Timo JarvinenStephanie Gilmore, the Aussie pro surfer, virtually lives in saltwater (and on planes), hopping in and out of the waves in Bali; Montauk, N.Y.; and in Biarritz, France, where she just scooped up her fifth ASP Women’s World title. Gilmore, 24, grew up in the incredibly beautiful and sun-drenched Rainbow Bay, on Australia’s Gold Coast, where it is usually around 70 degrees in winter. That means serious sun exposure, year round.
We caught up with her in Montauk to talk sun, surfing, beauty and fitness.
J.E-L.: Congratulations on your fifth world title!
S.G.: Thank you! This year was all about improving my consistency and having fun with my surfing.
J.E-L.: How do you slather up to protect yourself from the sun?
S.G.: I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. It’s so wonderful to be in it every day, to be in the ocean — it’s my office — but the sun is so harsh, especially in Australia. I can go surfing in Hawaii for a day and not be so pedantic about sunscreen, but in Australia, 5 to 10 minutes without sunscreen and you are burning.
J.E-L.: Which products do you use?
S.G.: My skin is pretty sensitive and the saltwater dries it out. Sunscreens can clog your pores, and then, because the saltwater is cleansing your skin anyway, it’s like you are cleansing it twice, stripping it. So first I use Dr. Hauschka Rose Cream. I use it to moisturize; it’s really light. I use a M.A.C. primer, which is SPF 35. Then I use this Ella Bache opaque cream that is basically like foundation — it’s the gluiest you can find. It’s tan and it looks really nice on your skin, and it has SPF 30. Surfers love it because it stays on. The downside is that it’s hard to remove. I use baby wipes to get it off. If I’m not surfing, I use the Rose Cream, and M.A.C. mineral powder. I’m into more of a natural look. In the city I relish not having to put anything on my skin — I can let it breathe. I also really enjoy being out of the sun! I have been wearing a really cute Panama hat recently.
J.E-L.: I know this sounds absurd, but do you wear mascara in the surf? Lipstick? Nail polish? After all, when you come out of the ocean, you are being photographed!
S.G.: That’s where Ella Bache foundation comes in. I get my lashes tinted. They get really white on the tips from the sun, so I get my brows and lashed tinted. Lipstick? I haven’t really gone down that path. I use a Bobbi Brown lip gloss that is clear and is a bit sticky. It goes on really well and you can put it under zinc. Right now I’ve got pastel blue nails.
J.E-.L: How about your hair in the water? Are you naturally blond?
S.G.: I’ve never dyed my hair. It’s just kind of beach hair.
J.E-L.: You look like a mermaid. It’s very beachy chic.
S.G.: People tell me, Wow, I’d pay so much for that color blonde. My sisters and I all have it — I’m the youngest of three girls — and we all have green/blue eyes. Mine are more green.
J.E-L.: How do you look after your hair?
S.G.: If I’m going in to the surf, I use products like leave-in conditioner with keratin, which helps coat it and protect it from the saltwater. But usually, if the surf is up, I just want to get out there. After surfing, I rinse my hair in cold water and put in some Moroccanoil. Pantene also makes a great conditioner. If my hair is clean, and I go in the surf, I get that surf look — kind of wavy. I always laugh when the hair and makeup lady brings out her bottle of saltwater for my hair. She probably paid $100 for that bottle of saltwater, which just blows my mind! I also use this stylists’ tip: mix saltwater, a little sugar, Moroccanoil and coconut oil to create your own beach-look spray.
J.E-L.: How do you keep your skin hydrated after sun and surf? Good moisturizers?
S.G.: Grapeseed oil is great when you get out of the sea. After my sunscreen is washed off, I put it on while my skin is still wet.
J.E-L.: You must use bucket loads of sunscreen. Which brands work best?
