The Gentle Face Mask Camila Mendes Swears By For Exfoliating

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

When it comes to skincare, Riverdale and Do Revenge actress Camila Mendes is all about time and patience. Still, that doesn't stop her from feeling the buzz and excitement around her latest endeavor with Loops Beauty. Last July, she was appointed creative director of the brand and has since released two face masks, but the brand's newest launch, the Fresh Peel Face Mask, speaks to her needs in a different way.

“I always try to do gentle versions of everything, and I don't like doing anything super heavy that might damage my skin,” she tells Women’s Health. “Now I have the joy of using Fresh Peel and adding that to my routine.”

The new product is a gentle exfoliator that won't irritate the skin, and as it turns out, it isn't far off from how Mendes approaches the rest of her skincare routine. For example, when she's traveling and needs to grab something quickly, she’ll reach for something simple and gentle like the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.

If you're curious to know all of the details of Mendes's skincare routine, read on for a full rundown of her favorite products and must-haves.

Gentle exfoliation is a must

“I love exfoliation, particularly gentle exfoliation," Mendes says. "I 'm not somebody who typically goes to get a peel done. [The Fresh Peel Face Mask] feels like a mask that meets me in a place where I can have the benefits of exfoliation without the downtime of doing a traditional peel.”

She's learning how to let her skin do its thing

If you struggle with blemishes, you know how tempting it can be to pick at your skin. As for Mendes, she admits that letting blemishes come and go without interfering is still a work in progress. “It takes a certain level of self-control I haven't found yet," she says. "But I find that when I can curb that urge to prematurely pop blemishes and let them run their course that I don't end up getting the dark spots and having to get rid of [them] over a long period of time."

She adds that the most helpful thing for her skin is not trying to take control of blemishes but rather to keep at her regular skin routine and trust the process to avoid doing more damage.

Mendes is all about giving her skin time to recover

Mendes typically looks for skincare products that can help her achieve an even, blemish-free complexion—but she likes to give her skin a break between products. “I 'm not doing a ton at once, you know. I'll use retinol, but not on the same day that I use an exfoliant pad or something," she says. "I just kind of feel it out as I go.”

When treating blemishes, the star reaches for KD Skincare’s Wipe Away The Day Acne Treatment Pads, and for retinol, she opts for the SkinMedica 0.25 Retinol Complex, which is helpful for reducing fine lines and pores while reducing acne breakouts.

SPF is a must under makeup

Whether she’s going about her daily routine or she’s in the makeup chair getting camera-ready, Mendes always preps with SPF. On her days off, she layers Renée Rouleau's Weightless Protection SPF 30 under her makeup.

But when she's filming Riverdale, her makeup artist prefers to use the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, which doubles as a primer. “She says that it doesn’t pill underneath makeup—it doesn't get into that little crusty texture that it can get sometimes,” she explains. The formula of the sheer sunscreen was created to glide onto the skin to provide shine control with a makeup-gripping finish—so it's no wonder why it's beloved by makeup artists.

She’s open to trying new treatments

Mendes recently opened up to trying Laser Genesis. She reveals that the collagen-boosting treatment was actually recommended to her by her Riverdale castmates. “It's like a more gentle laser facial. It helps with the scarring, pigmentation, pores, and regenerating cells. It's great for anti-aging,” she says. “It's non-invasive, and it just gently heats the skin.” She adds that the treatment requires eight sessions, and while she’s only done two so far, she’s noticing a difference.

You Might Also Like

• Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream

• These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals