If you have been on Tik Tok within the past year, you’ve probably seen hundreds of guides, tips and product promotions on how to be a “clean girl”. If you’re like us and were beyond confused the first time an influencer promoted her PR package full of “clean girl” products, here’s the Google definition: “The ‘clean girl’ look is very minimal, it involves glowy makeup and a killer skincare routine. It’s all about having a dewy minimal skin base, a sun kissed blush look, glassy -looking lips and feathered eyebrows.” 

Okay, this seems pretty simple to grasp; just a couple of trendy makeup products and maybe even a new sunscreen? Actually, you would be wrong: this rebrand doesn’t stop at your makeup. Naturally, after you’ve spent $200 on new products, you now have to find the clean girl wardrobe, and then jewelry, and even room decor. Suddenly, you’re $1000 in and another influencer pops up on your FYP saying none of those products worked for her but this product, this one, changed everything for her. And now you're surrounded by overpriced products with no actual desire to use any of them. 

Let’s break down a guideline we have actually seen promoted on Tik Tok on how to achieve this aesthetic. The influencer began her tik tok with explaining how each of these products positively impacted her life, which obviously is not always accurate depending on whether the influencer is being paid or not, but then followed with her step-by-step guide on how to achieve the “clean girl” look.

1. Start by wearing your hair in blown out curls using a $300 hair dryer

2. Use very little concealer for your whole face. 

3. Feather your eyebrows with the product she was promoting.

4. Finish off the look with another PR package of a new blush and mascara. 

Now, the general idea of a “clean girl” may not sound bad and perhaps sounds a little exciting; getting to revamp your makeup routine and buy a couple statement pieces doesn’t sound too bad. But, these trends come and go faster than we can keep up, and it can be mentally exhausting. You may find yourself thinking, “I thought this blush was supposed to match the aesthetic?”, or “Wait, I need to buy more hair care products in order to be a ‘clean girl’?”. This idea that we need to have expensive products and keep ourselves looking “clean” can be damaging for anyone struggling with body image, but more importantly, young and impressionable girls who see these videos night and day. In addition, this trend’s roots may have questionable ethics (see Cultural Appr[eci/opr]iation).

As young women, we should be encouraged to find a style that makes us feel confident in our unique ways. If being a “clean girl” works for you, that's great! However, if it doesn’t, there is no need to change anything about yourself for the sake of this aesthetic. Instead, you can find your own and encourage others to do the same.

Written by Madeline Townsend, Photography by Peri Shaink, Social Media by London Marchman and Lindsey Lopez