If you watched the final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you know Isabella Briggs as Denise Russo, the sharp, no-nonsense senior associate who keeps Steven on his toes. Off screen, the LA native has been navigating something many people can relate to: acne that started with cystic and hormonal breakouts at 15 and never quite responded to the usual fixes.
This summer, Briggs partnered with clinical acne brand Face Reality to start its Clear Skin Method, a customized program that pairs professional treatments with at-home products and acne-safe lifestyle guidance. Here, she opens up about what that journey looks like, the beauty products she swears by and more.
You spent the summer working with New York aesthetician Madalaina Conti on a personalized clear-skin program. What was the biggest lesson you took away from that process?
“I have absolutely loved working with Madalaina. Her approach to her facials and overall skin care has helped my skin immensely. We start low and slow with the percentages in the actives we use, especially because my skin is so sensitive.
What I’ve learned now is to not be so afraid of using actives consistently because my skin can handle it now! For the longest time, I was afraid to use them on my skin because when I was younger, I overused them and damaged my skin barrier. But because Madalaina really helped me hone in on the routine that is best for me, I’ve been able to get my skin used to actives and am able to use them more regularly now without any fear!”
Acne can already feel vulnerable to manage privately, let alone on-screen. Before you teamed up with Face Reality, what did your acne-care regimen look like?
“I’ve been in and out of my dermatologist’s office for years now, and while I felt like some things have helped, most of it was honestly falling flat for me, or worse further damaging my skin. I tried tretinoin and found that to be too harsh for my skin and that the ‘purging’ period never really went away. I was on spironolactone for a while, and although that might have helped for a time, ultimately it didn't really do much for me. Then I tried WINLEVI, and while that worked for about a month, I found my acne came back worse after that month.
Throughout the years, I tried plenty of different exfoliants—lactic, glycolic, salicylic, etc.—and they all worked to varying degrees, but because I didn’t know how to properly use them, I overdid it and damaged my skin. When I discovered mandelic acid, that really clicked for me. It was gentle enough that I could use it confidently, and effective enough that it made a difference on my skin. That’s why I was so excited when I saw Face Reality’s 5% L-Mandelic Serum ($42). And because I’ve been using it so consistently, I’ve even been able to start using their Glycolic-Lactic Toner ($33) more regularly and I absolutely love it!”
Their Mandelic Serum is great. Have you tried the new face mist too? It’s so nice.
“Yes! Their new Omni Clear Mist ($40) is a must for my gym and travel bag! I also really like their Daily SPF ($36). I find that it blends in seamlessly to my skin and sits beautifully under makeup.”
Does your skin-care routine change from summer to fall?
“As I enter different environments and climates, I try my best to listen to what my skin is telling me. As temperatures slowly become cooler and more dry, I try to focus on moisturizing. I’ve found that when it’s drier and cooler outside, I tend to use Face Reality’s HydraCalm Mask ($42) as an overnight mask more often.
Over the summer, that was usually something I’d do about once a week, but as the seasons change, I tend to do it around three times a week. It really helps keep my skin from flaking, especially when I’m using exfoliants. I also find that a good filtered shower head helps when I travel between places. That tends to keep the water I’m using on my face relatively consistent so that it’s not another factor I’m having to worry about. I've been using one from Afina for a while now and I love it!”
Are there any other beauty products in your routine that you highly recommend?
“Because of Face Reality, I haven’t really been reaching for my makeup too much, but when I do, I love using MERIT’s Complexion Stick ($38) and their Flush Balm Blush ($30).
In terms of fragrance, I have been loving DedCool’s Xtra Milk ($90). It’s truly addictive. I also love layering it with other perfumes. I’m a Diptyque superfan, and during the summer, I loved wearing their Philosykos scent ($145) with the Xtra Milk as a sort of undernote. Now that we’re transitioning into fall, I’m due for a visit to Diptyque so I can find a more autumnal scent.”
What do you swear by to keep your curls healthy and bouncy?
“I actually recently had a haircut that was not too kind to my hair and ended up loosening my curl pattern for a few months. I had never had that happen to me before—apparently my hair was in curl shock, who knew [laughs]—and the one thing I found that really helped revitalize my curls and bring them back to their natural pattern was Olaplex No.3 ($34). It’s also been a great product to use when I’m on set or going to a lot of events back to back.
Though I typically wear my hair in its natural state, putting it up in styles, using the blowdryer on it and constantly manipulating it can cause a lot of damage. I’ve found that No.3 has really helped to repair my hair and make sure it’s curling the way it should. I’ve also been using a lot of products from Garnier recently. Their Air Dry Curl Cream ($7) and Curl Construct Creation Mousse ($6) are my go-to duo.”
Any pieces of advice you learned on the set of TSITP that have stuck with you?
“Using a curly hair shampoo and conditioner was a great suggestion I got on set. Although it seems pretty obvious, for a long time I was more concerned with scalp health and used products to help that, and I was not treating my curls at the very beginning of my hair routine. I love Briogeo’s Curl Charisma Shampoo ($28) and Conditioner ($28), and when I started using that, I saw a major difference in my curls.”
What do you love to do when you’re not working?
“I think I love watching movies and TV shows just as much as I love being in them, so I do that a lot. I try to go to the movie theater as often as I can, and I love keeping up with all of the new shows that have been coming out. I’ve also been trying to get back into Pilates and yoga recently, and that has been very rewarding. I’m a huge astrology nerd, too, and I have a big textbook that I love to comb through. It’s actually been a minute since I’ve been able to really dive into it, so that’s definitely something I’m excited to get back to.”
