Glowing Hard With The Founders of Sweat Cosmetics #SquadGoals

We all know that female athletes face so many challenges both on and off the field, but we rarely discuss are how they embrace their femininity and use the skills they’ve developed as athletes in the game of life. Bridging the gap between sweating and glowing is the founding principal behind Sweat Cosmetics, a company which is run entirely by former professional female athletes. 

Sweat Cosmetics isn’t just another brand of makeup. Everything is specifically designed for people with active lifestyles. Their current lineup consists of a mineral powder foundation, illuminator, bronzer, translucent powder and a cleansing towelette. All of the powders contain zinc-oxide sunscreen and are water and sweat-resistant. So, it stays on while you get your sweat on. Because Sweat only uses all natural ingredients and is formulated without talc, oil, fragrance, silicone or parabens, it’s safe for all skin types.

While playing Division I soccer at the University of Denver, Taryn Hemmings (who went on to play for the Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars) and Emily Hines realized a product like Sweat didn’t exist. So they built their roster of other girl bosses who they knew would kick ass on the soccer field and in the cosmetics field. Courtney Jones, Leslie Osborne and twice-decorated gold medalist Lindsay Tarpley make up the rest of the team. Like Hemmings, Jones also played for the Boston Breakers as well as the Kansas City Blues. Osborne and Tarpley both played for US Women’s National Soccer Team.

I had the privilege of interviewing all five of these impressive women to discuss how being an athlete translates into being an entrepreneur, what’s next for Sweat Cosmetics and their daily beauty routines.

How has being an athlete prepared you for running a company?

To me, being an athlete is everything. You are taught early on the importance of handling pressure, time management, being confident, channeling stress, etc. Now, that we are running a company, we see the same synergies every day. From the ability able to bounce back after a rough day to changing up the game plan when something didn't quite work. We are constantly utilizing the skills we have learned over the years as athletes. (Emily)

It's our foundation. Both individually but also collectively- our competitiveness, drive, focus, passion, work rate and dedication. As athletes, we are able to see the bigger vision of all that goes into making a company thrive. We think strategically and are tuned into the big picture with long-term goals. We put strategies in action. Being part of a team for our entire lives, we know how to work well with each other and love being part of a team environment. We know how to leverage each other's strengths and make up for our weaknesses. (Leslie)

Sports prepare you for almost any work environment. Through sports, you develop a competitive fire that is not easily taught. Also, as athletes, we welcome critiques in an effort to make our game better. We bring all aspects of athletics into Sweat. Competitive drive, teamwork, constructive criticism, work ethic, etc. are all apart of our personalities. (Courtney)

I’ve always had a strong competitive spirit and I've enjoyed working hard to try and accomplish my goals. Being part of a team has been very special for me.  Now that my playing days are over, I feel fortunate to be passionate about Sweat Cosmetics and to use these qualities that made me successful on the pitch in the business world.  (Lindsay)

As an athlete, you have to learn how to push yourself to be better and better. When you start your own company, there isn't anyone there pushing you to make the company successful either. You only have yourself and your team. The ability of each of us to simply be able to do this has been such a huge part of how far we've come in making Sweat what it is. (Taryn)

What is your vision for the future of Sweat Cosmetics?

When I see the future of Sweat Cosmetics, I see us being the Under Armour of the cosmetic industry. From a full cosmetic line, to skin and hair care products. Sweat Cosmetics will be the preferred and chosen brand for active women worldwide. (Emily)

My vision is that Sweat Cosmetics will be the one brand that all active women can trust to create and find the products they need to make active women's lives a little bit easier. (Taryn)

Do you have any new products in the works?

We always have new products in the works! Some exciting additions to our current products are set to come out after the holidays, including five new shades of our mineral powder foundation. We're currently starting R&D for a lip product, some amazing new skincare products and eventually cannot wait to work on an eyeliner and mascara. (Taryn)

What are your daily beauty routines? 

I am constantly going from an AM workout to everyday life and that transition has to be quick). Embarrassingly admitting, my daily beauty routine consists of wiping my body off with Sweat Skin-Balancing Cleansing Towelettes. I'll then blow dry my sweaty hair and freshen it up with Batiste Blonde Dry Shampoo. Next, I apply a few swipes of our Shade 200 Mineral Foundation, hit my cheek bones/nose with our Illuminator and motion a little bit of our Bronzer underneath my cheek. Before running out the door, I use a little black mascara and touch up my eyebrows with an Anastasia brow pencil. It’s done in ten minutes. (Emily)

My beauty routine has changed multiple times in the last few years. From being a professional athlete to doing TV/corporate and now being a mother to be and working from home, my beauty routine continues to shift and change. My staples are dry shampoo, Chanel lip gloss, our Skin-Balancing Cleansing Towelettes, Mineral Foundation and Illuminator. (Leslie)

My nightly routine is more complicated than my morning routine. I have sensitive skin, so I want to make sure I remove anything that could cause a problem over night. I "double cleanse" with a Kiehl's face wash, and use my Clarisonic. Then I moisturize like crazy because my skin tends to be dry. In the morning, I don't wash my face with soap, but I lightly splash it with water to get rid of any oils. After that, I got straight for my Sweat. I wear a shade 100, and then use our bronzer. If I have any breakouts, I'll dab a little concealer on each one prior to putting on the Sweat powder. Next, I put a little highlighter on the corner of my eyes; add a couple swipes of mascara, and maybe a pink lip tint if I'm feeling saucy. (Courtney)

I use our Mineral Foundation 100, Illuminator around my checks and mascara on my eyes. I have our Skin-Balancing Cleansing Towelettes in my purse, car and gym bag. (Lindsay)

I'm obsessed with skincare and moisturizers. At night I love using Crude Personal Care Everything Oil to wash my face. Then I use retinol, serum, Crude Bloom Oil, moisturizer, and finally the Everything Oil again. In the morning I wash my face with our Sweat Towelette, then use serum, and moisturizer. A little concealer and then Sweat Mineral Powder (either Shade 200 or Translucent, depending on my day). Then I use Sweat Illuminator along my cheekbones, WunderBrow and some mascara and I'm out the door. I also carry Sweat Bronzer in my purse and usually put it on in my car (while I'm parked). (Taryn)