Figure Skating Champ Amber Glenn Says This Drugstore Moisturizer Fixed Her Keratosis Pilaris

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Amber Glenn is a study in patience and perseverance.

After a tough start to the 2023-24 season, which found her colliding with a fellow skater, resulting in her withdrawal from several early-season competitions, and delivering a disappointing short program at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo in Finland, Glenn finally took home the gold—her first—at the US Women’s Figure Skating Championship in January. At 24, she's the first openly queer woman to win the top prize in American figure skating.

She’s also been open about her struggles with keratosis pilaris (KP)—a skin condition marked by dry, rough patches of skin and tiny bumps that typically plague the arms, legs, and buttocks—and the hit to her self-confidence she’s experienced because of the condition. “As figure skaters, we have to present ourselves in a certain way—we almost have to look like models out there,” Glenn tells Women’s Health. “So, any skin flareups can make you feel insecure, especially when you're on TV for everyone to see. Having KP or dry skin can hinder your confidence, which can affect performance.”

It's why Glenn has partnered with Amlactin, a drugstore mainstay that develops solutions for myriad skin conditions, including KP. We caught up with the champion at Wollman Rink in New York City’s Central Park to get the goods on her beauty routine, including the products she uses to treat KP, the drugstore mascara she’s loving right now, and why she would never hit the ice without wearing perfume.

Women’s Health: Is there a beauty issue that figure skaters deal with that people may not realize?

Amber Glenn: Definitely—I’ve dealt quite a bit with keratosis pilaris. Swimmers are always in water, track athletes are always in the heat, and we're constantly in the cold. But we're also sweating, so it's just very hard on the body.

WH: Is there a regimen that’s helped with your KP?

AG: I make sure to use certain soaps that are low pH because I shower quite often. I’m sweating and then I'm cold and then I'm sweating and I'm cold. I use the Amlactin KP Bumps Be Gone on my arms, and then I'll usually use their Intensive Healing Lotion on my elbows and knees.

WH: Makeup is such a huge part of your sport—are you a makeup girlie off the ice?

AG: Definitely. It was introduced to me at such a young age that it's been an interest of mine since I was very young. Trying new brands and new products has always been something that's been part of my life. It's part of my every day.

WH: Are there any makeup products you're loving right now?

AG: I’ve been using the L’Oreal Paris Waterproof Telescopic Mascara, which is sold in drugstores. I grew up in a mid-to-low income family in Texas, so I keep it real and I keep it simple.

WH: Are you a skincare minimalist or maximalist?

AG: Very much a minimalist. I tend to have very sensitive skin, so just making sure that my skin is hydrated is the main thing. I just use a face wash in the shower and then a hydrating toner after a little bit of moisturizer. And that's about it.

WH: What hair products do you like?

AG: I’m a huge hair mask person. I love using hair masks. I get all sweaty and my hair gets very tangled, so I need to wash it often. I've used Pantene Miracle Rescue Intense Rescue Shots. They're great for travel too—you don't have to bring a giant thing of it.

WH: Are you a fan of fragrance?

AG: I am, and it's so funny because you don't think of it too much in sport, but skaters get very close to the judges during competition, so you don't want to be stinky. They come up and talk to you, so I always make sure my breath smells good and I smell good. We can’t really put our costumes in the washing machine all the time, so I always wear perfume on the ice. Right now, I love Black Opium by YSL Beauty. I also love the Dossier fragrances—they make inexpensive knockoffs of popular scents.

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