Before-And-After Pics Highlight How Arielle Kebbel's Face Has Changed

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It doesn't matter how much time passes — some celebrities will always take us back to an era of the past. For Arielle Kebbel, the star of the 2026 film "I Can Only Imagine 2," it's the noughties. Kebbel has achieved so much in her decades-long career, but we'll never forget her most standout roles: Lindsay Forester in "Gilmore Girls," Carrie in "John Tucker Must Die," and Lexi Branson in "The Vampire Diaries." And since those projects aired, Kebbel has transformed from a rising star into a screen goddess. 

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In the space of the 22 years between 2004 and 2026, her face in particular has been through the common changes that we all go through, but she's managed to keep her natural radiance. Smooth, even skin with few lines and imperfections might suggest some cosmetic enhancements, but the "American Dad!" alum has never openly discussed what she has or hasn't had done to her face. Any procedures she has gone for would likely have been conservative and carefully done, since she looks natural and still like herself. 

The change in Kebbel's hairstyle might also account for some of the changes we notice in her face, since some hairstyles can make your face look rounder, while others narrow the face. In the noughties, Kebbel rocked a Y2K-approved side part, occasionally pulling back her bangs to reveal her whole face. These days, the "Aquamarine" star gravitates between a blunt bob with no bangs, super-flattering curtain bangs, or even a wispier version of full Birkin bangs. Kebbel has a heart-shaped face with a more prominent chin and jawline, so the fuller bangs that she turned to as she got older helped to create more balance in her face and even led to a more sculpted, elongated look. 

After hitting 40, your skincare routine might need certain things to maintain an age-defying look, if that's your goal. Arielle Kebbel started taking her skincare seriously well before turning 40, which could be one of the reasons why her face still looks stunning. 

"I use the Mario Badescu rose-water spray," she told Us Weekly in 2018. "I have one in my car and one for the plane. I refresh at least four times a day. It's so good. Years from now, you're gonna thank yourself. It does wonders." Kebbel also revealed that she kept vitamin D face oil in her bag, which has a range of benefits for the skin, including promoting cell turnover and repairing environmental damage that can increase the signs of aging.

One of the biggest changes in Arielle Kebbel's face has been her makeup application, since there are clear differences between the eyeliner-heavy looks she used to wear in the noughties vs. the more refined glam style she has in the 2020s. The "Fifty Shades Freed" star has swapped glossy bright lipstick for more subdued, matte shades (though she did bring out her red lips again for the February 2026 premiere of "I Can Only Imagine 2"). She's also turned to a more ashy shade on her brows, rather than leaving them natural or filling them in with a warmer tone closer to the golden-blond hair she had at the time. Between possible cosmetic enhancements, a good skincare routine, and obvious hair and makeup changes, Arielle Kebbel has managed to maintain her beauty even as her face has transformed. Similarly, for a blueprint of how to continue looking gorgeous through the years, Kelly Clarkson's face transformation since her "American Idol" days has been worth paying attention to.