Kerry Washington Beauty Interview August 2018

On Being Black in the Beauty Industry

POPSUGAR: The Cut recently published an article about what it's like to be black and work in fashion. What has your experience been as a black woman in the beauty industry?

Kerry Washington: It wasn't always easy to walk into a drugstore and find foundation that would work on my complexion. When I first joined Neutrogena nearly five years ago, the darkest foundation shade was tan, and it was not appropriate for my skin tone. Since then, the brand has grown a lot and innovated so much in terms of foundation and concealer ranges, and I am really proud of that. It's been great to step into a company that knew they need to do better and actually wants to do better.

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On Taking On-Set Makeup Home

Image Source: Getty / Mike Pont

PS: Have you ever had to deal with hairstylists or makeup artists who didn't know how to work with your hair type or complexion, and how did you deal with that if so?

KW: I've always used my time in the makeup chair as a learning experience. I've been lucky to work with really talented artists who always made me feel taken care of, so I paid attention to the products they used and how I could get them and use them at home. I always try to bring that wisdom and curiosity from set to my job as creative consultant and also in my personal life.

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Where She Finds Her Makeup Inspiration

Image Source: Getty / Michael Tran

PS: Where do you get your beauty tips?

KW: I've learned the most from the two makeup artists I've worked with the longest. Sherri Knight did my makeup as Olivia Pope on almost every single episode of Scandal, and we really evolved the Olivia Pope look over the years. I've also worked with Carola Gonzalez for red carpet and editorial shoots for over a decade. I've learned so much from both of these women over the years.

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The 1 Difference Between Her and Olivia Pope

Image Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff

PS: Are you like Olivia Pope in that you are also obsessed with wine? If so, how do you keep your teeth looking so white?

KW: I actually don't drink a ton of red wine in real life — I only drink once or twice a year! However, I am a huge green tea drinker and I am still trying to figure out how to keep my teeth white.

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Her Favorite Fall Color Combinations

Image Source: Courtesy of Neutrogena

PS: What are some of your favorite Fall makeup color combos?

KW: People often associate Neutrogena with a very neutral aesthetic, but with these new palettes [the Force of Nature Lip and Force of Nature Eye Shadow Palettes, $13, out now at Ulta], I really wanted to tap into essential colors that are still exciting for Fall. I tried to keep the shades in the rich, earth-toned family, while still adding some shimmer and a lot more drama.

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Her Most Relaxing Beauty Ritual

Image Source: Getty / Mike Coppola

PS: How do you practice self-care?

KW: My beauty rituals always help me unwind and get in touch with myself. I'm a massage junkie, so I will always try and get a good one when I can. Self-care is also about the small things, so I always try to make time to take care of myself even if it's just by doing a face mask.

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