S.G.: I do! I apply it all day. The best stuff really only lasts two hours. I tend to go for the “baby” products — they are a little less harsh on the skin. La Roche-Posay in France has a really great line of strong sunscreen. I always stock up when I’m in Europe. I feel like my skin gets so much sunscreen, and so many chemicals, it would be great to find a natural alternative that really works. Recently I read about mixing raspberry-seed extract with coconut flesh, which apparently is a natural sunscreen.
J.E-L.: What’s your going-out makeup?
SG: I love a little gold eye. I like a young but fresh look, which to me means a simple lip, some bronzer on my cheeks and liquid eyeliner. For mascara, I use DiorShow. I like lots of lashes.
J.E-L.: What do you consider to be your best feature?
S.G.: I don’t know! Um, my smile? I’d say my smile. I think it’s pretty genuine.
J.E-L.: Other than surfing all day every day, do you do other exercise?
S.G.: I find I’m a lot heavier than most girls — surfing competitors — as I’m taller. But I love having that strength. I do Pilates for toning, lengthening and posture. I’m reading Diana Vreeland at the moment. I love how she writes about doing a lot of ballet when she was young and how she used so many fundamentals of ballet in her everyday life: holding herself tall, confidence, posture and elegance.
J.E-L.: What do you take from surfing and apply to your everyday life?
S.G.: Surfing is such an in-the-present thing. You are out in the ocean. It just really makes you appreciate life. It’s such a humbling thing, because the ocean is so powerful. It teaches you to go with the flow, and to be present.
J.E-L.: I wish I could surf.
S.G.: You have to! You’re Australian! Every Australian surfs. I love surfing in Australia; we have the best waves in the world. Mainland Mexico is incredible, Hawaii too. I really want to go to Costa Rica and to Nicaragua.
J.E-L.: When did you start surfing?
S.G.: My dad always surfed. My sisters and I grew up hanging around the beach. When I was about 10, I got into it and really loved it. I tried every different sport, but surfing was the best. My dad is now almost 60, and he still surfs every day. He’s pretty good.
J.E-L.: Are there other exercises you do to enhance your surfing performance?
S.G.: I do C.H.E.K. (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology) in Australia, and have for five or six years. It’s a holistic approach to training. You learn about the imbalances in the body. With surfing, there is overuse of some parts of the body. C.H.E.K. adds in techniques I can use that are relative to surfing. So, say, instead of doing squats on the ground, I’ll do them standing on a Swiss ball. You use your core and work from your core out, rather than using your muscles on the outside.
J.E-L.: How about spa treatments and facials?
S.G.: I love body scrubs to wash off the beach, and to get the sand out of my ears. I should get more facials. Sometimes I cleanse with honey. It’s not too strong, it’s hydrating, and it’s moisturizing. I just put my hair back, and go for it using my fingers to apply some honey and a little water. I use a warm washcloth to get it off. Just normal plain honey, not Manuka or anything fancy. I also take cod liver oil each day, for digestion and my skin.
J.E-L.: How about your diet?
S.G.: I have a huge sweet tooth. I love chocolate. My grandfather was a French chef. But I try to be healthy. This morning I had a bowl of berries.
J.E-L.: Today you are in a loose white shirt and white jeans. Tell me about your fashion sense and style.
S.G.: My favorite designer right now is Kym Ellery from Western Australia. I’ve worn her dresses to banquettes and events. I really love her stuff. It’s very fresh and elegant but simple. I’m wearing her shoes right now — they have a round heel. I don’t really like flip-flops, even at the beach. And Uggs. I don’t know why anyone would wear them. They are ugly! I’d rather go barefoot.
J.E-L.: What about high heels?
S.G.: I’m pretty tall — 5-foot-10 — but my ultimate outfit is a great white T-shirt and jeans, or a black shirt, black jeans and a really hot pair of heels. I like the style of Elin Kling. It’s very me — tomboyish but simple. I can’t travel with a lot. I’m traveling with six boards and guitars and a travel bag. I pull up at the airport check-in and they just look at me, like, Uh-oh, here we go!
