“I used to be born in Queens, New York. My mom has a really thick accent, and he or she’s third technology Queens. I moved to Port Washington, Lengthy Island, and that’s the place I used to be all through highschool. Then, I lived in New York Metropolis for faculty, and went to Tisch Faculty of the Arts at NYU, finding out drama. I keep in mind combating my mother, saying, ‘I don’t must take driver’s ed! I’m going to reside in New York Metropolis for my whole life and solely do theater and I’ll by no means must discover ways to drive a automobile.’
CAREER
About two years after I graduated school and I used to be ready tables and doing off-Broadway and actually doing the ‘struggling artist’ factor, I obtained it in my head to attempt Los Angeles, the place I must do my aspect hustle far much less. So I moved to LA at 25, and nonetheless had a aspect hustle for years, waitressing and babysitting and catering and private aiding, and each job I may get my fingers on till Shonda Rhimes modified my life with Quinn Perkins and Scandal.”
Taking part in Quinn was unbelievable. Not solely was it unbelievable as a result of I started working with Shonda Rhimes, who’s probably the most prolific, unbelievable writers of our time, but additionally, I obtained what all of us name the Scandal fam, the place really with all my coronary heart and soul we’re a really, very, very shut solid. We textual content day by day, we Zoom grasp, we go away on Scandal reunions… Kerry Washington, Darby Stanchfield, Bellamy Younger—the opposite women of Scandal—are expensive, expensive, expensive pals of mine. Even not simply the women—I used to be texting with Josh Melina, George Newbern, and Scott Foley yesterday. Tony Goldwyn and I are often in contact, Joe Morton and I constantly work collectively on theater. It’s a true household. Not solely on digicam was it a complete dream job, as a result of I obtained to play a really sophisticated, enjoyable position that modified a lot over the seven seasons, however off digicam, I discovered a lot and made family and friends for my lifetime. Gladiators [Scandal fans] had been such an enormous half. We wouldn’t be capable of make the present with out the Gladiator followers. It’s form of like a particular language or membership or one thing. At any time when I meet somebody, they’re like, “No, I’m an OG Gladiator. I’ve been with Scandal since day one.” I’m like, “Okay, we’re already cool.” It’s simply an computerized connection.
I’m very fortunate that I occur to work like 5 minutes from my home, which, for motherhood, is the perfect factor that ever occurred. I cherished my labor. I’ve a mother podcast referred to as Katie’s Crib, and now we have quite a lot of being pregnant tales on it, and sure, there are some scary issues and scary experiences. However I all the time assume it’s vital to listen to. There are additionally quite a lot of ladies who’ve a good time and who’re wonderful, and all the pieces goes nice, you understand? Folks actually wish to war-story about it, like, “I used to be in labor for 50 hours after which I had a C-section.” However I can’t let you know what number of tales I’ve in my head which can be simply slightly boring. “I went in, I obtained induced, they did the pitocin, I took a nap, I awoke, contractions began, I obtained the epidural, I waited, they instructed me to begin pushing, I pushed for thirty minutes, and the infant was right here.” And that’s what you need. You need boring and nothing to jot down residence about—I went in, I conquered, I rocked it, I got here residence, and all the pieces went wonderful.
SKINCARE
I do a complete regime from Biologique Recherche. I reside by it, so quite a lot of my face merchandise are from there. I take advantage of P50 to take off my make-up at night time. Then, I take advantage of a serum from Future Cosmetics referred to as Magnificence Drops. Then, I take advantage of their Excessive Cream in the course of the day and Biologique Rechere Placenta Cream at night time. Then, I take advantage of Strivectin Neck Cream. My eyes are actually delicate to something that has retinol or something in it, so I’m actually all pure in regards to the eye space. I often go between Mario Badescu Olive Eye Cream or Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream. It’s thick and shimmery, and I’m all about maintaining the realm hydrated. I preserve attempting totally different de-wrinkling eye cream, and it is perhaps okay for an evening, after which at day two or three, I’m like, “My eye is totally pink and blown up.” I can’t do it.
I’m massive into my facialist, this lady Nousha (@rejuvenatewithnousha). She does one thing referred to as a Reiki facial. She additionally does aqua gold facials, which is a superb brightening pick-me-up for occasions. She’s wonderful. She has essentially the most unbelievable face and physique oil referred to as Rejuvenate With Nousha that could be a huge staple in my home. The Reset—oh my god. It’s unbelievable. I apply it to my physique if there’s any mosquito bites, as a result of there’s quite a lot of therapeutic properties in it, so if I’ve any mosquito bites or a small lower or one thing, I put it in every single place. I take advantage of it most nights additionally as my final moisturizing layer earlier than I’m going to mattress and I apply it to my fingers and stuff. She initially created it, I’m fairly certain, as a face oil for all of the nurses and frontline staff who needed to put on PPE. I keep in mind to start with of the pandemic, they had been displaying how bruised their faces had been. It was initially for that, after which we had been all like, ‘That is unbelievable’.
At any time when I meet somebody, they’re like, “No, I’m an OG Gladiator. I’ve been with Scandal since day one.” I’m like, “Okay, we’re already cool.” It’s simply an computerized connection.
