“I used to be born in Queens, New York. My mom has a really thick accent, and he or she’s third era 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, learning drama. I bear in mind combating my mother, saying, ‘I don’t have to 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 learn to drive a automobile.’
CAREER
About two years after I graduated faculty and I used to be ready tables and doing off-Broadway and actually doing the ‘struggling artist’ factor, I acquired it in my head to strive Los Angeles, the place I must do my facet hustle far much less. So I moved to LA at 25, and nonetheless had a facet 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.”
Enjoying Quinn was unbelievable. Not solely was it unbelievable as a result of I set to work with Shonda Rhimes, who’s one of the crucial prolific, unbelievable writers of our time, but in addition, I acquired 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 forged. We textual content on daily basis, we Zoom hold, we go away on Scandal reunions… Kerry Washington, Darby Stanchfield, Bellamy Younger—the opposite women of Scandal—are pricey, pricey, pricey associates 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 usually 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 acquired to play a really sophisticated, enjoyable function 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 have the ability to make the present with out the Gladiator followers. It’s type of like a particular language or membership or one thing. Each time 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 automated connection.
I’m very fortunate that I occur to work like 5 minutes from my home, which, for motherhood, is the very best factor that ever occurred. I cherished my labor. I’ve a mother podcast known as Katie’s Crib, and we have now numerous being pregnant tales on it, and sure, there are some scary issues and scary experiences. However I all the time assume it’s necessary to listen to. There are additionally numerous ladies who’ve a good time and who’re advantageous, and all the pieces goes nice, you already know? 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 are simply somewhat boring. “I went in, I acquired induced, they did the pitocin, I took a nap, I awoke, contractions began, I acquired the epidural, I waited, they instructed me to start out pushing, I pushed for thirty minutes, and the child was right here.” And that’s what you need. You need boring and nothing to jot down house about—I went in, I conquered, I rocked it, I got here house, and all the pieces went advantageous.
SKINCARE
I do a complete regime from Biologique Recherche. I reside by it, so numerous my face merchandise are from there. I exploit P50 to take off my make-up at evening. Then, I exploit a serum from Future Cosmetics known as Magnificence Drops. Then, I exploit their Excessive Cream through the day and Biologique Rechere Placenta Cream at evening. Then, I exploit Strivectin Neck Cream. My eyes are actually delicate to something that has retinol or something in it, so I’m actually all pure concerning 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 protecting the world hydrated. I maintain making an attempt 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 known as a Reiki facial. She additionally does aqua gold facials, which is a good brightening pick-me-up for occasions. She’s superb. She has essentially the most unbelievable face and physique oil known 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 numerous therapeutic properties in it, so if I’ve any mosquito bites or a small lower or one thing, I put it in all places. I exploit 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 bear 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’.
Each time 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 automated connection.
MAKEUP
I’m actually good about taking off my make-up. I believe 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 type 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 somewhat 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 traditional 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 at any time when 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 strive my hardest, but it surely’s fairly arduous. From all of the reside tweeting and all of the cellphone stuff we’re doing, I attempt to be very aware about how a lot I’m wanting down, due to my neck.
After 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 presupposed 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 type 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 presupposed 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 instances per week. I’m an enormous air dry particular person. I really like placing the Advantage Cut up Ends Serum on the guidelines of my hair, and protecting the roots dry. I’m actually fortunate. My hair has this type 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, and so they curl up and so they’re all bizarre, and I simply rock it with delight. I’m like, no matter, it would come again. I acquired 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, and so they’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 actually, my physique’s simply totally different, and I’m type 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 could 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 a loopy time. It’s superb. Being pregnant is difficult, and the top is a particular type of hellscape. [Laughs] The top is the freaking worst. What’s so loopy is that you simply really feel frightened of labor and you are feeling frightened of these issues, however you are feeling extra scared to proceed your life pregnant. So that you’re like, “Please let this finish.”
I’m going to mattress utterly lotioned inside an inch of my life. My physique is caked on this stuff known as Kiki Cream, it’s a extremely pure, all natural shea butter. I began it all through my pregnancies too, on my stomach, but it surely’s meant in your complete physique. My nails are a catastrophe. My ft 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, but it surely by no means occurs.
FRAGRANCE
I’m type of in between fragrances proper now. I exploit numerous Eau de Orange Blossom from Coqui Coqui, however I’m additionally type 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, and so they’re continuously battling colds and diarrhea, so I’m continuously sporting these items known as On Guard, which has somewhat little bit of a cinnamon scent, but it surely’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 taking pictures a comedy scene in the present day the place there’s six of us in a mattress rolling round. I simply don’t need individuals 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 acquired to shoot in Morocco, on the resort the place my character was conned, in Marrakech, known as La Mamounia. It’s one of the crucial unique, fancy, elite resorts on the planet. They’ve their very own scent that they blast by the resort. We shot that two years in the past, and I purchased a number of 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.
