As a professional swimmer – and double Olympian – Lauren Boyle spends more time than most of us in the pool, so she knows a thing or two about protecting her skin and hair from the effects of sun and chlorine. In the interests of summer pool party prep, we quizzed the talented Kiwi on her best poolside beauty tips.

You must spend a lot of time in heavily chlorinated pools. How do you keep your hair from going green?
Yes, too many hours. Sometimes five hours a day! Being brunette, that “oh no” green tinge doesn’t show up so much. I wash my hair two to three times per week using Bio Oil as an oil treatment so the chlorinated water is repelled from my hair cuticles.

Likewise with your skin. What are your tips for keeping your skin hydrated when you’re swimming regularly?
I find mixing an oil such as Bio Oil, Alpha Keri, or even baby oil with a traditional aloe vera based moisturiser is good. Applying both while still slightly wet after a shower really helps my skin recover.

What’s your personal philosophy around sunscreen? What type do you find most effective for water sports?
Teammates have called me the “suncreen queen” because they know I’ll be wearing it – even if it’s raining (always the possibility the sun could peep through!). I do all my training outdoors now on the Gold Coast so I focus on UV protection. My thinking about sunscreen is: wear it all the time, every day, whatever you are doing. My main issue with my skin as a professional swimmer is being exposed to the sun – it’s not easy. In the past my teammates have given me a bit of grief for looking ghostly. But now I use Garnier Ambre Solaire Clear Protect SPF 50. It goes on clear and actually moisturises at the same time. I’m pretty grateful for that invention. It makes me look more tanned than white.

What are your tips for wearing makeup poolside?
If I choose to wear make up I usually go very natural with the goal of minor enhancements. I use a waterproof mascara (Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils) and bareMinerals Loose Powder as a foundation. You can use a blush as a really good way to make your face pop without looking too made up. 

Which products can always be found in your gym bag?
Travel light I say. Some athletes carry the store around. I’ll always have that Garnier Ambre Solaire Clear Protect SPF 50, a favourite tee, a hairbrush, spare hair ties and some kind of skin oil like Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil. Maybe my perfume, Juliana Parfums Co. Waiheke Dreams Eau De Parfum or deodorant too if my training partners are lucky!

Lauren is currently supporting both Water Safety New Zealand and Garnier Ambre Solaire in the Save Our School Pools campaign, a partnership which has already led to six school pools remaining open this summer through additional funding. To find out more about the campaign, visit Water Safety New Zealand.