The clean girl aesthetic has taken over the social media world for quite some time now. The clean girl aesthetic refers to using little effort to achieve a minimalistic, fresh, natural look, often associated with slicked back hair and a glossy look. It is no secret that this aesthetic has been embraced by many, and in fact shared constantly across platforms. This trend reached heightened popularity in 2022 when women of all ages began rapidly using the hashtag under videos, specifically GRWMs, day in the life, or just instagram posts and stories. Popular names such as Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie, Bella Hadid, Alix Earle, and more have become the faces of this trend, with many becoming fans of them for this reason in itself. Audiences such as young women were compelled to seek comparison in these figures, some wanting to achieve the same look, the clean girl look.Â
The clean girl aesthetic has shifted the relationship between viewers, beauty, and social media. With an emphasis on perfection and the concept of naturally appearing flawless, this trend has held an impact on the portrayal of acceptable beauty through social media. Influencers often share sophisticated skincare routines, with an abundance of steps and detailed processes to then finally show off their end look. The popularity of this trend has shaped thinking around what social media sees as trendy and what can be popular. Influencers who followed the clean girl trend are well known because people engaged with their content. Now, although trends influencing beauty standards is nothing new, as viewers it is important to acknowledge the role that these standards hold on those who consume media.Â
This trend has pushed a narrative that beauty has to be effortless, and that we have to wake up looking perfect in order to fit the aesthetic on what others view as acceptable. This strips away authenticity and individuality needed in expression. It falls into the category of false beauty standards where there is a pressure placed on young women now more than ever to feel that there is only one way to look and feel your best. This being what is displayed as popular on TikTok or Instagram, what has the most likes, and comments, which was largely what built the clean girl aesthetic. With more young women spending time on these platforms, it places pressure to look a certain way, and act a certain way. This trend had similar effects on young girls, such as what we know as Sephora kids, who attempt to use beauty products not based on what they’re actually for but because of the fact that they are popular and influencers are using them, some are not even age appropriate due to certain ingredients, such as retinal. Viewers trust that following these same steps and using these same products as popular names is what a clean girl is, and in this way this trend has become harmful. The aesthetic itself has also not been specifically inclusive and has placed focus on primarily white passing individuals as models for replicating this look. People of color who have been sharing the same styles prior to this trend existing have often not been meant with the same support and fame on these platforms. These factors pose a problem to social media users due to the lack of diversity shown in viral trends.
Instead of the clean girl aesthetic, I believe the real girl aesthetic is what social media needs. I would define the real girl aesthetic as being authentically you and embracing that. I think there’s a large burden young women have to carry to fit into a box. But beauty comes in so many different shapes and forms and looks unique to everyone, so many internet beauty trends don’t fully cover the diversity all of us carry. This diversity allows us to be ourselves with individuality in expression, something incredibly powerful. Being yourself is also beautiful and there shouldn’t be a popularized view of women having to look perfect based on unrealistic standards pushed in the media. The real girl aesthetic is open to individual definition and interpretation which is why pushing more of this view on platforms is incredibly valuable, especially for younger generations with platforms at their disposal at younger ages.Â
Embracing a wide variety of styles, looks, and routines, encourages viewers to not confine themselves in a TikTok category based on likes and dislikes, comments and saves, but instead on what speaks to them and what makes them feel seen and powerful. Beauty routines look different for everyone, hairstyles differ, makeup differs, accessories differ, and that’s okay, that is the beauty within beauty. In 2025, it may sound clichĂ© but being yourself is underrated. Sometimes it is hard when we are absorbing so much on our screens everyday telling us what is right and wrong. But giving ourselves the space to think about who we want to be and develop our individuality without the help of influencers is often overlooked with the commonality of us watching them nearly everyday. Do not define your beauty by how many likes or comments you get or don’t get, know that you don’t have to fit a trend to still be beautiful! Lastly, individuality is cool, embrace it.Â