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Makeup trends are always changing. Each year brings along new looks for us to explore and experiment with! The ‘clean’ girl aesthetic, which has gone viral all over social media, is definitely one of the hottest trends of the season! Today, I’m sharing 5 tips for achieving the ‘clean’ girl aesthetic.
What is The ‘Clean’ Girl Aesthetic?
The “clean” girl aesthetic is an extension of the “model-off-duty” and “no-makeup-makeup” looks. It’s a clean, fresh look that helps you look polished, awake, and well-put-together without being overly done. Let’s think girl next door with a dash of soft glam!
Generally, the “clean girl” makeup look involves having dewy skin, fluffy brows, flushed or bronzed cheeks, and glossy, lightly tinted lips. The dewiness and naturalness of this look can help you look youthful, yet elegant at the same time. This definitely sounds like a good look for appearing significantly more awake on those Monday Zoom calls!
How Does ‘Clean’ Girl Makeup Differ From No-Makeup Makeup?
If you have been following makeup trends for the past few years, I’m sure you have heard of the no-makeup makeup look. If you haven’t, the no-makeup makeup look is essentially applying makeup in a way that looks like you aren’t wearing a ton of makeup. It’s a minimal, natural approach to makeup that I’m sure we can all appreciate!
However, unlike the no-makeup makeup look, the ‘clean’ girl look is a total vibe. The ‘clean’ girl look extends beyond just makeup – it involves slicking your hair back, adding minimal gold jewelry, wearing neutral clothing, and sporting large cool-girl sunglasses similarly worn by the likes of Hailey Bieber, Zoe Kravitz, and Kendall Jenner. In essence, the ‘clean’ girl look embodies the Gen Z pop culture aesthetic of “that girl” (FKA “Girlboss” by my fellow Millenials). That girl whose career is on the move. That girl who eats healthy and wakes up early to work out every morning. That girl who has her own, ridiculously tidy place of dwelling. That girl who is goal-oriented and determined to get stuff done. Essentially, that girl is #goals.
The Tips You Need
1. Don’t Skip Your Skin Care Routine
Without a doubt, skin care is a very important step in achieving the ‘clean’ girl look. You should start your routine by cleansing your face with a cleanser that does not strip your skin of its natural oils. Remember, we have to get our glow on, ladies! For more information on cleansing, check out How To Master The Art Of Double Cleansing.
After cleansing and gently patting your face try, apply your toners and serums accordingly. Aim for serums containing hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C to hydrate your skin and create a nice glow. For more information on affordable hyaluronic acid serums, check out Why Every Woman Needs Hyaluronic Acid For Youthful Skin. If you have extra time, try rolling your face with a jade roller to reduce any facial puffiness, stimulate blood flow, and help your serums absorb better into your skin.
Lastly, don’t forget to add your daily moisturizer and sunscreen!
2. Apply Makeup
The Base
The ‘clean’ girl look emphasizes applying your makeup base in a natural way. Ideally, the look involves only applying concealer in places where you feel you need a little coverage. However, if you want additional coverage, lightly apply your favorite foundation, skin tint, BB Cream, or tinted moisturizer to even out your skin. Don’t be heavy-handed – embrace your so-called “flaws” and let your moles, freckles, and blemishes be seen! Next, apply some concealer under your eyes in an upward motion, and in other areas where you may need it.
Cream or Liquid Blush, Bronzer, and Highlighter
Next, you should add cream or liquid blush, bronzer, or highlighter to your face. This look focuses on using cream or liquid products rather than powdery formulations to maintain a natural, healthy glow. If you have naturally dry skin like myself, you may find cream or liquid blushes and bronzers to be an absolute blessing!
Lightly Set or Set Wherever Needed
Third, you should minimally apply powder under your eyes and in the areas where you get the oiliest throughout the day. If you are an oily girl, you may want to apply a full face of powder to minimize greasiness and tone down shine. One of the best things that I love about this look is that it does not involve baking your face! Moreover, the overall goal of this look is to look light and fresh and not overly matte and powdery.
Eyes
To achieve the ‘clean’ girl makeup look, you should definitely keep your eye makeup simple. If you want to look more awake, try swiping a bit of cream bronzer or blush on your lids and add a bit of mascara. No false lashes needed, ladies!
In addition to keeping your eyeshadow simple, you should also keep your brows as natural as possible. If your brows could use some extra depth, lightly fill in your brows with your favorite brow product and use brow gel to tame your brows and give them a laminated effect.
Lips
To finish off the makeup look, apply a tinted lip balm, lip oil, lip gloss, or neutral lipstick to your lips. The goal here is to enhance the natural color of your lips. Think your lips, but better! If you need help achieving more hydrated lips, check out Easy DIY Lip Scrub For Luscious Lips.
3. Hair
The “clean’ girl look involves keeping your hair simple! If you are having a good hair day, feel free to leave your hair down. If the weather is unfortunate or wash day is long overdue, put your hair in a bun, puff (for textured hair), ponytail, or braid. In addition, try adding some gel, pomade, or hairspray to create a slick look and tame unwanted frizz.
4. Clothing
I firmly believe that you should wear whatever suits your mood or style. However, in order to maximize the ‘clean’ girl look, you should keep your clothing minimal, comfortable, and classic. Now that summer is approaching, try wearing a simple sundress when you are out and about. Dresses are great because they are breezy and require minimal effort!
5. Jewelry
Lastly, you should finish off your outfit with simple gold jewelry. Aim for wearing simple gold hoops, studs, or dainty necklaces and bracelets. Simple gold jewelry is a great choice because it won’t distract from the simplicity and elegance of the overall look. If you are looking to expand your gold jewelry collection, check out Mejuri!
‘Clean’ Girl Look FAQs
Does the ‘clean’ girl makeup look work for all skin tones?
Yes, one of the best things about the ‘clean’ girl makeup look is that it is inclusive and can be worn by everyone! Although the aesthetic works for everyone, you should still make sure that your foundation, concealer, powder, and blush/bronzer shades complement your skin tone and undertone.
Can you still wear the ‘clean’ girl makeup look if you have acne?
Yes, you can still sport the ‘clean’ girl makeup look if you have acne. Although the look emphasizes minimal coverage, apply an extra layer or two to make you feel more comfortable. Don’t let the “flawless” skinned ladies on social media discourage you from doing your thing!
Can mature ladies wear the ‘clean’ girl look?
I don’t think your age should restrict you from wearing this look! Mature beauties should not shy away from achieving and wearing this look if they desire to. In fact, those with mature skin may actually like wearing a more radiant makeup look. Using creamy, glowy makeup products can help you look younger and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regardless of age, I think we could all use a little glow in our lives.
I hope that these tips help you achieve the ‘clean’ girl look this summer! 🙂
Love,
Miracle With Grace