drama major. “A lot of people have been quite shocked that I wanted to get into acting, but [my] inner circle knew,” she says, adding that if you’d asked them a decade ago, they would have said she was going into acting.
Ahead, Hernandez shares her favorite beauty and wellness essentials with CNN Underscored.
When it comes to workout clothing, Hernandez, who is a part of Nike's Athlete Think Tank, loves to pair her Nike biker shorts with an adjustable sports bra. This non-padded one, designed for high-impact activities, is made from a sweat-wicking material to keep you dry and comfortable during your workouts. It also has an extended hook-and-loop closure on its bottom band so you can customize your fit.
As part of her current skin care routine, Hernandez uses Olay’s newest cleanser, along with the brand's serum and moisturizer. The travel-friendly dissolving pads come in a 32-pack and are formulated to gently clean your skin and leave your face feeling fresh.
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Hernandez likes to use a foam roller to stretch out her back and hips, especially after a long day of walking. The roller she uses, which is this medium-density one from Rollga, is designed with grooves to help you avoid injuries while rolling. “It has these dents in it that you put your spine in and every time I roll out my back it just cracks like a Rice Krispies Treat,” she says.
To unwind at the end of the day, Hernandez grabs her Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. Designed with a 6.8-inch display, the lightweight reading device has 16GB of storage so you can store all your favorite books on it, a glare-free screen and a battery life of up to 10 weeks. As for what’s on her reading list, Hernandez shares she’s been making her way through the popular “Throne of Glass” series.
If there’s one eyeliner that Hernandez loves, it’s this waterproof one from Stila. The long-wearing liner is quick drying and easy to use, and it doesn’t smudge or pull on your skin. “It's got a felt tip, which rocks, and it's so sharp that if you want that nice and sleek cat-eye, I've noticed that has been the perfect one to do it for me — and it stays all day, which is great,” she says.
Hernandez is a fan of the Fenty Beauty Match Stix Contour Skinstick. “That one's been a really good one, especially because they have so many shades and I feel like my skin tone varies so much the more I get tan,” she says. The contour sticks are available in nine different shades, ranging from Soft Amber to Caviar, and the cream-to-powder formula has a matte finish.
Stretching before bed is a must for Hernandez, who singles out this reversible, lightweight yoga mat from Nike. She’s a fan of its thin design, which she says provides her with just the right amount of cushion so she doesn’t feel like she’s directly on the floor.
In Hernandez’s toiletry bag, you can expect to find this Secret antiperspirant, among her other items. The PH-balancing product offers up to 48 hours of odor protection and goes on clear, so you don’t have to worry about white marks on your clothes.
Hernandez is a huge fan of Nike’s Pegasus Trail 4 Gore-Tex Sneakers. Designed for trail running and hiking, the shoes have a lightweight design and foam midsoles for comfort. They also have ankle gaiters, which Hernandez loves as someone who hates having her ankles exposed during hikes. “It’s been kind of hard to find a good trail shoe, but that one's good,” Hernandez says. “And if I do want to go for runs, those are also great running shoes for me.”
For concealer, Hernandez likes using this Nars one, which is “creamy without being cakey,” she says. Designed to give skin a natural finish, the product offers moderate coverage and is available in over 30 shades.
One of Hernandez’s favorite lip pencils is this one from MAC in the color Soar. To create a quick and easy lip look, Hernandez applies a bit of ChapStick, lines her lips with the pencil and then mixes them together.