Thanks to her career as a professional tennis player, Sloane Stephens, 29, spends more than 40 weeks out of the year traveling for work. Despite this, the 2017 U.S. Open winner says, “I’m a total homebody.” Home is currently Boston, where her husband of one year, pro soccer player Jozy Altidore, plays for the New England Revolution. So what does this sporty couple get up to on their precious days off when they are in the same place at the same time? Stephens gets candid below.
In our new series, “A Perfect Sunday,” we spotlight our favorite tastemakers and their ideal Sunday vibe, life advice, and beauty and style must-haves. Here, Sloane Stephens shares her weekend routine.
Wake-Up Routine:
“I usually wake up around 6:40 a.m. when my stepson wakes us up and I drink a big glass of water. To be honest, I immediately check my phone and go through my notifications. I know the experts say to keep that first waking hour device-free, but I’m keeping it real with you here. I brush my teeth and then wash my face with a gentle cleanser. I then put on the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Brightening Serum to help with skin tone. I put Neutrogena sunscreen on my face and sometimes I’ll use the Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Pollution Drops under my sunscreen. Then we’ll head down to the kitchen and make a big brunch. We’re loving Kodiak Cakes for an extra boost of protein.”
Mid-Morning:
“After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll head to a park to play. We have a bunch of great parks right near us.”
Lunch:
“For lunch, I stop by the nearest Potbelly and order an Italian sandwich — double toasted. For my birthday a few years ago, my husband bought me shares of stock in a few different companies I love and I take that tiny sliver of Potbelly ownership very seriously. I honestly feel like they should hire me, I love going into different locations and making sure everything is as it should be.”
Afternoon:
“We watch some TV, maybe doze off for an afternoon nap. I’m currently binging The Blacklist after spending all summer watching Downton Abbey. I find period pieces very soothing for some reason. I’ve watched The Tutors, Reign — you name it, it’s on my iPad.”
Evening:
“For dinner, we usually go for hibachi. It’s interactive, fun, and something we really enjoy doing as a family. I’ll often take a bath before beginning my nighttime skin routine.”
Bedtime Ritual:
“After we get home, I usually start with a bath. During lockdown, I made my own bath salts with epsom salt and essential oils and I still love to take a very long, hot bath. Or I like to take very hot showers. I’m a big believer in the power of aromatherapy and will use a shower steamer in a relaxing scent like lavender to help calm my mind from the day. This aroma immediately signals to my body that I’m beginning a wind-down process. In the shower, I like to exfoliate my body by either using exfoliating body wipes with a regular body wash like Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, or a body scrub like the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub. I sweat every day and always wear sunscreen, so it feels nice to scrub all that off. For my face, I’ll use a polish like the Tatcha Rice Wash or Dr. Barbara Sturm Facial Scrub. Once I’m out of the shower, I will first use a body lotion while my skin is still a little damp to lock in the moisture. I bought La Roche Posay Lipikar lotion at a pharmacy in Paris this summer and still use it.
“If I have a day where I’m feeling extra ashy, I’ll layer on body oil like the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Oat Mist. I then move onto my face routine. Since I already washed my face in the shower, I will pat my face dry and either use the Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment or Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. I try to do this three nights per week. I then layer the La Mer The Renewal Oil on top of that and if I’m feeling dry, I’ll put the Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask on after that. Plane travel is super drying, so I try to slather on lots of layers of moisture. When I get ready for bed, I wear these microwavable moist heat eye masks. I’m having some eye issues and my doctor recommended these to help soothe my eyes, especially when they’re feeling dry or strained from plane travel or too much screen time.”
Sloane Serves Up More:
What’s your astrological sign and do you fit well with its description?
“I’m a Pisces. I literally just had to Google the description because I don’t keep up on astrology, but I definitely think I fit this! It seems that Pisces traits are being emotionally aware, creative, imaginative, sympathetic and that we will go to great lengths to ensure the happiness of those around us. They hit the nail on the head with this one.”
What are you reading, watching, listening to right now?
“Reading: I’m fully leaning into my business woman era and am really interested in learning more from founders, scholars, and psychologists. I’ve also totally rediscovered the beauty of picking up a physical book and giving my eyes a break from so much screen time. My best friend, mom, and I just decided to start what we’re calling a ‘self-development book club’ and have a big stack of books ready to go. The first ones on the list are The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, Atomic Habits by James Clear and Masters of Scale by Reid Hoffman. Watching: The Blacklist. Listening: How I Built This by Guy Raz and On Purpose with Jay Shetty.”
What’s been one of the most memorable encounters you’ve had?
“I had the immense honor of going to the White House this July to kick off the Task Force to Address Online Harassment with Madam Vice President Harris. Cyber harassment and online bullying are incredibly important and deeply personal topics, and I felt really proud to have this issue escalated to the highest levels of our government. I got to meet Madam Vice President and spend some time sharing my experiences with online harassment and learning more about her efforts.”
Has your husband taught you anything about beauty or grooming?
“Um…no! But Jozy is a great sport and has come along for the ride with me. He comes into Sephora and Ulta with me to try new products, he stops at Duty Free shops on his travels to pick up my La Mer. He even now participates in my face masking at home and I don’t know if he will admit this openly, but I do think he looks forward to it!”
How important is fashion on the court?
“I love fashion, I love feeling good, and I do feel that if you’re confident in how you look, it does translate to performance. The same way people in an office might have a go-to power look for a big meeting or interview, I feel the same way on the court. Functional performance is also really important because I’m constantly moving and sweating, so the garments have to work just as hard as I do. I also love matching sets — I feel like it looks super put together and also is one less decision I have to make in my way.”
And what about your hair?
“I’m African American and have super textured 4C hair. My hair requires a lot of effort and time and this is just something I do not have when I’m on the road for weeks at a time. I’ve experimented a lot over the years with wigs and weaves, and have found myself doing a lot of protective styles so I don’t have to spend a lot of time every day doing my hair to look glam.”
What are your best tips for looking and feeling your best when you travel?
“First, hydration. Bury me on this hill! Hydration is so critical for literally everything: muscle recovery, jet lag prevention, glowing skin. I wake up each morning and drink a huge glass of water and keep drinking all day. Second, lymphatic drainage. I’ve been reading a lot about our lymphatic system and it’s so fascinating. I’m not a doctor, but it’s basically the sewage system of our body and is responsible for protecting our immune system and maintaining fluid levels. Those sound like two important factors for travel, right? I’ve gotten really into lymphatic drainage massage with my physio and I love to do a gua sha routine on my face and neck to activate those lymph nodes and help drain excess fluids and toxins. Pair this with the hydration, and I’ve found that it really helps ease the travel stress on my body.”
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