Kerry Washington's 3 Summer Beauty Must-Haves

Whether on the red carpet, on the screen, or just walking down the street, the IRL Olivia Pope has a permanent glow about her, leaving some of us ladies wondering what Kerry Washington's summer beauty secrets could possibly be. Even when she's playing a kidnapped and beleaguered Pope, Washington manages to look gorgeous and radiant with effortless glamour to spare. Lucky for the rest of us in need of a major makeup overhaul, Style.com spoke with the Scandal star about all of the beauty routines and products she employs to stay looking so stunning.

Washington is actually one of Neutrogena's creative consultants, playing an integral role in the brand's Choose Skin Health campaign. The actress is a huge advocate for skincare awareness, alerting people to the serious importance of regularly wearing sunscreen, even if you're a person of color who believes they're exempt. Washington shared some troubling statistics with Style.com, saying:

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lives. People of color are so vulnerable when we don’t use SPF because sun damage leads to skin cancer. It’s really important that we protect ourselves, and that we have the information and do annual skin screenings, because skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. There’s just no excuse for people to suffer the way they used to.

So if you want to get as gorgeous as Washington, it all starts with smart suncare. But the Scandal star also dished on a few of her other Neutrogena faves that will keep you looking fresh-faced and beautiful all summer long.

1. Sunscreen All Day Everyday

Neturogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, $9.49

Washington cannot stress this point enough. Sunscreen is the foundation to not only keeping your skin healthy, but keeping you looking youthful as you age. Washintgon makes it a part of her daily routine by picking foundations and moisturizers that have SPF built right in. But the actress sometimes bumps it up a notch, telling Style.com, “For summer, when I feel like I need even more SPF, I really like the [Neutrogena] Ultra Sheer because it’s not greasy and it doesn’t cause discoloration, so it really is such an easy way to get the SPF and still feel like I can have my regular life!”

2. Make Sure Your Foundation Is A Perfect Match

Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20, $14.09

Once you've got your sunscreen on, swipe on some foundation to even out skin tone and give your skin a healthy brilliance. Kerry swears by Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup, telling Style.com, “I wasn’t really much of a makeup wearer, to be honest, before I became an actor, so luckily I had makeup artists teach me very early on which were the lines that I could go to to have my needs met. But to be able to have a line that is so accessible, so affordable, and so good for your skin — it’s not just about covering up, it’s about bringing healing to the skin — to have that be something everybody can have, that more people can have access to, is really great.”

3. Let Your Lips Breathe In A Gloss

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Bright Berry, $8.99

Finally, summertime is not the season for thick, heavy lipsticks that clump up and flake. Instead, give your lips a breather with a light, shiny gloss. When it's super hot outside, Washington likes, "to wear a lip color that’s really sheer, easy, moisturizing, and healing — and those are qualities that are all embodied in our MoistureSmooth Color Sticks.”

Finish off with a healthy helping of fruit, coconut water, and Ta-Nehisi Coates' new book Between Me and the World, and people just might mistake your for Olivia Pope in no time flat.

Images: Drugstore.com; Neutrogena (2)