Kerry Washington Olivia Pope Scandal Makeup

Photo: Courtesy of ABC/VIVIAN ZINK.

In Scandal withdrawal? Yeah, us too. It's hard not to be addicted to the show, in all of its fast-paced, instantly-gratifying glory. What we're missing the most, though, is Kerry Washington's face. Can you blame us? She just has the kind of visage that we could look at forever. Not to mention the makeup she wears as Olivia Pope — talk about the ultimate combination of fierce and sophisticated. Sometimes we just want to re-watch the show on mute to study her blush game.

Then we realized we could do ourselves one better than just guessing what makeup she's wearing. We caught up with Denise Hooper, the head of Scandal's makeup department, and picked her brain about every product that touches Washington's perfect skin. Luckily, she was down to give us the details.

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First and foremost, how do you get Kerry's skin to look so flawless and glowing? Is it just good genes, or is there a trick we can try?
Kerry definitely has naturally beautiful skin, but she does work hard to take care of it. She has a strict regiment of cleansing and moisturizing, and she never goes to bed with her makeup on. She's also super health conscious, which helps. She drinks a ton of water and pressed juices.

Photo: Courtesy of ABC/Danny Feld.

How would you describe Olivia Pope's signature makeup look? What goes into it?

Her look is clean, and pretty yet professional, since she's extremely busy and doesn't have a lot of time to spend in front of the mirror. Some of our favorite products to use to create that feel are Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Stila Convertible Color in Camellia, Lorac Pro Palette Eyeshadow, Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner in Cosmic Black, and Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara. Her lips are usually done with Clinique Whole Lotta Honey. Oh, and to take it all off at the end of the day we use Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes.

What's the most memorable look you've created for the show?
Sheri Knight, our makeup artist, loves Olivia's look from the episode "Boom Goes The Dynamite," which she came up with in collaboration with Linda Villalobos, Kerry's Scandal hairstylist. It was inspired by 1940s Old Hollywood, with lashes and a bold red lip to complement her amazing hairstyle. It's always fun to create a new look when the show features gala events.

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Photo: Courtesy of ABC/Richard Cartwright.

Does the show allow for any risks with makeup looks?
There is never a dull moment on Scandal. We have to keep up with all of the torturing, blood, tooth pulling, and flashbacks while still dreaming up new looks for the office or the next Gala. And, all of the characters have gone through huge transformations, which means their makeup changes, too. Quinn in particular has gone from naïve newbie to O.P.A. and then to a total badass as Charlie's sidekick.

What products are your must-haves on set?
Well, in terms of her cheeks, our must-haves are NARS Blush in Pennylane and Deep Throat. We can't live without Dior concealer. For long days, we love Kevyn Aucoin primer. Cle De Peau Foundation is amazing, too — it has just enough coverage for a flawless look.

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