It's 2023, and quite honestly, all bodily functions, features and types should be normalized by now. Right?
But unfortunately, that's not quite the world we live in. Though body positivity is a growing movement, and more people are choosing to socialize in clothes that feature comfort over fashion, we still have a long way to go.
Sharing our "true faces" is definitely an area that needs work.
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has personally taken that task on as she's made herself not only increasingly visible on Instagram, but increasingly vulnerable and real too.
Back in March, she shared a video in which she talked about her "hormonal acne" and referenced the various "not happy" pimples she had on her T-zone and around her chin, common in hormonal breakouts.
That is exactly what acne is: common. Though everyone tries to hide it.
But not Brown.
This week, Brown brought the subject up again on Instagram, this time discussing the differences between wearing a "full beat" of full-coverage makeup and going natural with all blemishes, hair, or lack thereof showing.
The post was brief, featuring two photos and a short caption. The first photo showed Brown in full makeup, looking beautiful, glamorous, and well, smooth.
You can see the post here:
In contrast, the second photo featured a closeup selfie of Brown, this time completely without makeup, and with skin discoloration and acne of ranging intensity on her face.
Here is the photo from the post:
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
Finally, Brown's caption simply read:
"@florencebymills, help."
Brown tagged Florence By Mills, which is the beauty line she started, featuring vegan and cruelty-free makeup, fragrances and—most importantly—skincare.
In the beauty line's latest Instagram post, Brown was featured holding up a bottle of their "Wildly Me" fragrance in front of her face.
The caption of the post was telling and aligns perfectly with Brown's latest personal post:
"I'm wildly me because I embrace my imperfections and choose to be wildly authentic...no matter what!"
Her post was a great example of her "walking the walk" as she authentically showed what she looks like under makeup and chooses to love herself anyway.
And Millie Bobby Brown's Instagram followers absolutely loved her for it.
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
@milliebobbybrown/Instagram
In a world full of face-tuning, smoothing and brightening filters, and secrecy surrounding makeup, fillers, surgery and filters, it's no wonder that it's become increasingly difficult to tell what is real and what is not—or what is beautiful, or what is natural.
Though it should have happened a long time ago, it's important that people in the public eye like Millie Bobby Brown are speaking up and reminding us of what is real and to embrace that reality.