Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old Olympic gold medalist, made headlines on February 19 when she paused to enhance her look just before accepting her medal.
In a moment that caught the attention of fans worldwide, Liu applied Rare Beauty’s Tinted Lip Oil Stain in the Muted Berry shade, showcasing her flair for glam at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“Alysa Liu going ‘where’s my lipstick’ and pulling out the Rare Beauty tinted lip oil. Icon,” one enthusiastic fan remarked on social media, highlighting the connection to Selena Gomez’s popular beauty line. Another user chimed in, “Alysa Liu going to get her lipstick before getting her gold medal she’s just a girl.”
“[Rare Beauty] needs to contact Alysa Liu lol she’s reapplying that tinted lip oil,” a third user noted, while another added, “Someone at Rare Beauty better be getting Alysa Liu’s brand deal ready — immediately turning back to go get that lip gloss she left on the seat 😂😂.”
Liu's journey at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, began with a bang as she secured her first gold medal in the team event on February 8, alongside teammates Amber Glenn, Ilia Malinin, Ellie Kam, Daniel O’Shea, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates.
She continued to impress by clinching her second gold medal in the women’s figure skating free skate on February 19, outperforming competitors Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai, who took home silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Sporting the long-lasting lip oil, which promises a “comfortable, buildable kiss of color and shine” for a “bold, juicy” effect, Liu radiated confidence and pride.
Before Liu's triumph, the U.S. had not celebrated an individual women’s Olympic figure skating title since 2002.
Her achievements have sparked conversations not only about her athletic prowess but also her distinctive style. “Every year, I add a stripe,” Liu shared with NBC News regarding her signature hair, which features alternating bleached and dark brunette sections. “It’s going to be like this for a year, then — next wintertime, end of December — I do another ring.”
In an interview shared via TikTok on February 10, Liu explained the effort behind her striking hairstyle. “To get this light, I had to go to a salon,” she said. “I couldn’t lift my hair like this. It lifted good, not good enough. So, I went to a salon and she redid the other stripes just so it would match.”
Liu also opened up about her frenulum piercing, which some fans initially mistook for teeth gems. “Someone called my style ‘alternative’ and I’d agree with that,” she told NBC affiliate TMJ4 News. “I love fashion a lot.”
Reflecting on her piercing experience from over two years ago, Liu recounted, “I had my sister hold up my lip,” adding that she used a piercing needle while looking in the mirror to complete the process.
