clean girl aesthetic

What is clean girl aesthetic?

The term clean girl aesthetic refers to a beauty, fashion, and lifestyle trend based around a look that’s intended to appear elegantly casual but also minimalist and effortless.

The term was popularized on and is particularly associated with TikTok. A girl or woman who adheres to or is thought to embody the clean girl aesthetic may be referred to (or refer to herself) as a clean girl. The hashtag #cleangirl is often used.

Elements typically considered part of the aesthetic include using makeup products that give the appearance of using little or no makeup at all; styling hair in a bun, updo, or braided ponytail; and wearing casual clothes in muted color palettes.

Lifestyle components stereotypically associated with the aesthetic include those that give the impression of stress-free, “clean” living, such as morning workout routines, matcha and healthy smoothies, and minimalist décor.

The aesthetic has been criticized for creating unrealistic beauty and lifestyle standards, especially ones that are intended to look effortless but are the opposite. Some critics note that the term can imply that those who do not adhere to the aesthetic are somehow “dirty.” Critics also point out that many elements of the trend are often attributed to or associated with white women when those elements have a long history of use by Women of Color.