The clean girl aesthetic has been alive and well. While it may have been called “no-makeup makeup” or “minimalism” in the mid-2000s and early 2010s, the core of the clean girl character never changed. The clean girl embodies — and idolizes — simplicity, routine, and neutrality. She is natural-looking makeup, self-care regimens, and a closet full of simple clothes in neutral colors. “To me, this aesthetic looks like clean, simple room set-ups and slicked-back buns,” says University of Missouri sophomore Julia Pavic.
It’s not all praise for the clean girl aesthetic, though. For Grace Khan, a junior at Merrimack College who comes from a white and South Asian background, the clean girl aesthetic highlights prejudice in the beauty industry and society. “The clean girl aesthetic kind of got popular once it became associated with whiteness and white femininity,” Khan says. “South Asian women traditionally oil their hair in order to promote growth, density, and softness. But, when South Asian women — who have slicked back their hair with oil for thousands of years — oil their hair, they are labeled as ‘unclean’ and ‘gross.’ While I do like the clean girl aesthetic, I feel like we have to acknowledge where it came from.”
And Zoe Patton, a sophomore at the University of Missouri, notes that Black women have been including elements of the clean girl aesthetic in their beauty and clothing for years. However, it wasn’t until this was labeled as the trendy “clean girl” that these styles were idolized. “It’s just another way to capitalize off of women’s styles and microtrends,” Patton says. “There’s also a weird difference in how people see white women engaging in this aesthetic and Black women engaging in the same way.”
So, maybe, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the messy girl aesthetic is coming back into style. “I believe that trends for the upcoming year are definitely going to be more bold and unapologetic,” says Gen Waring, the owner and makeup artist behind Waring Makeup. “I’m talking about indie sleaze, diffused smudge liner, and bold placements of color, whether it’s graphic liner or a bold lip. This is unapologetic makeup that isn’t afraid to stand out, and is intentionally crafted for attention.” Waring continues, “I also think we’ll be seeing the return of glitters alongside smoky eyes. I’m talking about makeup that looks slept in, or makeup that has been worn for a little while.”
Patton’s predictions also include the colorful and bold. “There’s a large trend in nostalgia for childhood, so I could see lots of colorful eclectic styles coming out, with prints like buttons, apples, fruits in general,” she says. “I think pants with colorful patterns could become more popular, too. I would like to see a pull away from skin-tight athleisure to more sustainable, cotton, loose athletic wear in the gym.”
Like the trends before it, this aesthetic also goes by several names — sometimes chaotic beauty, or the more direct messy girl. The messy girl aesthetic is the antithesis of the clean girl. She rejects perfection and high standards, instead choosing to embrace makeup that’s more playful and creative. Her No. 1 priority is originality and joy — peak self-expression at its messiest and most authentic.
“I just think color makes your personality shine. I have never been a neutral person, so why would you catch me in a neutral color? I have to wear all black for work, but you can bet your bottom dollar my jewelry and shoes are a bright blue, pink, or rainbow pattern,” says Ginger Koehler, a University of Florida alum.
“I am loud. I am messy. I am known to be doing lots of things at the same time,” Koehler says. “When you catch me wearing my striped pink overalls stained with acrylics, a yellow tank, and blue sneakers (my go-to outfit recently), I think you can get a good idea of who I am.”
Patton feels similarly. She describes her style as relaxed, elegant, cutesy, feminine (mostly), colorful and unique. With makeup, “I tend to pull a little from the 2020 makeup trends, with [heavy] blush and eyeliner being staples in my routine,” Patton says. And her clothing style, Patton says, varies from the grungy to the grandma-esque. “I tend to wear baggier pants and jeans or pants that flow. I also strictly wear low-to-mid-rise because it’s flattering on my body type,” she says. “I like loose sweaters and things that hang off of me because it’s comfortable, but also I feel like it reflects my personality a little.”
If you want to experiment with the messy girl aesthetic, makeup is a great place to start. “I think makeup is one of the most accessible forms of self-expression. It allows you to completely transform yourself or enhance certain features,” Waring says. “You can match it to your outfit or hair and completely customize it however you feel.”
“Whether it’s bold and graphic, like pops of color or a statement lip, or something more natural and diffused, it allows you to explore different sides of yourself,” Waring says. “I really love how you can express yourself through makeup without any permanence.”
Of course, if the clean girl aesthetic is still your thing, you should keep doing it. But if the clean girl doesn’t feel as authentically you as neons and holographic glitter, the coming trends are your sign to take some creative risk and enjoy bold makeup and style.