Fans — hell, nonfans, too — covet her flawless hair, dewy skin, and impeccable style. Now Kerry Washington (our November cover star) is sharing a few beauty secrets.
What does your daily skin-care routine look like?
“I have eczema, and I’ve been going to a dermatologist since I was eight years old. I’ve had a long time to think about moisturizing and things like that. The routine that I stick to religiously is that I never, ever sleep with makeup on. At the very least I take it off, but I try to really wash my skin after that.”
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And your daily makeup routine?
“Well, I’m lucky that I get to wake up and put my shoes on and then go sit in a chair and have somebody make me look beautiful, you know? When I’m not working, I try to not wear a lot of makeup. I have my foundation and moisturizer, and that’s it.”
What hair products are nonnegotiable?
“I try to use clarifying shampoo every other week because I swim a lot and use a lot of product. Also — I know this isn’t usually thought of as hair stuff — but I take fish oil, and I find that my skin and hair really benefit from it. I take it at night, though, so you don’t have to deal with burping up fish oil all day.”
Do you have a favorite feature?
“I have grown to like my hair more and more over the years. I won’t have any chemicals in it. I stopped relaxing my hair in my early 20s.”
What beauty lessons did you learn from your mother?
“Drink a lot of water. My mom was definitely one of those ‘Before you have a cup of juice, you have to have a cup of water’ moms. I wouldn’t call her a water connoisseur, but she really appreciates it. When she has some good well water, she’s like, ‘Mmmm, that’s good water.’ ”
What’s your go-to scent?
“I always use fragrance as a way to find the characters I play. I usually wear the scent of whatever character I’m working on. When I did Confirmation, I wore Trésor because that was the actual scent that Anita Hill wore at the time. And when I did Ray, I used to wear rose oil all the time because that was the real Della Bea’s favorite flower, and she loved roses, and it was a scent that helped me find that character. But I decided really early on that Olivia Pope was somebody who doesn’t wear perfume because working with so many different kinds of clients, it just felt she needed to be more neutral. So I haven’t had a signature scent for seven years.”
Cigaline technical dress by Prada. Makeup colors: Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint in Cocoa and Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon by Neutrogena. Photographed by Nathaniel Wood.
Do you just naturally look like this or do you have a religious fitness routine?
“God, no. I’m not one of those ‘Oh, I just run after my toddler!’ people. I love to work out. It’s really important to me; it’s part of the culture of my family. My husband was a professional athlete, so we hike, we swim, we’re very active. But then I do a lot of Pilates, and I go to SoulCycle. I just got a Peloton bike. I do different things, but I’m most obsessed with water aerobics. Now I do it with my friends on the weekends.”
Biggest beauty indulgence?
“Massages. I love them because they fall in that in-between for me: half beauty, half wellness. It’s something I do because I’m in heels a lot and I work really long hours. And I have a lot of pressures in my life. So massages are a good way for me to maintain my health and wellness, but also I feel like I’m doing something indulgent. And I’m a deep-tissue girl. I ask for the strongest massage therapist. Unravel me. Get in there.”
Silk chiffon top and skirt by Prabal Gurung. Makeup colors: Healthy Skin Blush in Vibrant, Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black, and Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine in Radiant Rose by Neutrogena. Photographed by Nathaniel Wood.
Kerry's Kit
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer* ($14.99)
“It has hyaluronic acid in the center, so when you use it, you’re moisturizing while you’re covering. It’s great for under-eyes and laugh lines. I have spots like anybody else, particularly from hormones from pregnancy and then nursing. I use concealer to help along the way while they’re fading.”
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream* ($19.99)
“I love moisturizers that do double duty. This one contains hyaluronic acid. I haven’t put any [fillers] on the inside yet, but I’m digging hyaluronic acid on the outside. I think it’s God’s gift to women.”
Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème in Scandal ($30)
“Marc Jacobs made this deep, deep lip color last year called Scandal, and he sent it to me and I love it.”
OPI Nail Lacquer in Inside the Isabelletway ($10)
“All the names in the collection [that I created with OPI] are kind of inspired by D.C., and this one’s a beautiful brown-nude tone that’s named after my daughter, Isabelle. Nail polish is special to me because it’s in that in-between place, kind of beauty, kind of fashion. Though I’m not wearing any now because I want my nails to breathe a bit, and I actually wear a lot of press-ons for red carpet.”
*Washington is a spokeswoman for Neutrogena.
A version of this article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Allure. To get your copy, head to newsstands or subscribe now.
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