The surfacing of the "clean girl aesthetic" hashtag emerged in January 2022 along with ‘how to’ guides across TikTok, which have now surpassed 6 billion views. It’s undeniable that social media microtrends have amplified people’s desire to conform to an aesthetic— from ‘Blokette’ to ‘Rockstar’s girlfriend’, from ‘Gorpcore’ to ‘Cottagecore’, the majority are focused on what you wear.
And yet, when it comes to the clean girl aesthetic, cosmetic and clothing companies nurture the trend via lip-glosses, dewy highlighters, and neutral garments. It soon becomes clear that the trend is taken a step further - suddenly, it also regards what you eat, your skincare, and what your room looks like. This is where the clean girl aesthetic differs from most: it’s a lifestyle.
Cosmetic and clothing companies nurture the trend via lip-glosses, dewy highlighters, and neutral garments
It’s refreshing to have a trend with a focus on taking care of yourself and your skin and enhancing your features to feel better about yourself. However, the aesthetic, unfortunately, leaves little wiggle room for representation.
Rooted in Eurocentric ideals with an undertone of ageism, the expenses behind having the 'desired' 30-step skincare routine and quality makeup products aren’t accessible, nor time-efficient. This can often make you feel like you’re 'failing' the firm aesthetic that must be characterised by being ‘minimalist’ and ‘effortless’ in life.
The term ‘clean girl’ is also harmful, as it poses the question: if you don’t follow the aesthetic, are you dirty? Are you unattractive? Defining a specific lifestyle under the guise of it authorising you as ‘clean’ perpetuates the beauty industry’s impossible standards and reveals the rampant consumerism behind the hashtag. The face of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic is unblemished, clear skin, but does that mean that women with acne don’t qualify? Is wearing a high-coverage foundation something to be looked down upon?
Defining a specific lifestyle under the guise of it authorising you as ‘clean’ perpetuates the beauty industry’s impossible standards
With that being said, it’s important to note that applying one aesthetic to your entire life will come with its own unrealistic standards, whether it be ‘clean girl’ or not. An existence can’t be categorised under one term! Embrace reinvention without feeling the pressure of guidelines.
