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Suni Lee’s Beauty Evolution: Insider Secrets from Olympics to Influencer

Olympic medalist Suni Lee reveals her skincare, makeup favorites, wellness rituals, and the unique confidence behind her beauty journey in and beyond gymnastics.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 30, 2025

Olympic medalist Suni Lee reveals her skincare, makeup favorites, wellness rituals, and the unique confidence behind her beauty journey in and beyond gymnastics.

Suni Lee’s Beauty Evolution After the Paris Olympics

There are few American athletes whose impact reverberates so strongly in both the sporting and lifestyle worlds as Suni Lee. Since winning bronze in the all-around and uneven bars at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lee’s life and career have pivoted in dramatic, exciting ways—from transitioning out of elite gymnastics and moving from her hometown of Saint Paul, Minnesota to bustling New York City, to embracing the frontlines of fashion and making her modeling debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Yet one passion remains constant: her devotion to beauty—in all its forms, from daily routines to collaborations with iconic brands.

Cosmopolitan interview, 2025: Lee opened up about post-Olympic life, mental wellness, and her honest approach to makeup and skincare.
Major life transitions: Moving cities, stepping beyond competitive gymnastics, and entering fashion and beauty spheres with confidence.
Beauty routines: Championing affordable, effective routines, and embracing her sensitive skin’s needs.

From Gold Medals to GRWM: Suni Lee as Beauty Influencer

At 22, Suni Lee is not just an Olympian—she is a rising beauty influencer. Her Instagram and TikTok are filled with Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos and brand partnerships, including Tatcha, Make Up For Ever, Laneige, Ole Henriksen, and more. Lee represents a refreshing blend of high-performance athlete and relatable beauty muse, sharing routines that feature both luxury and drugstore finds.

Brand partnerships: Tatcha, Make Up For Ever, Laneige, Ole Henriksen.
Drugstore devotion: Most of Lee’s everyday makeup staples are affordable and accessible.
Beauty routines feature: Step-by-step tutorials, product breakdowns, and candid reviews.

Top Drugstore Makeup Staples Suni Lee Swears By

Suni Lee’s signature beauty look—from extra-long lashes to vibrant lips—owes as much to affordable drugstore heroes as it does to pro-grade brands. She insists that chic, lasting glam is possible for everyone, not just those who splurge on hyped-up TikTok products.

Maybelline (Mascara): For dramatic, sweatproof lashes that hold up under lights or on the mat.
L’Oreal (Lipsticks): Versatile hues for day-to-night looks.
NYX (Eyebrow gels/pencils): Bold, defined brows with minimal fuss.
e.l.f. (Concealer, primer): Budget-friendly yet pro-grade coverage and longevity.
KISS (Nail extensions): Reliable press-ons to ensure a perfect manicure even in transit.

“Just because something is super expensive, people think that it’s automatically a good product and that they need it,” says Lee. “But I’m like, ‘No, you can buy this at Target. Go to CVS—it’s right there.'”

Below is a quick comparison of a few products in Suni Lee’s kit:

Product	Brand	Why Suni Loves It
Mascara	Maybelline	Holds up to sweat, accentuates eyes
Lipstick	L’Oreal	Versatile colors and all-day wear
Eyebrow Pencil	NYX	Natural definition, stays put
Concealer	e.l.f.	Affordable, covers blemishes
Nail Extensions	KISS	Quick and polished nails anytime

Why Suni Lee Prefers Simple, Sensitive-Skin Skincare

For all her love of makeup, Suni’s sensitive skin means her skincare routine is low-key and deliberate. She avoids facials, which she finds too harsh—”Every time I come out of a facial, I look amazing. My skin’s glowing. And then, a couple days after, I have pimples everywhere. I’m like, What’s going on?” Instead, Lee relies on gentler practices and masks that soothe and hydrate.

Collagen masks: Especially obsessed with salmon DNA-based ones for deep nourishment and glow.
Gua sha routine: Lee performs depuffing facial massage, especially before major events, for calm and clarity.
Minimalist approach: Skincare products are chosen carefully to avoid irritation; the focus is always comfort and radiance over complexity.

Suni’s Go-To Routine for Major Events

Before big moments, Lee relies on a tried-and-true sequence:

Prepping with gua sha—depuffing and sculpting facial features.
Applying collagen mask—for that extra boost of hydration and glow.
Rest—Prioritizing sleep to help her skin reset.
Morning cleanse—Gentle face wash to remove overnight products.
Professional glam—Letting makeup artists enhance her natural features on site, so she can focus on the event.

