Ilona Maher has won bronze on the field, gold on TikTok and a place on our lists as imaginary best friends during the Paris Olympics. The funniest woman in Paris (from a funny family; her sister was the inventor of ‘girl dinner’), she strikes us as a girls girl. The kind of woman who’d let you know if your mascara was smudged in the line for the bathroom at a club and let you borrow lipstick. And, while the US women’s rugby team broke Australian hearts with a last-minute bronze medal win against the Australian Women’s Rugby Team, we kind of can’t be mad.
Like many female athletes at this Olympics, she’s showing her love for beauty while competing in the tournament. And she’s proven she’s no gatekeeper when it comes to sharing the beauty products that have made her such an iconic figure on the field.
Maher can be seen shooting up the field on one screen with lip looks ranging from jewel red to poppy shades and muted terracotta tones.
Recently, in an interview with Allure, she revealed there’s more than just a love for beauty behind her statement lip. She sees wearing makeup on the field as a middle finger to gender roles in a sport where women have had to fight for visibility. “I play a sport that is traditionally very masculine,” she told Allure, “You have to be, supposedly, very manly to play. I think that’s putting female athletes in a box. So I wear makeup on the pitch to give a big ‘eff you’ to having to sacrifice my femininity. Even when I wear lipstick or have mascara on, I can still tackle hard, run hard, and be a great rugby player.” She’s got a bronze medal and a legion of fans to prove the point.
Maher is particularly dedicated to a red lip. “Lipstick is my way of saying how I feel, how I want to be presented.” The question on everyone’s lips is, what lipstick formula can withstand a mouth guard and 80 minutes of (sometimes literal) blood, sweat, and tears?
She favours Maybelline New York Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick ($19.99). She told Allure, “It stays to the point where you’ve got to work to get it off.” Maher also mentioned she loves Tarte, Tartellette Tubing Mascara ($43.00) and a little Glossier, Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade ($37.00).
We’re adding them all to the cart.
Ilona Maher’s On The Field Beauty Essentials
01
Maybelline New York Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
$19.99 (usually $23.99) at Chemist Warehouse
Best for: a rugby-proof pout
As Ilona Maher says, this liquid lipstick has staying power; it’s advisable to work it off with a double cleanse. But, if you’re looking for a bold lip that will last you all day, it should be your go-to. We recommend applying the formula straight from the tube for an opaque finish or dabbed on the lips for a “blushed” lip look (we also recommend it on the cheeks as a stain). This is a versatile, affordable buy that’s bronze medallist-endorsed.
Available at:
- $23.99 at Priceline
- $25.20 at Woolworths
- $25.41 at Amazon
02
Tarte, Tartelette Tubing Mascara
from $43.00 at Sephora
Best for: water-resistance
Many makeup artists will tell you that tubing mascaras are actually a better alternative to water-resistant mascaras if you’re anticipating high humidity or sweat and tears. This is because tubing mascaras coat lashes, then slide away, making them easy to touch up, meaning they won’t smudge or stain your under eyes or lids (we’ve all learnt the hard way that most waterproof mascaras are actually water “resistant”).
03
Glossier, Volumizing Eyebrow Gel-Pomade
from $37.00 at MECCA
Best for: A fluffy brow
Glossier Boy Brow is a favourite of no-makeup-makeup girlies. Light, with a stronghold and a natural tint, it’s perfect for adding instant polish. We love the tiny brush for precise application.
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