Exploring the Gen Z Clean Aesthetic Trend
The clean aesthetic began trending in the early 2020s and has never stopped. This natural and minimalist trend seems to be just what young people need to keep grounded during the Covid pandemic and beyond. It’s no wonder that the aesthetic is sticking around.
It Began With Clean Girl
It all started with the clean girl aesthetic that began around 2021 on TikTok with tutorials on clean makeup, according to Vogue UK and then it evolved. After all, who didn’t want to look fresh and dewy with healthy glowing skin and not a lot of makeup.
Celebrities and influencers like Zoë Kravitz and Kendall Jenner jumped on the bandwagon and by the time Hailey Bieber launched her Rhodes makeup line in 2022, the trend grew exponentially and didn’t just represent clean makeup anymore. Clean girl caught the attention of Gen Z and came to be defined by minimalism in the way you dressed and in the way you lived too.
The trend isn’t just an internet thing anymore, it’s everywhere, and becoming more and more mainstream as time goes on.
What is the Clean Aesthetic Look?
If you watch TikTok videos or other social media reels or shorts, the clean aesthetic is everywhere. The style prioritizes self-care, sleek and neutral basic clothing and a healthy lifestyle reported The Teen Magazine.
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The clean minimalist look features classic clothing like white shorts, blue jeans with white trainers, glowing skin and minimalist makeup that includes pink lip gloss, delicate jewelry like gold hoop earrings, sleek and natural hair styles, and never leaving home without a reusable Stanley cup. To really be a clean girl, all of this has to look effortless and natural.
A New Lifestyle
Why has the clean aesthetic stuck around so long? Maybe because it isn’t just about makeup and fashion. It’s about self-care and living a healthier life by doing yoga or Pilates, drinking water, and eating clean.
But the trend comes with some drawbacks too. It is a high maintenance look that is expensive to keep up. It requires investments in skincare, haircare, gym memberships, and constant upkeep.
The clean look also doesn’t leave room for individuality or creativity. There’s no room to experiment with bold fashion choices and colors. But maybe after the chaotic start to the decade with the pandemic’s disruption to education and socialization, a little calm is just what Gen Z needs.