This approach allows Lee to look and feel radiant—while minimizing breakouts and post-event skin fatigue.

Confidence, Mental Health, and Representation: Beyond Beauty

For Suni Lee, beauty and self-care go much deeper than the surface. Years of high-stakes competition have taught her the importance of mental wellness, rituals, and confidence. Self-care routines—whether that’s journaling, treating herself to a manicure, or putting on a facemask after a tough day—form the backbone of her stress management.

Self-care as mental health: “Beauty and self-care are little happy moments we can give ourselves throughout the day.”
Relaxation rituals: Journaling, solo walks, favorite series binge.
Community and representation: Lee takes pride in her Hmong heritage and strives to represent her community wherever she goes.”It’s important for young girls to see people who look like them represented across all arenas.”
Inspiring the next generation: Empowering women and advocating for rare diseases and mental health causes.

Suni Lee: Embracing Fashion and New York Life

Relocating to NYC marked not only a physical move for Lee but an embrace of the fashion world. Sitting front-row at Tommy Hilfiger and Off-White at New York Fashion Week and taking on modeling gigs like Sports Illustrated signal her transition from sports star to multidimensional style icon. Her street style, red carpet looks, and candid on-the-go ensembles showcase a sophisticated blend of sportiness and chic.

Modeling debut: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, 2025
Fashion week highlights: Attending top runway shows as a style muse
Personal style: Balance between athletic comfort and city glamour

Debunking Beauty Myths: Lee’s Honest Advice

With an influencer’s reach and athlete’s discipline, Lee’s advice centers on authenticity and the dangers of hype:

Quality over price: Don’t assume only expensive products deliver results; experiment with what works for you.
Avoiding the hype: Lee selectively tries trending products, but loyalty lies with what feels good and performs consistently.
Drugstore glamour: A high-impact look is achievable with everyday essentials—no gatekeeping.
Routine customization: Curate your beauty rituals around skin type, lifestyle, and self-care needs.

Her message is clear: “Just because something is super expensive doesn’t make it the best. Find what actually works for you.”

Pop Culture, Inspiration, and Lee’s Influences

From her teammates to celebrity icons, Lee finds inspiration in a range of figures.

Teammates: Her Olympic and Minnesota companions are ongoing sources of encouragement and style tips.
Hailey Bieber: Lee admires Bieber’s “playful colors and trends,” and her ability to let natural skin shine.
Shows and social media: Lee keeps up with popular series and viral moments, integrating trends that catch her eye—without losing her own flair.

These influences shape both her approach to beauty and her outward confidence, resulting in a style that is uniquely her own.

Representation in Sports and Beauty

Lee is candid about the importance of visibility in both athletics and the beauty world. As one of the most decorated American gymnasts, and a proud member of the Hmong community, Suni uses her platform to promote diversity.

Championing diversity: “We can always be pushing for more diversity, demanding it even.”
Women’s leadership: Lee advocates for seeing women in varied, powerful roles—athletes, business professionals, creatives, mothers.
Role-model status: “It makes you think, ‘Oh, she’s like me and I can do that, too.’”

Suni’s impact goes far beyond her routines or viral beauty posts—she models a path for young women that is as strong in heart as it is in skill.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Suni Lee’s everyday makeup look?

A: Suni opts for a simple routine with Maybelline mascara, NYX brow pencil, e.l.f. concealer, and KISS press-ons—favoring affordable, lasting products over luxury.

Q: How does Suni Lee care for her sensitive skin?

A: She avoids facials and instead uses salmon DNA collagen masks and a gua sha massage to keep skin hydrated and glowing without irritation.

Q: What brands does Suni Lee partner with?

A: Lee works with Tatcha, Make Up For Ever, Laneige, Ole Henriksen, in addition to her favorite drugstore brands like Maybelline, NYX, and KISS.

Q: Why is representation important to Suni Lee?

A: Lee hopes her visibility encourages young women—especially those from minority communities—to see themselves in leadership, sport, and fashion.

Q: What’s her favorite ‘good-luck’ color?

A: Suni often refers to a particular nail color as her ‘good luck charm’—a superstition she incorporates into major competitions.

Suni Lee’s Legacy: More Than Medals, More Than Makeup

Suni Lee embodies the new era of athlete-influencer: authentic, self-aware, glamorous without ever losing sight of her roots and purpose. Her beauty journey—blending drugstore finds, wellness rituals, and her drive for representation—is a template for the next generation. Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast, an aspiring athlete, or just looking for confidence tips, Lee’s routines and insights offer inspiration for finding your own glow—inside and out.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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