The US Open is underway, and the tennis star Sloane Stephens performed her first match on Monday at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. She’s considered one of a handful of African American girls—Serena Williams, Althea Gibson, Venus Williams, and Coco Gauff—to have gained a Grand Slam title. And although Stephens did not advance to the following spherical this season, she hasn’t let that hinder her from shifting ahead as an all-star each on and off the court docket. Earlier than the match, Stephens introduced the launch of her body-care model Doc & Glo, named after her maternal grandparents—Noel, an OB/GYN, and Gloria, a homemaker, who each taught her handle herself. “Not solely bodily, however mentally,” Sloan Stephens tells Effectively+Good.
The tennis star got here up with the thought for the road through the pandemic when athletes weren’t allowed to clean up within the locker rooms. “I needed to create merchandise that transfer with you—that you would be able to take wherever you go and nonetheless really feel clear and refreshed,” says Stephens. Doc & Glo’s lineup consists of the 3161 Perfume-Free Deodorant ($18), which makes use of enzymes to assist neutralize physique odor, together with the 24/7 Hustle Deodorizing Physique Mist ($22), a hydrating spray with aloe vera and niacinamide to assist refresh your pores and skin.
Each merchandise are housed in reusable packaging within the chartreuse shade of a tennis ball. “I needed to ensure that I used to be creating one thing useful that spoke to the core of my roots and made folks really feel good,” Stephens says.
Earlier than Stephens’ 2024 US Open look, I caught up with the newly minted magnificence entrepreneur, who gave me the lowdown on the wonder practices and self-care ideas that serve her on the court docket and off, forward.
Associated Tales
She’s critical about sunscreen
“Earlier than leaving the home or resort room, I apply sunscreen.” says Stephens. “I do not need ever to be caught with out it,” she says, including that she applies a broad-spectrum SPF a number of instances all through the day. “I am critical about guarding my pores and skin from dangerous UV rays.”
Stephens says that she has just a few sunscreens on rotation for each scenario. She’s a fan of Supergoop’s Matte Sunscreen ($40), which disappears into her pores and skin with out leaving a chalky solid; she favors Barbara Sturm’s Solar Drops ($160) for her face on the court docket; and on humid days, she opts for the oil-free Neutrogena Sport Face Oil-Free Sunscreen ($13). For the remainder of her physique, Stephens likes to make use of Neutrogena Sport Physique Spray SPF 70 ($25), a formulation that permits her easy accessibility to hard-to-reach areas, like her again.
She hates feeling sweaty
Regardless of competing in heat climates, Stephens says she hates feeling scorching or sweaty, so she showers a number of instances a day. In truth, she by no means retains a protecting coiffure in for too lengthy as a result of she would not like her “scalp and hair feeling damp from perspiration,” she says.
Stephens sometimes wears a sew-in weave, however will solely hold that type in for a short while, too. “The wefts forestall me from attending to my scalp, which is usually soggy, and that is simply not a vibe,” she says. Stephens tries to maintain her hair in braids, which makes it simpler for her to scrub her scalp. After an extended day of follow, she blow-dries her braids to soak up moisture. On most days, Stephens says she tries to keep away from utilizing heavy hair merchandise so they do not drip down her face if she sweats. As an alternative, she opts for Ceremonia Guava Go away-In Conditioner ($27), a light-weight cream that moisturizes and softens her hair.
She loves masking as a type of self-care
“I do some form of sheet masks virtually each evening—whether or not eye patches, a full-face sheet masks, a foot masks, or a hand masks—I masks one thing,” Stephens tells me. She likes the broad assortment of masks from Tony Moly and co-signs the Tony Moly Brightening eye masks ($4). “I like that the model has budget-friendly choices as a result of I’m going by way of plenty of them,” she says.
Stephens tries to keep away from utilizing cream masks through the summer time when the heavy texture compounded with sweat could make her “really feel icky” on humid days. Within the evenings, she makes an exception; she cranks up the AC and rubs on the Summer season Fridays Jet Lag Masks ($49) to hydrate and plump her face (particularly after a busy journey schedule). At evening, Stephens will not sleep earlier than placing on a layer of Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks ($24) to forestall her lips from getting dry.
She loves distinction remedy when her physique wants a reset
“I am continually getting massages, as a result of that is par for the course once you’re an athlete,” says Stephens. “However I additionally do different stuff to assist my muscle groups get better after coaching classes or an intense match. Purple and infrared mild remedy are essential instruments that assist me recharge.” Stephens loves her Increased Dose Infrared PEMF ($700) mat, which comes embedded with a layer of crystals to assist heal the physique and allegedly “restore” vitality ranges.
As well as, Stephens not too long ago invested in a scorching sauna and chilly plunge bathtub at her house, which she makes use of day by day. The publicity to warmth acts helps get the blood flowing, whereas the chilly immersion helps cut back irritation. “I really like doing distinction remedy. I really feel so refreshed afterward,” she explains. “It at all times makes my physique really feel extra free and energetic.”
The US Open is underway now by way of September eighth. You possibly can watch alongside on ESPN and you too can comply with Effectively+Good’s ongoing tennis-star protection with our Like a Champion sequence.
Our editors independently choose these merchandise. Making a purchase order by way of our hyperlinks might earn Effectively+Good a fee.
