Christina Ricci is keeping her makeup routine under wraps for now.

The actress and mother to Freddie, 11, and Cleopatra, 3, just fronted a campaign for Merit’s Solo Shadow Sheen.

In the campaign, the star wears an array of the brand’s new eye shadow shadeswhich have a pearlescent-finish that’s suitable for day and night.

Ricci says her routine is extremely low-key, she loves products that she can apply with her hands, such as CC creams and will sometimes add cream blush and eyeshadows like the ones Merit launched.

But even if her occasional makeup routine (when not filming, she only puts it on for “important meetings,” she says) is as easy as 1-2-3, she’s keeping the process to herself as much as possible, she tells PEOPLE.

“I try not to do it in front of her,” Ricci says of applying makeup in front of her daughter.

The reason for that is simple.

“I don’t want to give her this impression that this is something that she’s expected to do as a woman and when she gets older,” the Wednesday actress, 45, adds.

Ricci, who grew up having to wear makeup on screen and using skin care to get it off, says she’s aware of the teenage obsession with skin care geared towards adults, and she’s not on board with the trend.

“I remember being 12 and being really excited about sparkly glitter eyeshadow and fun makeup,” Ricci recalls.

“I think fun little girl silliness is one thing, but no 12-year-old needs skin care,” she says of the craze of teens purchasing items for far older skin types.

Ricci leans into skin care most, sharing that her No. 1 splurge is a good mask. “I have drawers of those at home,” she admits, adding that her favorites are from 111 Skin, Hanacure and Lancer.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When she’s off duty, Ricci also takes a break from thinking about her appearance.

“I try not to think too much about (it) when I’m not working. But I think that that comes from being somebody who has to think about their appearance when they’re working,” she says. “I try to just be like, ‘this is who I am, and I’m either the more me or less me.’”