Camila Mendes is a “no bullshit” kind of person. And as someone who is measured, dignified, and to the point, it’s no wonder her approach to skincare is just as straightforward. Knowing this, a partnership with Loops seems like a no-brainer for the Riverdale and Do Revenge actress. The skincare brand is centered around hydrogel masks that deliver potent, high-quality ingredients to your face in 10 minutes flat.
“It’s good skincare, and it’s delivered and packaged in a way that makes it easy and effortless to weave into your life,” says Mendes. “I don’t have time to always figure out, When am I supposed to use this mask, and what is this product that’s in it? I get so overwhelmed with a lot of skincare brands that kind of overdo it.”
It may seem like every celebrity has a hand in the proverbial beauty pot these days, but like everything else Mendes does, her pivot to skincare wasn’t a careless move. “I had this fear: If I started to explore new paths, would that take away from my acting?” she says. “Would people not take me seriously as an actor? At the end of the day, that is my main passion that I want to prioritize—always.”
After a lot of consideration, Mendes decided to take the leap and partner with Loops. It was a natural move. The colorful jelly masks easily fit into her routine, even when she has a jam-packed schedule to manage. In fact, Mendes credits Loops products with helping her stay grounded during hectic production schedules.
“I bring Loops masks with me, and I have them everywhere I go,” says Mendes. “It feels like the one stable part of my routine. I’m somebody who has to constantly reinvent my routine depending on where I am and what I’m shooting. I need something that can be slotted in in such a simple way.”
Mendes’s two favorite offerings are the Night Shift Mask and the Hyper Smooth Mask. Night Shift is a hydrating recovery mask that does major repairs on parched skin, while Hyper Smooth helps even out hyperpigmentation. As a self-proclaimed night owl, Mendes says nighttime is the only real time she has for herself. “It’s the first time of the day where I’m not obligated to be somewhere or do something, and it’s just my time,” she says. “Night Shift is something I can always manage in my schedule.”
As for Hyper Smooth? Mendes admits to me that she picks her skin. (Yes, she knows you’re not supposed to.) “Whenever I have a blemish, I’ll destroy it, obliterate it until it’s bleeding, and it becomes a cut and then a scar,” she says. Hyper Smooth helps even out her skin tone when she’s dealing with these residual dark spots.
For her other skincare essentials, Mendes relies on a few trusty staples. She likes Eminence’s Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser and Stone Crop Hydrating Mist, KD Skincare’s KD Wipe Away the Day Acne Treatment Pads, Tatcha’s Water Cream, and Renee Rouleau’s Weightless Protection SPF. Oh, and she’ll never leave the house without her Armani Luminous Silk Concealer. “I’m attached to that product,” she says with a laugh.
When I ask Mendes if she’s a fragrance person, I get a resounding “oh my god, yes.” Her scent of choice? Armani My Way, which she swears up and down that she loves regardless of being an Armani brand ambassador. I imagine that sitting next to Mendes is akin to being swaddled in a haze of bergamot, white florals, vanilla, and cedar, and the actress wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m really obsessed with having a signature scent,” she says. “I find it so attractive when people have a signature scent. I think it’s so hot when you smell somebody in the room and you know exactly who it is.”
Needless to say, she doesn’t switch up her fragrances, and this kind of resolute attitude carries into the way she lives her life. Mendes believes that it’s of the utmost importance to be in touch with yourself, both from a skincare perspective and a mental health perspective. “Whenever I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed, the solution for me is [figuring] out what’s going on with [myself],” she says. “Get to the root of the problem and confront all those things, and bring them out to the surface. Have conversations with yourself. I don’t like anything that’s super prescriptive. I feel like we’re constantly changing as people. And we need to constantly reassess what we should be doing.”
When it comes to skincare, she feels the same rules apply. Mendes doesn’t believe in stagnant skincare routines. As her skin has ups and downs, she likes to tweak her methods. While her routines might change with her skin, you can bet on one thing: Mendes will always find the best solution.
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