I didn’t think the word “clean” could have any more depth to it than what it already means: free from dirt, marks or stains. However, social media has proven me oh-so-wrong. To TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram and Youtube the word “clean” goes far beyond a person or an object just being cleansed or spotless. It’s not just an adjective, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a makeup routine. It can even be your minimalistic home decor.
“When I think of the clean look, I think of the girl who has her life together,” MU junior Hadley Hormuth said. “She has a shower routine, uses moisturizer and hair products like Olaplex, and always has on lipgloss.”
The “clean” look has been sweeping social media for weeks now and based on the endless Pinterest tiles featuring the word “clean” that I scroll past; it has become impossible to ignore. But like I said before, the word “clean” is more than its simple definition. It’s an aesthetic that anyone can apply to almost every aspect of their life. From clothes and makeup to lifestyle choices, this is how to master the “clean” look.
Makeup
Perhaps the biggest aspect of mastering the “clean” look is the makeup. After Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter and Beauty Light Wands seemed to take over everyone’s makeup routines, the “clean” makeup look soon followed. The look focuses on looking fresh and glowy, while simultaneously looking like you’re barely wearing any makeup at all. The trick? A makeup routine that almost strictly sticks to using cream-based products. You start with fluffing up your brows with a clear gel or subtle brow tint before moving into your base. The base makeup usually centers around a sheer coverage skin tint or tinted moisturizer that doesn’t dry out the skin. And if you’re really going for minimal, you only use concealer. To sculpt the cheekbones, you use cream contour to keep it natural and top the cheeks with cream blush to keep you looking fresh and dewy. A light setting powder can be swept under the eyes and t-zone, before finishing off with a few swipes of mascara and lipgloss. Before you know it, you go on with your day looking like you’ve been misted with water on a hot summer’s day. Gorgeous.
Clothes
Some people would look at a “clean” girl’s outfit and wonder where the flavor in the fit is. But the flavor is in the simplicity of the “clean” girl outfit. It’s simple yet put together without being flashy or overdone. You go for the neutrals: the whites, creams, tans, blacks, browns and even the grays. You can mix and match or take the monochromatic route. Matching sweat sets are always a good idea when it comes to looking “clean” as well as basic tops and pants with staple sneakers and boots. Pair your outfit with simple gold jewelry and you’re done!
Hair
Bella Hadid does it best. The super slicked-back cool girl hair seems to sharpen her cheekbones anytime she wears her hair back. Slicked-back buns and ponytails, half-up half-downs or claw-clips galore: these are the styles that fill the “clean” girl aesthetic look-book. My personal favorite is the slicked-back bun. Part ballerina, part model off duty, with a dollop of hair gel run over my baby hairs my face feels snatched and my attitude feels fierce. If you prefer a less constricting “clean” girl hairstyle, opt for freshly blown-out bouncy tresses or sleek and straightened strands.
Lifestyle
Picture this: your morning routine starts at 7:00 a.m. with a fresh coffee and journaling. Then it’s a balanced breakfast, a tall glass of water or a smoothie, and then off to the gym for a workout to a group class. If it’s giving off the Emma Chamberlain Soul Cycle era aesthetic, that’s “clean” for you. In a perfect world, a “clean” lifestyle would be filled with green juices, meal prepping, cute outfits and perfectly executed makeup, all while being extremely productive and girl-bossing your way through school or work. But don’t always believe what you see on social media. As much as the “clean” aesthetic lifestyle seems like a dream, sometimes all you want to do is lay in an old t-shirt with your bedhead and watch Netflix while your to-do list grows longer. But striving for simplicity and productivity is an aspect of the “clean” lifestyle that holds no pressure on the average person going throughout their day. But on occasion, feel free to pick up your favorite latte or smoothie to feel that extra dose of “clean.”