When executed well, every part of a synchronized swimming routine should seem effortless. But as master synchronized swimmer and assistant coach of the Freedom Valley Synchro team Addy Colona tells Allure, synchronized swimming requires a combination of ballet, swimming, acrobatics, and water polo to be perfected. In other words, despite how beautiful and easy the athletes make it look, the sport entails a lot of hard work.
If you’ve ever taken a close look at synchronized swimmers’ makeup in real life, then you know that, much like their choreography, it’s nothing short of impressive. Colona explains that the routines themselves are judged on a variety of factors, including something called “artistic impression,” which combines the choreography, interpretation of the music, and presentation. So while the rules of synchro don’t explicitly require performers to wear makeup, it is something that is commonly considered part of the overall presentation, similarly to how it can play into dance or figure skating.
“The beautiful suit designs and makeup add to the overall impression of the routine but are not what is being judged. We are also not permitted jewelry, props, or theatrical makeup that would distract from the routine,” Colona says. “We usually wear bright and bold colors so that everything pops and the crowd and judges can see our facial expressions from across the pool.”
Unlike dance or figure skating, however, synchronized swimming has the added challenge of taking place in and under water. This means that synchronized swimmers know everything there is to know about waterproof, stay-put makeup. Here are some of Colona and her team’s best tips for keeping your own look in tact, no matter how much sweat or water gets in the way.
When it comes to having a go-to brand of makeup that will last in the pool without smearing or smudging — especially when it comes to mascara — Colona says that Make Up For Ever is as good as it gets. Specifically, she swears by the brand’s waterproof Aqua Smoky Mascara.
“We do not wear goggles while competing, so it is very important that the eye makeup not only stays on but doesn’t flake off make it even harder to see,” Colona says. “[Make Up For Ever’s] mascara is great and does not smudge or chip.”
In synchronized swimming, makeup is part of the uniform, so every swimmer’s makeup has to look generally the same.