Katherine Legge Keeps This $8 Lip Oil in Her Race Car

Katherine Legge is chill. This is the first thing that strikes me about the British pro auto racing driver when I chat with her over Zoom; it becomes even more apparent when I meet her in person about a week later, the day before the 2024 Indianapolis 500. Of course, when your job requirements include racing in ovals at up to 200 mph, being chill isn’t just an asset–it’s a necessity. And that cool, calm, and collected nature has served Legge well: In 2023, she broke the record for the fastest qualifying effort for a woman in Indy 500 history.

This year, she took to the 500-mile race with the backing of e.l.f. Cosmetics—the first beauty brand to serve as the primary sponsor for a race car driver. Ahead of the race on that aforementioned Zoom call, I got to ask Legge a few questions about race day prep, maintaining that calm energy, and the future of women in sports.

The One Skincare Step She’d Never Skip on Race Day

“Mascara! But that’s not skincare. Skincare step, I’d say sunscreen. We’re out in the sun a lot, so I use the Suntouchable Sunscreen Spray because I love it. Everybody loves it–the guys on my race team, my dad. They love the easiness of it. But the one beauty product I couldn’t live without is mascara. I love e.l.f’s Lash n’ Roll Mascara–I need my eyelashes!” 

The One Thing That Keeps Her Grounded 

“My dog. We go running in the woods, I take her for a walk, or I just snuggle with her on the sofa. She grounds me. That’s how I relax.”

The One Beauty Product She Keeps in Her Race Car

“The lip oil, for sure. If you want to look done and polished and elevate your look instantly, [just add] lip oil.”

The (Many) Things She Loves About Her Partnership With e.l.f. 

“My favorite thing is the impact that it’s had, and the changes and the groundbreaking movement that’s come from it. I’ve said this a few times, but I had no idea that it would be this impactful. I’ve been approached by so many young girls, so many women, so many guys who’ve been like, ‘I have to go and buy wife all these e.l.f. products now!’ I think it’s representing women. I’ve been representing for two decades, really, in racing. But nothing has come anywhere close to this partnership with e.l.f, what it’s meant to so many people, and how many people it’s inspiring. 

It’s incredible to see this girl power movement within sports. Somebody put it a lot more eloquently than I can on my Instagram page: She was like, “It’s so cool that now, you can drive a pink car and you can have a makeup sponsor and it isn’t seen as condescending or patronizing–it’s seen as empowering.” They’re empowering more women in the driver’s seat, be that in racing, in the boardroom, or wherever. It’s about breaking barriers, and it’s inspired me a whole lot. 

The One Scent She’s Loving at the Moment

“Normally I like Chanel Chance–that was my go-to for like a decade–but I have a new favorite at the moment, YSL Libre.”

The Best Piece of Advice She’s Ever Received

“Don’t take advice from anybody you don’t respect. It’s easy to get lost in the noise, and everyone has an opinion about what you should do, how you should drive, how you should act. Surround yourself with a few key people you trust, respect, and believe in, and listen to them. Let everyone else drown out in the noise.”

The Most Exciting Thing About the Future of Women in Sports 

“I’m most excited about women being pro other women and this whole girl power movement, rather than us being pitted against each other or competing. It’s really cool that we’re supporting each other and growing as a whole. And I think the more women watch women’s sports, the more there will be equal pay, better deals, and better sponsorship packages. You see that with Caitlin Clark and the WNBA at the moment. I’m looking forward to women supporting other women.”