I Put Simone Biles's Go-To Makeup Routine to the Test
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Simone Biles isn't afraid of standing out. As the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time, the athlete has certainly left her mark on us. Off the mat (and the bars and vault), she also likes to have fun with her makeup. Whether she's competing on the World's biggest stage or just practicing, she seems to enjoy experimenting almost as much as she loves attempting gravity-defying stunts. From fun nail-art designs in red, white, and blue colors to bold, graphic eyeliner looks, and reapplying lip liner between sets, Biles knows a thing or two about beauty. This was proven by the short makeup tutorial she filmed for Vogue a few years back detailing her entire beauty routine.
"For me, the importance of beauty in gymnastics, [it] does not matter what you look like," she said. "It's what you do on the mat. So going into a competition, does makeup make me feel better? Yes, but it's what I do out there on the floor that really, really matters."
I may never be a gold metal-toting gymnast — I still applaud myself for being able to do a cartwheel with straight legs — but I thought it'd be fun to at least channel my inner Simone Biles by trying out her beauty routine for a day. Keep reading to see how it went.
— Additional reporting by Jessica Harrington
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Step 1: Foundation
It's easy to see why the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($40) is not only one of Biles's favorites, but a fan favorite in general. The formula is lightweight, and it applies seamlessly, not to mention that wearing it all day didn't leave my skin with a heavy, greasy feeling.
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Step 2: Eyeshadow
Biles typically has a lot of fun with her eye makeup, which is probably why it was nothing for her to invest in a heavy-hitting eyeshadow palette like the Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V: Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow Palette ($128). In her Vogue tutorial, she applies the shade Bronze Blaze all over her eyelids. I switched things up a bit and gave myself a base using the dark brown Disobedient before adding the same bronze color that Biles used to half of my lids.
My favorite thing about this palette is that the colors are so pigmented, and a little product — especially in the case of the metallic shades — really goes a long way.
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Step 3: Eyeliner
After finishing her eyeshadow, she goes in with the Fenty Beauty Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner ($24). I've tried a lot of liquid eyeliners in my day, and if I had to rank them all, this one would definitely be near the top of the list. The tip of the pen is extra sharp and gave me a wing that was so pointed and precise that I didn't even have to correct it with my fingertip after.
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Step 4: Mascara
I'll never pass on an opportunity to stan the now-discontinued Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara. It's one of the only mascaras that doesn't clump my already curly lashes together when I apply it, and it's a go-to if you want to lengthen your lashes and give them an effect that almost mimics that of an eyelash extension.
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Step 5: Blush
Biles actually mixes two of the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Sticks ($48) together before applying it to create a custom color, but since I already don't trust myself with blush, I went in with the shade Poppet. It's a deep pink that applies super easily and didn't leave me with an overly flushed look.
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Step 6: Lip Balm
The Carmex Classic Lip Balm Medicated Tube ($3) is a tried-and-true lip product that makes chapped lips practically nonexistent. To give myself just a subtle amount of color, I applied this one over a tiny amount of lip stain, and my lips were softer than they'd been in weeks.
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Danielle Jackson was a former assistant editor for PS Beauty.
Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.