MAKEUP
I’m actually good about taking off my make-up. I feel in my early 20s, earlier than I used to be on Scandal, I’d have these nights of sleeping in make-up, and I’d be like, “Who cares?” Now, I’m sort of a naturalist. If I’m not working, I by no means, ever put on make-up. If I do, it’s the Profit Gimme Forehead Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in shade 4.5. It’s slightly little bit of the Profit Hoola Matte Bronzer for contour, as a result of I had a child, and that helps round my cheekbones and beneath my jawline. It’s the blighlighter from Jamie Make-up on my cheeks, which is a combo between a highlighter and a cheek tint. I’m a basic woman of the L’Oréal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara with the Shiseido eyelash roller. I’m a Burt’s Bees tinted chapstick particular person. Very pure.
HAIR
I’m actually, actually cautious about placing warmth on my hair. A part of my job is to place a lot warmth on my hair, so every time I’m not working, I actually simply rock it pure and go days with out washing it and reside by dry shampoo and ponytails and headscarves. I all the time sleep with my hair down as a result of I don’t need it damaged from any hair ties. I discovered from Kerry Washington to undoubtedly sleep on a silk pillowcase. My aunt Joan was all the time like, “Practice your self to sleep in your again! Practice your self to sleep in your again!” [Laughs] And I attempt my hardest, however it’s fairly exhausting. From all of the reside tweeting and all of the telephone stuff we’re doing, I attempt to be very aware about how a lot I’m wanting down, due to my neck.
Once I wash my hair, I combine between Davines and Bioplex. I’m actually cautious as a result of I’ve to focus the shampoo on my scalp and head, and actually solely situation the ends. Somebody simply taught me {that a} 12 months in the past—that you simply’re not imagined to situation your complete head. I couldn’t determine it out. I used to be like, “Why have I washed my hair and my roots are form of greasy?” They had been like, “No, simply shampoo your head on the scalp after which situation the ends and the place your haircut ends.” I used to be like, “Oh, I’m not imagined to dump conditioner at my roots?” [Laughs] That’s simply what works for my hair, as a result of then I can go days with out [washing my hair]. I most likely solely wash my hair two occasions every week. I’m an enormous air dry particular person. I really like placing the Advantage Break up Ends Serum on the ideas of my hair, and maintaining the roots dry. I’m actually fortunate. My hair has this form of pure beachy wave factor, and I simply rock that.
My hair is horrific in my regrowth from being pregnant. I’ve these quick, horrible bangs within the corners of my head. It’s from all of the fallout from my hormones from having a child. I put my hair up in a messy bun and I pull these wisps and fucked up bangs—excuse my language—from the corners of my head down, they usually curl up they usually’re all bizarre, and I simply rock it with satisfaction. I’m like, no matter, it’s going to come again. I obtained it again from my first child, and it’s coming again for my second. However each single pregnant lady I do know has misplaced their hair and had that second the place they appear within the bathe and it’s like a freaking toupee within the drain, they usually’re like, “Oh my god, I didn’t assume this was going to occur to me.” [Laughs]
BODY + FITNESS
Even my physique this time round—I’m not on the quantity I need to be at, not that numbers actually matter. However truthfully, my physique’s simply totally different, and I’m form of into it. I’m additionally fifteen months postpartum. I actually haven’t even began a exercise routine. I’m simply beginning to be like, “Oh, it feels good to stroll. It feels good to hike.” My doula may be very strict, like, “Don’t exercise for the primary 12 months. Heal. Go on walks. Do issues that really feel good.” Your physique’s going by means of a loopy time. It’s wonderful. Being pregnant is difficult, and the top is a particular sort of hellscape. [Laughs] The top is the freaking worst. What’s so loopy is that you simply really feel terrified of labor and you’re feeling terrified of these issues, however you’re feeling extra scared to proceed your life pregnant. So that you’re like, “Please let this finish.”
I’m going to mattress fully lotioned inside an inch of my life. My physique is caked on this stuff referred to as Kiki Cream, it’s a extremely pure, all natural shea butter. I began it all through my pregnancies too, on my stomach, however it’s meant to your complete physique. My nails are a catastrophe. My toes are a catastrophe. I ought to actually be doing higher at determining what I could possibly be placing on my cracked heels. I attempt to do the Kiki cream on my heels after which put on socks to mattress, and that’s all the time good, however it by no means occurs.
FRAGRANCE
I’m sort of in between fragrances proper now. I take advantage of quite a lot of Eau de Orange Blossom from Coqui Coqui, however I’m additionally sort of a hippy. Throughout the chilly season, I’m into utilizing On Guard Protecting Mix from Doterra. I’ve two little germ-filled youngsters who’re disgusting, they usually’re continually battling colds and diarrhea, so I’m continually carrying these items referred to as On Guard, which has slightly little bit of a cinnamon scent, however it’s extra of a vital oil. I really feel like I’m round lots of people in shut quarters at work, so I don’t need to be too overly scented. I’m actually capturing a comedy scene in the present day the place there’s six of us in a mattress rolling round. I simply don’t need folks to be like, “Whoa… Katie… Relax with the fragrance.” I actually additionally like Lakshmi Perfume Oil. I’m massive into that. It’s like, abundance and all that crap. [Laughs] It’s scrumptious. It’s so scrumptious. Additionally, equally, for Inventing Anna, we obtained to shoot in Morocco, on the resort the place my character was conned, in Marrakech, referred to as La Mamounia. It’s probably the most unique, fancy, elite resorts on the planet. They’ve their very own scent that they blast by means of the resort. We shot that two years in the past, and I purchased among the scent, and I simply spray it as a pick-me-up. It’s a reminder of the final place I traveled internationally pre-COVID.”
— As Advised to ITG
Katie Lowes photographed by Katie Thompson in LA.
