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 one in all a handful of African American girls—Serena Williams, Althea Gibson, Venus Williams, and Coco Gauff—to have received a Grand Slam title. And although Stephens didn’t advance to the subsequent 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 how one can deal with 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—which you can 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 make it possible for I used to be creating one thing practical 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 sweetness practices and self-care suggestions that serve her on the court docket and off, forward.
She’s severe about sunscreen
“Earlier than leaving the home or lodge room, I apply sunscreen.” says Stephens. “I don’t need ever to be caught with out it,” she says, including that she applies a broad-spectrum SPF a number of occasions all through the day. “I’m severe about guarding my pores and skin from dangerous UV rays.”
Stephens says that she has a number of 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 forged; 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 quick access 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 occasions a day. The truth is, she by no means retains a protecting coiffure in for too lengthy as a result of she doesn’t like her “scalp and hair feeling damp from perspiration,” she says.
Stephens often wears a sew-in weave, however will solely maintain that type in for a short while, too. “The wefts forestall me from attending to my scalp, which is commonly soggy, and that’s 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 a protracted day of observe, she blow-dries her braids to soak up moisture. On most days, Stephens says she tries to keep away from utilizing heavy hair merchandise in order that they don’t drip down her face if she sweats. As a substitute, 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 type of sheet masks nearly 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 extensive 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 a variety of them,” she says.
Stephens tries to avoid utilizing cream masks through the summer season 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 time Fridays Jet Lag Masks ($49) to hydrate and plump her face (particularly after a busy journey schedule). At evening, Stephens received’t 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’m continuously getting massages, as a result of that’s par for the course while you’re an athlete,” says Stephens. “However I additionally do different stuff to assist my muscle groups recuperate after coaching periods or an intense match. Pink and infrared mild remedy are necessary 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” power ranges.
As well as, Stephens just lately invested in a scorching sauna and chilly plunge bathtub at her dwelling, which she makes use of each day. The publicity to warmth acts helps get the blood flowing, whereas the chilly immersion helps scale back irritation. “I like doing distinction remedy. I really feel so refreshed afterward,” she explains. “It all the time makes my physique really feel extra unfastened and energetic.”
The US Open is underway now by way of September eighth. You’ll be able to watch alongside on ESPN and you can even comply with Effectively+Good’s ongoing tennis-star protection with our Like a Champion collection.
