The “Clean Girl” aesthetic has been all over the internet for a while now and is increasingly becoming the go-to makeup routine for many celebrities, influencers and everyday makeup wearers alike. The “clean girl” makeup look combines dedicated skincare and no-makeup makeup to give a naturally effortless look that enhances the natural beauty of the user and gives a dewy finish. The key elements of this look are a light base, creamy blush, fluffy eyebrows and a glowy finish. I am personally such a big fan of this makeup style because it’s really all about emphasizing natural beauty with minimal steps. As a college student, I know that going out and buying a whole bunch of new products can be very expensive, but there are a lot of affordable drugstore options as well as higher-end products to help accomplish this look without breaking the bank.
A skin tint/ tinted sunscreen
A big part of the “clean girl” look is focusing less on makeup and more on skincare. By taking care of your skin, the need for heavy makeup to cover problematic areas is eliminated. Using daily sunscreen is a huge step in taking care of your skin, as it can prevent skin cancer and early aging like wrinkles. Heavy makeup can also appear cakey and very unnatural. Skin tints and tinted moisturizers/sunscreens can give you an even skin tone and light coverage that leaves you looking dewy and refreshed but not overly “fake.”
My two personal favorite skin tints to even my red skin tone and give the perfect amount of light coverage are the Rare Beauty Positive Light tinted moisturizer and the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. These two products have blown up on TikTok for their perfect coverage and beautiful finish. Both are a bit pricey, but the Elf Beauty Halo Glow Liquid Filter is a perfect dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and it’s much more affordable. All of these have the stamp of approval from some of the biggest makeup and skincare influencers (like Mikayla Nogueira) and I am personally a huge fan of all of them.
Cream blush (and bronzer if you want)
Using cream-based products is another essential part of the “clean girl” look. Powder-based products can give a cakey appearance, while cream-based products give a much more natural, skin-like look. Heavy blush and cream bronzer will give your face dimension and a sun-kissed appearance that this look is all about achieving. Some really good go-to options include the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Glossier Cloud Paint, Pixi On-The-Glow Blush and the Elf Luminous Putty Blush. These are all internet-approved cream blushes that wear well and leave the user looking radiant and glowing.
fluffy brows
Much unlike the thin brows of the early 2000s, the “clean girl” aesthetic is all about brows that are much more fluffed up. These eyebrows are either achieved with a brow gel, or actual soap and a spoolie. Lifting the brows turns up your face giving the illusion of higher cheekbones and a slimmer appearance. In my opinion, brows are the easiest part of this routine with so many great products out there (which includes so many great, affordable options from the drugstore). As far as more expensive luxury makeup goes, Benefit’s 24-HR Brow Setter is one of the most raved-over brow products on the market. As for more affordable choices, the ELF Wow Brow Gel and the NYX Tinted Eyebrow Mascara are very easy products to use to achieve feathered, fluffy brows. As long as your product is uplifting and fluffing your brows, you’re set!
Overall, just keep your look glowy!
The basic idea of this aesthetic is to have a natural but luminous makeup look. Glossy lips, shining skin, and dewy cheeks are the main components of looking like all the Instagram influencers you see online with perfect complexions. Keeping up with your skincare routine is a necessary step to achieving this look, as well as dewy setting sprays and glossy lips like the viral Dior Lip Glow Oil, Glossier Lip Gloss, and NYX Butter Gloss (which are all TikTok-approved options) for keeping your look luminous and refreshed.
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