Professional Soccer Player Julia Benati on Taking Pride in How She Presents Herself On and Off the Field
"Skincare and hair care are such important parts of my routine. They help me maintain not only my appearance, but also how I feel day-to-day as an athlete."
Julia Benati is from London, Ontario. She is a chiropractor and currently plays professional soccer for the Halifax Tides in the Northern Super League. Before returning to Canada, she played professionally in both Norway and Portugal. Last season, during the inaugural year of the NSL, she played for Ottawa Rapid and is honored to make history with the Tides this year.
I had the opportunity to chat with Julia about skincare and beauty, and any struggles she faces as a professional athlete. Enjoy!
Q: Have you ever felt pressure to present yourself differently (hair, makeup, nails, etc) when competing?
Julia: Professional athletes are often in the public eye, and how we present ourselves is visible both on and off the field. From post-training media interviews, game day arrival photos and videos, live broadcasts of games, social media highlights, public speaking events, and signing autographs, there is always a level of visibility that comes with the profession. I wouldn’t describe it as pressure, but I do take pride in how I present myself because I know there are many people who look up to me. This includes young girls I coach and mentor in soccer, as well as patients in my chiropractic clinic back home. It is important to me to carry myself with professionalism and class. Part of that includes the routines and habits that help me feel confident and put together – whether that’s skincare, makeup, hair, or nails.
Q: How has being an athlete affected your skin? Has travel, sun exposure, and sweat created any issues?
Julia: As an athlete, training, sweating, sun exposure, and frequent travel are all part of everyday life. We often have multiple training sessions a day and weekly flights for games, which can be tough on both skin and hair. That’s why skincare and hair care are such important parts of my routine. They help me maintain not only my appearance, but also how I feel day-to-day as an athlete.
Q: What does your skincare routine look like during season vs off-season? What products do you reach for?
Julia: My skincare routine doesn’t vary too much between in-season and off-season. As a professional athlete, training is a year-round commitment. Therefore, the work doesn’t stop when the games do. In the off-season, we’re often spending even more time in the gym, doing fitness and skill development to come back stronger for the next season, so we’re still sweating just as much.
Right now, my typical daily skincare routine looks like this:
I start my morning by washing my face with cold water.
Before leaving the house, I moisturize with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Fluide and Aquaphor. I finish with PUR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Powder — a foundation with SPF that gives me a natural, blemish-free look while helping protect my skin from sun exposure during training.
After training, I shower and re-moisturize, usually with my travel Aquaphor.
Before bed, I wash my face with Spectro Sensitive Skin Cleanser.
One difference in the off-season is that I’m also working in my chiropractic clinic. Because of that, my morning routine usually includes a more complete makeup routine compared to in-season, when my day-to-day schedule often involves heading straight to the soccer facility.
Q: Does wearing makeup affect how you feel when you compete? Or is it something you don’t give much thought to when getting ready for a game?
Julia: I do wear makeup when I compete. It helps me look and feel my best. When I am feeling my best, I can focus all my energy on competing. For me, it’s part of my daily routine and preparation to feel confident and ready to perform.
Q: Have you ever felt pressure to style your hair a certain way when competing? Or has your sport encouraged you to branch out with hairstyles as a way to express yourself?
Julia: For me, hair is less about following trends and more about finding a balance between looking polished and being practical for soccer. I like my hair to look clean and put together, but it also needs to stay out of my face while I play. My current go-to game day look is a slick back!
Q: What makes you feel most like yourself when you step out to compete?
Julia: I feel most like myself when I’ve prepared well and can step onto the field with confidence. Once the whistle blows, it’s about competing freely, trusting my training, and being fully present in the moment. Feeling prepared mentally and physically allows me to step on the field ready to compete as the best version of myself that day.