“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 school, 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 dwell in New York Metropolis for my complete 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 faculty 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 strive 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 might get my arms 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 one of the vital prolific, unbelievable writers of our time, but additionally, I obtained what all of us name the Scandal fam, the place actually with all my coronary heart and soul we’re a really, very, very shut solid. We textual content every single day, we Zoom hold, we go away on Scandal reunions… Kerry Washington, Darby Stanchfield, Bellamy Younger—the opposite girls of Scandal—are expensive, expensive, expensive mates 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 commonly in contact, Joe Morton and I repeatedly 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 difficult, enjoyable function that modified a lot over the seven seasons, however off digicam, I realized a lot and made family and friends for my lifetime. Gladiators [Scandal fans] have been such an enormous half. We wouldn’t be capable to make the present with out the Gladiator followers. It’s form 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 beloved my labor. I’ve a mother podcast referred to as Katie’s Crib, and now we have lots of being pregnant tales on it, and sure, there are some scary issues and scary experiences. However I all the time assume it’s essential to listen to. There are additionally lots of ladies who’ve a good time and who’re tremendous, and every little thing goes nice, ? Folks actually prefer 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 relatively 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 advised 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 write down house about—I went in, I conquered, I rocked it, I got here house, and every little thing went tremendous.
SKINCARE
I do a complete regime from Biologique Recherche. I dwell by it, so lots of my face merchandise are from there. I exploit P50 to take off my make-up at night time. Then, I exploit a serum from Future Cosmetics referred to as Magnificence Drops. Then, I exploit their Excessive Cream in the course of the day and Biologique Rechere Placenta Cream at night time. 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 in regards to the eye space. I normally go between Mario Badescu Olive Eye Cream or Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream. It’s thick and shimmery, and I’m all about preserving the world hydrated. I preserve attempting totally different de-wrinkling eye cream, and it could be okay for an evening, after which at day two or three, I’m like, “My eye is totally crimson and blown up.” I can’t do it.
I’m large 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 good brightening pick-me-up for occasions. She’s superb. 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 lots of 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 arms and stuff. She initially created it, I’m fairly positive, 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 have been displaying how bruised their faces have been. It was initially for that, after which we have 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 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 a bit of 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 individual. 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 each time I’m not working, I actually simply rock it pure and go days with out washing it and dwell 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 realized 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 exhausting. From all of the dwell tweeting and all of the cellphone stuff we’re doing, I attempt to be very acutely 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 alleged 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 have 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 alleged 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 individual. I really like placing the Advantage Cut up Ends Serum on the guidelines of my hair, and preserving 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 brief, 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 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, 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 wish 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 way of a loopy time. It’s superb. Being pregnant is difficult, and the tip is a particular sort of hellscape. [Laughs] The tip is the freaking worst. What’s so loopy is that you simply really feel afraid of labor and you’re feeling afraid 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 referred to as Kiki Cream, it’s a very pure, all natural shea butter. I began it all through my pregnancies too, on my stomach, but it surely’s meant on your complete physique. My nails are a catastrophe. My ft are a catastrophe. I ought to actually be doing higher at determining what I may very well 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 sort of in between fragrances proper now. I exploit lots of Eau de Orange Blossom from Coqui Coqui, however I’m additionally sort of a hippy. In the course of the chilly season, I’m into utilizing On Guard Protecting Mix from Doterra. I’ve two little germ-filled kids who’re disgusting, and so they’re consistently battling colds and diarrhea, so I’m consistently carrying these things referred to as On Guard, which has a bit of little bit of a cinnamon scent, but it surely’s extra of a necessary oil. I really feel like I’m round lots of people in shut quarters at work, so I don’t wish to be too overly scented. I’m actually taking pictures a comedy scene at present the place there’s six of us in a mattress rolling round. I simply don’t need folks to be like, “Whoa… Katie… Settle down with the fragrance.” I actually additionally like Lakshmi Perfume Oil. I’m large 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 lodge the place my character was conned, in Marrakech, referred to as La Mamounia. It’s one of the vital unique, fancy, elite resorts on the planet. They’ve their very own scent that they blast by way of the lodge. We shot that two years in the past, and I purchased a few 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.