Actress Chandler Kinney is having her busiest summer yet and showing no signs of slowing down. With the release of "Elle" on Amazon Prime at the top of July, we were introduced to the arch-nemesis of a young Elle Woods, Kimberly Carter (played by Kinney).
While Kinney more than nailed the role of high school bully, it's a relief to know that in real life, she's kind, friendly, and easier than ever to talk to.
"I was so excited when I had the opportunity to sign on," she tells Popsugar. She was, of course, a previous "Legally Blonde" fan, and working on its prequel series for TV was a dream come true. "To have the opportunity to work with Hello Sunshine, who prioritizes women-led stories, and to be on a women-led set was so incredible. Kimberly, for me, was [also] such a creative challenge. It was so fun, as an actor, getting to dig into those layers."
If you devoured all of season one in one sitting (guilty), you'll also be excited about the show's other good news. "We also got an early pickup and have wrapped on our second season already," Kinney says. "We're just stoked for that to be out in the world, and I'm currently just enjoying the fruits of the labor. You're on set and you're keeping things secret for so long, and now you kind of get to share it with the world."
"Elle" also takes place in the '90s — an epic era ripe with makeup trends we still see and love today. Needless to say, this got Kinney inspired. "I had never been a lip liner girlie, and now I am because that is a key part of Kimberly's look," she says. "I really got into that!" Aside from leaning into the makeup of the times, Kinney's partnership with personal-care brand Hello is another serendipitous gain she scored while filming the show. "That actually has now become [something] I kind of associate that time in my life with," she said. Now the brand's chief aura officer (a dream role that involves vibe checks and copious amounts of bedazzling), she considers the start of this partnership her first real foray into self-care.
"[Acting] is a really demanding job and I think you always have to protect your aura and your energy, especially as an artist," she says. "Being around a lot of energies throughout the day, you have to be intentional about protecting your own peace. And, I think a great way to do that is really building a strong self-care routine."
Her new gig definitely helps her do just that. "Stepping into the role of the chief aura officer felt very apropos and very timely," she says. "[I love] using the Mellow Mint Dream Toothpaste ($7) as part of my self-care routine as well. It's whipped, it's fun, it's light, and a sensorial experience. It always puts a smile on my face. And so it's a great way for me to harvest some good energy to bring into the day and bring into my work."
And that's not all she does for a self-care moment. While incorporating joy and whimsy into her morning routine via Hello keeps her grounded, she also loves a daily skin-care ritual to set her up for success. "I actually am pretty simple [when it comes to skin care]," she says. "[My routine] does change based on where I am and what I'm doing, but especially at work. I try to keep it pretty simple, especially because I'm putting so many products on my face on a day-to-day basis [on set]." Her nonnegotiable item? A good face wash. "I'm an Osea girlie, so I use the Ocean Cleanser ($48) or the Ocean Cleansing Mud ($48)." For a little hydration, she also loves Caudalie's Vinoperfect Moisturizer ($65). And last but not least, she always tops it off with sunscreen.
"Always, always sunscreen every single day," she says. "Even if you think the sun is not out, it's going to get you. She's out, she's just hiding behind the clouds." Her sunscreen of choice is Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen ($38) for its truly invisible properties. "Having some melanin in my skin, I do not like a lavender cast on my face," she says. "I appreciate how lightweight and clear it is. It looks like a nice primer too."
When she isn't working, she likes to dabble in masks and exfoliants, but admits it's probably not the best for her sensitive skin to have so many different products on rotation. "It's kind of like Russian roulette because I don't know if [something is] going to be the one that makes me break out or work wonders," she says. "But I kind of like to risk it sometimes. Usually it turns out OK." The story of every beauty editor's life, ever.
Shawna Hudson is a beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer whose work has appeared in Bustle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, Byrdie, Elite Daily, and more.
Hello Mellow Mint Dream Toothpaste
$7 at Target
Osea Ocean Cleanser
$48 at Ulta
Osea Ocean Cleansing Mud
$48 at Ulta
Caudalie Vinoperfect Moisturizer
$65 at Sephora
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
$38 at Sephora
