5 min readfrom POPSUGAR

Isabella Briggs Gets Real About Her Acne Journey

Our take

There's an undeniable conversation swirling around "The Summer I Turned Pretty," and for Isabella Briggs, a crucial element has often been left unaddressed: her experience with acne. In this candid discussion, Isabella bravely pulls back the curtain, sharing her personal journey with vulnerability and grace. It's a refreshingly honest look beyond the polished exterior, reminding us that even within the realm of effortless style, authenticity prevails. Speaking of effortless style, explore how minimalists are embracing the stripe trend for a bold seasonal update.
Isabella Briggs Gets Real About Her Acne Journey

The candidness of Isabella Briggs’ recent discussion around her acne journey, particularly within the context of her role as Conrad Fisher's love interest in "The Summer I Turned Pretty," feels like a significant shift in how young actors are navigating public image and beauty standards. For years, the expectation has been a carefully curated perfection, a flawless façade often reinforced by extensive cosmetic procedures and filters. Briggs’ willingness to share her struggles, acknowledging the pressure to maintain a seemingly effortless beauty, resonates deeply with a generation increasingly skeptical of unrealistic portrayals. It's a welcome counterpoint to the relentless stream of airbrushed perfection that dominates social media and entertainment, and aligns with a growing desire for authenticity and relatability. This openness also subtly reinforces the trends we’ve been observing – a move toward embracing natural textures and a rejection of rigid beauty ideals, as seen in the recent embrace of the stripe trend [Why Even Minimalists Are Embracing the Stripe Trend] and the continued popularity of understated, comfortable footwear as we transition into fall [The Best Transitional Shoes to Wear From Summer Into Fall]. Even the influence of high-fashion icons like Dua Lipa and Rihanna, sporting elevated takes on classic flip-flops [Dua Lipa and Rihanna's Gucci Flip-Flops Are Officially One of Summer's "Hottest" Shoes], speaks to this desire for effortless style over manufactured perfection.

The impact of Briggs’ honesty extends beyond simply acknowledging a common skin condition. It challenges the implicit contract between young actors and their audiences – the expectation that they embody an unattainable ideal. By revealing her vulnerabilities, she dismantles that expectation, creating space for a more nuanced and human connection. This is particularly important for young viewers who are constantly bombarded with images of seemingly flawless individuals, contributing to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The conversation surrounding Briggs’ skin is also timely, given the broader cultural reckoning with the pressures of social media and the pervasive use of filters and editing tools. It prompts a necessary dialogue about the responsibility of public figures to present a more realistic and honest portrayal of themselves, and the importance of fostering a culture of self-acceptance and body positivity. The willingness to discuss imperfections, rather than concealing them, is a powerful act of defiance against a beauty industry that often thrives on insecurity.

Furthermore, Briggs’ approach subtly shifts the narrative away from a purely transactional relationship between celebrity and fan. It's no longer solely about admiring a flawless image; it's about connecting with a person, flaws and all. This fosters a deeper sense of loyalty and admiration, built on authenticity rather than aspiration. It’s a strategic move, too, aligning her personal brand with a growing consumer preference for transparency and genuine connection. Increasingly, consumers are drawn to brands and individuals who demonstrate vulnerability and honesty, recognizing that these qualities are indicative of a more authentic and trustworthy persona. This resonates with the overall cultural shift toward valuing realness over perfection, a trend that’s impacting everything from fashion and beauty to marketing and entertainment.

Ultimately, Isabella Briggs’ willingness to share her acne journey isn't just a personal revelation; it’s a reflection of a broader cultural shift. It signifies a move away from the curated perfection of the past and toward a more authentic and inclusive understanding of beauty. As more public figures follow suit, normalizing imperfections and embracing vulnerability, we can expect to see a continued dismantling of unrealistic beauty standards and a greater emphasis on self-acceptance. The question now is whether this trend will inspire a more widespread conversation about the pressures faced by young actors and the potential for social media to contribute to mental health challenges, and whether the entertainment industry will adapt to embrace a more diverse and realistic representation of beauty.

