All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
How does Miles Chamley-Watson keep his appearance and energy—not to mention, his coils—sharp while on the road? It all starts with a scented candle and a “lovely” brightening face mask. Herewith, the two-time fencing world champion and Olympic medalist walks Vogue through his skin care, hair care, and overall wellness routine.
After peeling off his face mask, the British-American athlete endorses a controversial skin care step. “I’m a facial scrubber,” he says. “Some people say oh, it’s too hard on your skin”—but he begs to differ. While exfoliating with a “glob” of scrub, the 34-year-old explains the particular skin care needs of someone in combat sport. “I started exfoliating a lot more because, in fencing, we sweat a lot,” he says. “If your skin’s not clean then it’s easy to get acne, or just irritated skin.” Fortunately, that’s not the case today.
“Looking like a million dollars,” he says of his glow, before moving onto an oil cleanse with Ma:Nyo’s Pure Cleansing Oil. “Since you just scrubbed the skin, now you gotta love the skin,” he says, smiling cheekily at his poetic cleverness.
While the Korean product sinks in, the jet setter reaches for a French classic. And as he pats on Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 1970, Chamley-Watson has the City of Light in mind. “The Olympics is going to be in Paris this season,” he says. (Haven’t you heard?) “It’s going to be really lovely to be able to hopefully make history there, but also just be in the amazing culture of Paris.” Of course, he’s already participated in one of the city’s most haute traditions. “I was just in Paris with Vogue World; I was walking my thing down the runway,” the athlete remarks, giving a demonstrative sashay before applying Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Vitamin C serum.
The London native smooths on a healthy dose of Supergoop! sunscreen next, then shares the other rituals that keep his skin—and his spirit—in top form. “I got my first facial ever and I was like this is incredible, I want to go every day,” he says, adding that massages and weekly visits to the sauna are part of his regimen. “It’s very important to take care of yourself,” he notes. “I see a lot of women take care of themselves—I should do the same.” And he does.
Chamley-Watson gives his skin, beard, and tattoos an extra layer of hydration with Biologique Recherche’s Emulsion Gel, then picks up the eye gel he makes good use of. “I don’t want bags under my eyes, so I use a lot of this every day, sometimes twice a day,” he says. “It’s therapy as well. You just do this [eye gel] routine, put some music on, have a coffee while the candle’s still going,” and voila, prize-winning radiance. But skin care is just the start of the fencer’s routine.
“Next,” he says, clapping his hands, “the hair.” To start, he massages his curls with Cantu’s Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream, then tops it off with Jamaican Black Castor Oil. He rubs the excess oil into his skin, remarking on its shine-inducing effects. “Look at that; I’m glistening,” he says. Coconut Hibiscus Curl Style Milk caps off his coif, and he wraps up his routine in a zen state of mind.
“I’m not really nervous at all,” he says of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. “Maybe when I get there, I’ll be quaking in my boots. But right now? Honestly, no.” A swipe of Barbara Sturm Lip Balm later, Chamley-Watson is even more ready for his turn on the world stage. “See you in Paris,” he says, smiling, flashing two peace signs—and, indeed, glistening.
Director: Gabrielle Reich
DP: Dominik Czaczyk
Editor: Michael Suyeda, Paul Tael
Associate Producer: Lea Donenberg
Production Assistant: Spencer Mathesen
Production Manager: Natasha Soto- Albors
Production Coordinator: Ava Kashar
Associate Talent Manager: Phoebe Feinberg
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo
Assistant Editor: Andy Morell
Associate Director, Post Production: Nicholas Ascanio
Filmed at: Hotel Casa Del Mar