‘Suits’ star Sarah Rafferty offers her secrets to staying radiant this summer

Sarah Rafferty attends Amopé’s record-setting ‘pedipark’ in Toronto, June 2015. (courtesy)

Maintaining a summer beauty routine is tough, what with the oppressive heat and thick humidity doing all it can to melt your makeup and wilt your hair-do. Combine that with a busy filming schedule like Sarah Rafferty’s, and it’s enough to make a girl go crazy. But Rafferty, who plays the quick-witted and charming Donna on the TV show “Suits,” manages to do it all with grace in the muggy Toronto weather.
Rafferty shares some of her beauty secrets in this Q&A with Yahoo Canada, and offers up some advice to young women looking for beauty (and life) inspiration.

Are there any inexpensive/bargain products that you use for your beauty routine?
On set we use Benefit’s “Girl Meets Pearl” illuminator as a primer and we fake a tiny bit of tan on my super white legs with Sally Hansen “Airbrush Legs” make up. I was also recently introduced to the Amopé Electronic Foot File. It’s a quick and easy option for keeping your feet sandal ready between pedicures.

What’s your favourite beauty tip you’ve picked up from a makeup artist or hair stylist?
To keep skin looking dewy and hydrated, my make-up artist Patrice Boudreau mixes Kate Somerville “Quench” Serum with my foundation. It looks beautiful and feels great.

What’s the secret to keeping red hair (or hair in general) shiny and voluminous?
I think nutrition plays a huge role in skin and hair health. I avoid processed foods and supplement my diet with Essential Fatty Acids everyday—I know my hair reaps the benefit. When I’m at work, my hair stylist, Cliona Furey begins the process treating my hair with Philip Kingsley “Daily Damage Defense Spray.”

What’s your beauty routine on days when you’re not shooting and just hanging out at a Jays game?
Ha! Well it’s pretty simple, if I’m at a Jays game — the beauty routine involves tinted moisturizer with SPF and my Blue Jays cap. It shields me from the sun and may hide the fact that during my off time, I’m usually hanging out with deep conditioner in my hair.

What do you really envy (or really not envy) about your male co-stars’ ‘beauty regimens’ for the show?
Okay, forget the fact that they’re in and out of hair and make-up in 20 minutes, it’s the fact that they don’t wear heels or Spanx that really gets me.

Did you have any insecurities about your looks growing up, and if so, how did you overcome it?
Is it possible to grow up without insecurities? I dealt with them by cultivating a sense of humor and possibly a less-than-healthy habit of self-deprecation. I wish Amy Schumer had been around in the ‘80s and ‘90s to teach me a thing or two.

Who is your beauty icon, and why?
Meryl Streep. I’ve spent my whole life unable to take my eyes off of her. And my mom, who has never needed an ounce of make up to beautiful inside and out.