Suni Lee Swears By This $7 Hair Gel for Nailing the Slicked Back Hair Trend

Jacqueline Saguin

Sun, July 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM UTC

7 min read

what's in my cart suni lee — What's in My Cart With Olympian Suni Lee on behalf of KISS

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How do you like to get ready ahead of a competition? Do you have a specific routine?

o I have a few pre-meet rituals that I do before every competition. I always take a nap, I journal, I do my makeup and take my time (this is something super relaxing for me), and I have someone braid my hair. And I have a little superstition that whoever braids my hair only has one shot!

What are your travel must-haves as you head to Paris?
- Since we are in Paris for so long, I am bringing all of my must-haves to recreate as much of my home environment as possible. I'm bringing a couple sets of my favorite nails, the KISS Salon X-tend nail extensions, which I can do right in my room in the Village. I really love the Gloria and the Pure styles right now. The nails are really lightweight and comfortable, but also durable, and leave my nails looking flawless like I just visited a nail salon! My other travel must-haves include my headphones, laptop, journal, a cozy blanket, and all of my beauty supplies. I'm bringing full sized products so I don't run out of my favorite things, and I'm checking everything just to be safe!

What are some of your favorite affordable skincare or beauty products?

o Got2b glued hair gel is my biggest tip for a slick back hairstyle that stays throughout competition, and it's so affordable. I also love the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Setting Spray and the Batiste Sweat Activated Dry Shampoo. I recently learned that I need to discover all of the beauty favorites at the French pharmacies, so stay tuned if I find anything good!

How do you unwind after a big competition?

o I leave it all out on the competition floor, so after a meet, I am usually exhausted. I like to do dinner with friends, but really I'm just looking to take a nice long nap haha!

What are your must-have health/wellness products that keep you feeling good inside and out while you're competing?

o I like the Calm App for meditation, red light therapy for recovery, and Normatec boots for recovery. I'm also a big fan of cupping and needling, which is like acupuncture but my body responds very well to it.

How do you prioritize your health/wellness outside of training time?

o This past year was one of the toughest on me mentally with the pressure and the desire to make my second Olympic team, my illnesses, and a lot of life changes. I knew I had to take care of my mental health or my physical health would not be where I needed it to be. It may seem counterintuitive, but it's important to take time out of the gym to be your best in the gym. And not only that, but also actively working on my mental health through meditation and journaling.

As a Filipina woman myself, I'd love to know about any AAPI-owned brands/products on your radar.
- I love supporting AAPI brands, especially after seeing the impact I had on the community after Tokyo. Seeing representation is so important, and I think it's equally as important to amplify representation if you have a platform to do so. Some of my favorite beauty brands are AAPI-owned, like KISS. I just became their brand ambassador for their Salon X-tend nails which I love! Also Patrick Ta, Tower 28, Glow Recipe, U Beauty (their plasma lip compound is so good), and Tatcha. I also love Emi Jay, Fly by Jing, Kinn Studio, Material (kitchen stuff is so good!), and wait I could go on and on

What products have your teammates influenced you to buy, or vice versa?

o I've gotten a few of my teammates hooked on Got2b for slick backs, and Hezly has turned me on to a few Summer Fridays products that I love!

Anything else you're currently loving, shopping, or recommending to friends?

o Not a product, but definitely recommending to FaceTime the people you love more often. It means so much to hear their voice and see their face versus getting a text!

In the Celebrity Edition of What's in My Cart, stars reveal the everyday products they're shopping — complemented by expert insights from our editors and analysts when it's something we love, too.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, all eyes are on its greatest athletes . Sunisa Lee, alongside fellow champion Simone Biles , returns to the spotlight with the United States gymnastics team . Suni, who clinched three medals in Tokyo a few years ago, including gold in the all-around, knows the importance of feeling flawless on the competition floor.

In a virtual interview, the 21-year-old gymnast spilled her secret beauty tricks that help keep her makeup and hair intact, from uneven bars to beam. "Getting ready for a competition is my favorite," the Olympian shares. "Beauty has played a really big role in that. It's made me feel so much more confident."

CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR OLYMPIC COVERAGE

Good Housekeeping chatted with Suni — who is partnering with nail brand KISS on their latest campaign — about the routine before her routine, including the product she's introduced to her teammates.

Got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue

"Got2b Glued Hair Gel is my biggest tip for a slick back hairstyle that stays throughout competition, and it's so affordable," Suni says of the under-$10 pick. She's even influenced her teammates to try it.

<p><a href= — Shop Now

Got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue

amazon.com

$7.22

Schwarzkopf

Salon X-tend Press-On Nails in Gloria

Strong, flexible and flawless — all words Suni uses to describe these nails from KISS. "Because we do a lot on our hands, finding something that wouldn't break was important," she adds. "It showcases my individuality and [is great for] wherever my job takes me — on or off the floor."

Infallible Pro Makeup Setting Spray

On the mat, this budget-friendly setting spray from L'Oréal Paris keeps the athlete's makeup on lock. "We're out there competing for hours, so it's super important because I'm sweating!" she explains. "[With it], my makeup never comes off."

Browse GH Expert Picks: 17 Best Setting Sprays for Long-Lasting Makeup

Sweat Activated Dry Shampoo

Throughout all the flips and tricks, Suni's hair stays fresh thanks to Batiste's Sweat Activated Dry Shampoo. It's also one of her favorite affordable finds thanks to its $9 price tag!

Browse GH Expert Picks: 10 Best Dry Shampoos, Tested by Our Labs

The PLASMA Lip Compound

Hailing from AAPI-owned brand U Beauty, this plumping lip gloss has made a fan out of Suni, who dubs it " so good. "She adds: "Seeing representation is so important, and I think it's equally as important to amplify representation if you have a platform to do so."

Meditation App

Suni taps the Calm app for meditation. "It's important to take time out of the gym to be your best in the gym," she says. "And not only that but also actively working on my mental health through meditation and journaling. I had to take care of my mental health or my physical health would not be where I needed it to be."

Jet Lag Mask

" Hezly [Rivera]has turned me on to a few Summer Fridays products that I love!" Suni admits. Great news for frequent travelers: The brand's popular Jet Lag Mask is like a glass of water for parched skin. Add it to your travel kit for a hydrating boost while on the go.

Pocket Blush

Suni credits her clean, dewy flush to Rhode Skin, naming founder Hailey Bieber as her makeup inspiration. The gymnast appreciates her approach to beauty. "She lets her skin shine through," Suni explains. "I just love how natural she is." This pretty pink hue dubbed "piggy" is one of our editor's favorites, too.

Lip Pencil in Wherever Walnut

Armed with the Rhode's Peptide Lip Tint in Toast , Suni says the Makeup Forever Lip Pencil in Wherever Walnut is the perfect lip combination.

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celeb what's in my cart mandy moore — Mandy Moore: Nathan Presley / Illustration: Getty

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