There's an elephant in the room when discussing "The Summer I Turned Pretty" with Isabella Briggs. The actor's character, Denise, became a fast fan favorite when season three of the hit Amazon show premiered last summer. When a movie was announced after the show's finale, fans assumed they would follow Denise's journey with new love interest Jeremiah Fisher. But when pictures of the cast currently filming emerged earlier this year, Briggs was noticeably missing.

As I sit on a Zoom with her and ask her to appease our worry and at least hint at Denise's possible return in the upcoming film, Briggs just laughs and keeps it coy. "I can't really say much," she says. "I am very, very thankful to have been a part of the third season, and we'll see where it goes from there."

With or without "The Summer I Turned Pretty" movie, it's a big summer for her. On top of joining the group psychosis we're all in and keeping up with the phenomenon that is "Love Island" (she, of course, is team #Brinity), Briggs has partnered with skin-care brand Face Reality as its new celebrity partner. A partnership, she says, that fully aligns with her personal skin goals.

"It's not about perfection. It's not about trying to reach unattainable or false promises," she says. "It's about understanding your skin and using quality ingredients within the skin care to just help better protect and heal and treat your skin, which I really love."

She has been dealing with acne since she was 15, and her biggest struggle, she says, is the consistency of both the state of her skin and sticking with a routine. "There would be some stretches of time and weeks where I felt like my skin was relatively clear of acne and my texture was going down and I was finding a good routine. Then something would change, and then everything would come flooding back [and] my skin would be really congested," she says.

For her acne, she'll use the Face Reality 5% L-Mandelic Serum ($42) every other day and apply it under her moisturizer and SPF. "It does the job and is so gentle; my skin doesn't have any adverse reactions to it," she says. She also likes to use the Glycolic-Lactic Toner ($33) once a week to keep her acne in check. She'll also add benzoyl peroxide to places where she's breaking out; when she needs more hydration or if her skin is feeling irritated, she'll grab the HydroCalm Mask ($42) and leave it on overnight.

This routine has made her feel more confident to walk outside without makeup and feel like she needs to look more done up than normal. "Even when I have little blemishes or hyperpigmentation, I found confidence within my routine and with what I'm doing," she says. "I feel a lot more confident to just go out into the world barefaced."

Her makeup is pretty minimal, focusing on just eyebrow gel for her brows and Merit's Signature Lipstick in L'Avenue ($28). She leans towards autumn and brown shades, and also loves Merit's Flush Balm Blush ($30) in terracotta.

To take care of her natural curls, she learned an important lesson while on set for season three of "The Summer I Turned Pretty:" use curly hair shampoo and conditioner. The Briogeo Curl Defining Hydrating Shampoo ($28) and Curl Defining Conditioner ($28), to be exact. "That's a journey that I'm on right now: trying to figure out what products work best for my hair and what is necessary," she says. "Because I have fine, mostly 3A hair, less product is more. My hair can get really weighed down by product. So making sure that I'm using things that work for me and that give me the results that I want."

Steven (Sean Kaufman), Denise (Isabella Briggs). Photo: Erika Doss © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLCImage Source: Amazon Prime Video

Coming back to discussing the beloved show, she appreciates the fans and all the love they have for Denise and the world of Cousins. Though she can neither confirm nor deny what's in store for her in the film, just being part of the Jenny Han universe is a great privilege.

"It was just kind of cool to see how many people loved the show," Briggs says. "I would be out walking around in the streets, and I would look into a bar, and they'd be hosting a watch party. That was just something that I personally had never experienced before, and it just made me really happy to be a part of something that brought people so much joy and brought people together. I just felt really, really grateful to be a part of something like that; it's a really cool experience both as a person and as an actor."

Audrey Noble is a beauty writer who covers breaking news, writes celebrity profiles, and does deep-dive features about the ways race, gender, sexuality, and other forms of identity impact society via the beauty industry. Previously, she was the beauty reporter at Allure and has held editorial positions at Vanity Fair and Refinery29. Audrey's work can also be seen in PS, Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Bustle, InStyle, WWD, and more

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