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Welcome toShelf Life, where Olympians are breaking down the beauty routines carrying them through the 2024 Paris Games.
Collage: Bella Geraci; Source Images: Getty Images
Even on a rugby pitch full of women, its easy to spot Ilona Maher.
Maher would rather subvert stereotypes of female rugby players than give in to them.
Mom, that looks really cool.
And given Mahers instant likeability on and off the pitch, its easy to tune in.
Hair
“The dirtier [my hair], the better at times.
I get it braided with a lot of gel just so it can withstand rugby.
You want your hair to stay in whatever style it’s in.
It’s a weird sport we play.
The best feeling is getting a shower and washing your hair after a tournament.
I use Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner.
We are developing a locker room collection getting released around the Olympics [on July 1].
We know exactly what [products] female athletes need.
Medalist also has a rehydrating spray… to refresh [skin].
I wish I could say I have a serious [post-tournament] skin-care routine right now.
I wash my face in the shower and I use La-Roche Posay.
Should I be better at moisturizing?
I use the Bag Balm, which is a Vermont brand, and I love their stuff.
That’s the lotion that I’ve been using recently on my face and body.
I am kind of minimalist in my skin care.
I find products, and if I like them, I just keep going.
I don’t try out new things.
You have to be, supposedly, very manly to play.
I think it’s putting female athletes in a box.
“Lipstick is my way of saying how I feel, how I want to be presented.
The lipstick I wear on the field is Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink.
It stays up to the point where youve got to work to get it off.
My favorite mascara right now is the Tarte Tubing Mascara.
I’ll do my eyebrows with a little [Glossier] Boy Brow or whatnot.
A lot of [players] wear bows in their hair.
It’s not detracting from the athlete that they are.
If you want to play rugby, it’s possible for you to come as you are.
So [makeup] is important for us.
You want to keep it fresh in some sort of way.
For deodorant, I use Secret Outlast.
Your body’s keeping up with you; it’s trying to regulate things.
All these things come with athletics
I like to use Sun Bum [for sun protection].
My teammate gets a big order of it, so she gives me one every time.
I am using a Venus razor [for hair removal between matches].
I just love the feel of them, how they glide.
I don’t even need to use a cream for it.
And my favorite new perfume is Gucci Flora.
It hurtssobadly when you push your nail back.
But if I could wear fake nails all the time, I would.
I do like to have my toes done constantly.
