Everything You Need to Create the Perfect Clean Girl Aesthetic [Detailed Guide]

What is clean girl aesthetic? 

Clean girl aesthetic is basically a very minimalistic life that looks effortless and often appears on an aesthetic social media feed.

Think cucumber salads. Barely noticeable, natural looking makeup. Pilates class with a sustainable water bottle. Minimalistic outfits and matching sets with muted tones.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here

Clean girl aesthetic aligns with That Girl Aesthetic, which also gained popularity simultaneously. 

The aesthetic also has origins in the “off duty model” and “no-makeup makeup look” trends from the 90s and early 2000s. 

Oftentimes, clean girl aesthetic isn’t effortless at all and takes a lot of time and patience. But when complete, the aesthetic gives off the barely tried vibe. 

When did the clean girl aesthetic start?

The clean girl aesthetic started on social media. Many influencers and content creators had the clean girl aesthetic look before the term became popular on TikTok.

All white decor and fashion has been trending for a while, especially minimalistic fashion and capsule wardrobes.

Clean girl aesthetic rose to popularity at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, especially on TikTok.

It all started with a video by the creator, @xolizahbeauty on TikTok. She created her version of a clean makeup look with the following voice over “You know those girls that always look clean? Their skin is always glowing, their lips are always glossed, and they never, ever look like they’re wearing too much makeup?”

From there, clean girl everything blew up, from makeup to skin care to hairstyles to fashion looks. 

How to get the clean girl aesthetic?

To achieve the clean girl aesthetic, you first have to think about these main parts of the clean girl vibe:

The main elements of clean girl aesthetic

Simple Hair – slicked back, buns, ponytails

Barely There Makeup – tinted moisturizer, lip oils, the dewy look, lip tints, natural eyebrows  

Eating Green  – cucumber water, salads, celery juice 

Spa Days – luxury hotel spas, self care bath time, detailed skin care routines 

Minimalistic – simple gold jewelry, white furniture, matching sets, simple outfits 

Movement – long walks, yoga mats, pilates sessions 

Luxury – high end perfume, exotic vacations, luxury cars, soft girl lifestyle 

Common Colors – white, pink, clear, iridescent, beige, blue, green 

With these elements in mind, figure out which ones you want to do and which are realistic for you to do regularly and begin to incorporate them into your life.

Affordable Clean Girl Aesthetic Products

The following products are actually the main products I use for my personal skin care and body care routines. Recently, I’ve been more focused on super simple products that are also affordable.

What is clean girl hair?

Clean girl hair is often super simple, easy styles that look effortless and sleek. The looks often turn out to be a bun, claw clip ponytail or hair down, no extras. You can also do a middle or side part ponytail. These hairstyles are often paired with all gold jewelry, especially simple hoops.

Olaplex is the #1 clean girl aesthetic hair product out there, especially Olaplex No. 3. OUAI shampoo & conditioner come in at a close second. Scalp exfoliators also are on the rise alongside clean girl hair.  

Clean Girl Skin Care Routine 

A clean girl skin care routine is usually very thorough.

It’s usually simplistic, but can range from 3 steps to 13 steps.

The matte look is out and the dewy look is in. This includes super glowy looks using lip oils, body shimmer and thick moisturizers. Glossier, LANEIGE and OSEA are some of the top skin care brands for the aesthetic.

The rise of clean girl aesthetic also aligned with the rise of popular and simple skin cycling skin care routines. Many TikTok users have found success with skin cycling: 

​​Skin Cycling Step-by-Step Guide

Day 1: Cleanser + Retinol + Moisturizer + Healing Ointment 

Day 2: Cleanser + Exfoliator + Moisturizer + Healing Ointment 

Day 3: Cleanser + Hyaluronic Acid Serum + Moisturizer + Healing Ointment 

Day 4: Cleanser + Hyaluronic Acid Serum + Moisturizer + Healing Ointment 

After day 4, you repeat the process over again and start back at day 1. 

What is Clean Girl Makeup? 

Clean girl makeup is basic, simplistic and looks like skin.

After years of really beautiful super contoured, baked and Instagram baddie makeup looks, clean girl aesthetic is almost the polar opposite.

Clean girl aesthetic makeup is all about natural beauty. Women are embracing their thicker, bushier, grown out eyebrows. Freckles and beauty marks are front and center. Tinted moisturizer evens the skin oh so subtly. And oil adds light color and gloss to lips. 

Brands like Rare Beauty and Glossier are super popular because of their minimalist and aesthetically pleasing product packaging.

Clean Girl Body Care Routine

Similar to clean girl makeup and skin care, body care routines fall under the same theme: minimalistic, simple and luxurious. 

I hope this guide helps you achieve the clean girl aesthetic that works best for you and your budget.